Look here upon this picture and on this,
The counterfeit presentment of two brothers.
See, what a grace was seated on this brow?
Hyperion’s curls, the front of Jove himself,
An eye like Mars to threaten and command,
A station like the herald Mercury
New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill—
A combination and a form indeed
Where every god did seem to set his seal
To give the world assurance of a man.
This was your husband. Look you now, what follows.
Here is your husband, like a mildewed ear
Blasting his wholesome brother.
You cannot call it love, for at your age
The heyday in the blood is tame, it's humble
And waits upon the judgement; and what judgment
You cannot call it love, for at your age
The heyday in the blood is tame, it's humble
And waits upon the judgement; and what judgment
Would step from this to this? Sense sure you have,
Else could you not have motion. But sure that sense
Is apoplexed, for madness would not err,
Nor sense to ecstasy was ne'er so thralled,
But it reserved some quantity of choice
To serve in such a difference. What devil was ’t
That thus hath cozened you at hoodman-blind?
O shame, where is thy blush?
Rebellious hell,
If thou canst mutine in a matron’s bones,
To flaming youth let virtue be as wax
And melt in her own fire. Proclaim no shame
When the compulsive ardor gives the charge,
Since frost itself as actively doth burn,
And reason panders will.
(3.4.63-98)
(3.4.63-98)
Look and See are often repeated within this monologue; this repetition emphasizes Hamlet's frantic nature in getting Gertrude to 'see' her mistake in marrying Claudius.
ReplyDeleteAgain in this monologue Hamlet's use of celestial diction is ever prevalent, emphasizing his philosophical nature and his obsession with questioning life, death, fate, etc.
ReplyDeleteHyperion, "The High One" fathered Helios, the God of the Sun, and was later overthrown by the Olympians. This emphasizes the nobility of Old Hamlet as well as indirectly characterizes Hamlet as Helios, God of Sun, which 'sun' is a particular pun that he favors in previous scenes, usually referring to the fact that Claudius keeps calling him a 'son' when Hamlet was originally only a nephew, etc.
ReplyDeleteMars was the God of War and this emphasizes Old Hamlet's strength in commanding a good, powerful army.
ReplyDeleteMercury is the Messenger/Commerce God, again emphasizing the goodness and prosperous nature of Old Hamlet and his reign. Mercury is also the guide of the souls to the underworld, which could be seen as an indirect reference to Hamlet seeing the Ghost of Old Hamlet and also his realization that he might perish, but is okay with this as he will be reunited with his father.
ReplyDelete"Here is your husband, like a mildewed ear"
ReplyDeleteSimile comparing Claudius to a 'mildewed ear' which shows Hamlet's disdain of Claudius as well how far Gertrude sunk to go from having a godlike husband (Old Hamlet) to a, well, mildewed ear (Claudius)
"and what judgment
ReplyDeleteWould step from this to this? Sense sure you have,
Else could you not have motion. But sure that sense
Is apoplexed, for madness would not err,
Nor sense to ecstasy was ne'er so thralled,
But it reserved some quantity of choice
To serve in such a difference."
Emphasizes the theme of deception and higher ideals such as judgement and choice.
"Sense sure you have,
ReplyDeleteElse could you not have motion."
Alliteration to emphasize the sense Gertrude is lacking coupled with verbal irony
“rebellious hell”
ReplyDeleteRebellious personifies hell, which animates hell, to emphasize the rebellious, hellish nature that resides in Gertrude for having this lustful, inappropriate relationship with Claudius; ‘rebellious hell’ is also a hyperbole which exaggerates the absurdity of Gertrude and Claudius’s relationship, this is also coupled with an internal rhyme of ‘bell’ and ‘hell’ which further emphasizes the hyperbole and personification
"Proclaim no shame"
ReplyDeletethis rhyme emphasizes the flaw Hamlet sees within Gertrude, as she feels no remorse for marrying Claudius and partaking in this incestuous relationship
Theme: Deception
ReplyDeleteTone: frantic and confrontational
ReplyDeleteCharacterization: real madness, disdainful, in light of deception, Hamlet is brutally honest
ReplyDeleteMain Key Philosophical Points: celestial diction, judgement, deception, allusions to grandeur and Roman mythology figures
ReplyDelete