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QUOTE:

HAMLET

To be, or not to be? That is
the question—
Whether ’tis nobler in the
mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of
outrageous fortune,
60    Or to take arms against a
sea of troubles,
And, by opposing, end them?
To die, to sleep—
No more—and by a sleep to
say we end
The heartache and the
thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to—’tis a
consummation
65   Devoutly to be wished! To
die, to sleep.
To sleep, perchance to dream
—ay, there’s the rub,
For in that sleep of death
what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off
this mortal coil,
Must give us pause. There’s
the respect
70    That makes calamity of so
long life.
For who would bear the
whips and scorns of time,
Th' oppressor’s wrong, the
proud man’s contumely,
The pangs of despised love,
the law’s delay,
The insolence of office, and
the spurns
75    That patient merit of th'
unworthy takes,
When he himself might his
quietus make
With a bare bodkin? Who
would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a
weary life,
But that the dread of
something after death,
80    The undiscovered country
from whose bourn
No traveler returns, puzzles
the will
And makes us rather bear
those ills we have
Than fly to others that we
know not of?
Thus conscience does make
cowards of us all,
85    And thus the native hue of
resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale
cast of thought,
And enterprises of great
pith and moment
With this regard their
currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action.
—Soft you now,
90    The fair Ophelia!—Nymph, in         thy orisons
Be all my sins remembered.

CONTEXT:

In this scene they want to hide in the room to find out if it's love that is making Hamlet suffer from insanity.  It did not work to try to get him to talk about his feelings with ophelia therefore they are going to try to get his mother to speak with him to find out what he's feeling and thinking .  Gertrude wants to hide in the room to find out if it is Ophelia’s love that is making him mad, once this plan fails they try to get Hamlet to talk about his feelings about Ophelia but are not successful.

ANALYSIS:

This scene is one of the most significant as it highlights Hamlet’s tragic flaw, which is his inability to make a decision and take action. This soliloquy establishes Hamlet’s character as introspective and philosophical. This tragic flaw leads to his eventual downfall.

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QUOTE:

Horatio:
As thou art to thyself.
Such was the very armour he
had on
60 When he the ambitious
Norway combated.
So frowned he once when, in
an angry parle,
He smote the sledded Polacks
on the ice.
'Tis strange.

CONTEXT:

In this scene Bernardo, officers of the castle are the first ones to see the ghost of the late king. Bernardo and the rest of the staff believe that the rooster awakens the God of the day, which in turn makes all wandering ghosts return back to their hiding places. In this case, the late King had unfinished business with Hamlet and the Queen, causing him to return to his ‘home’.

ANALYSIS:

This quote has immense significance in the beginning of the play as it foreshadows what is to happen throughout the next scenes. The ghost looking like the King of Norway is of great significance as it is meant to represent Hamlet’s father and to demand Hamlet to avenge his father’s death. In addition to the plot, the symbol of a ghost also represents fear, death, and ‘unfinished’ business.

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QUOTE:

GERTRUDE

Good Hamlet, cast thy
nighted color off,
And let thine eye look like a
friend on Denmark.
70  Do not forever with thy vailèd
lids
Seek for thy noble father in
the dust.
Thou know’st ’tis common. All        that lives must die,
Passing through nature to
eternity.

“ Seems,” madam? Nay, it is. I
know not “seems.”
'Tis not alone my inky cloak,           good mother,
Nor customary suits of
solemn black,
Nor windy suspiration of
forced breath,
80    No, nor the fruitful river in
the eye,
Nor the dejected 'havior of
the visage,
Together with all forms,
moods, shapes of grief,
That can denote me truly.
These indeed “seem,”
For they are actions that a
man might play.
85   But I have that within which
passeth show,
These but the trappings and
the suits of woe.

CONTEXT:

Hamlet speaks to his mother throughout the scene about the impact that his father’s death has had on him. Hamlet discusses his unconditional love for his father and the ways in which his uncle will never compare to his father. Hamlet is disappointed in his mother for moving on so quickly, making the hasty decision to marry his uncle. Through all of this he still feels as though no one understands him and he must grieve alone in silence. Towards the end of the scene Horatio tells Hamlet about the ghost sighting.

ANALYSIS:

This quote helps the audience better understand Hamlet’s internal dialogue through his outward relationship with his mother. Hamlet describes all the melancholy aspects of his appearance and how even they are not an accurate representation of the hurt that he feels inwardly. He is upset that his mother could move on so quickly and feels anger towards her and anger about the death of his father in general which he is choosing to display through his black clothing.

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Hamlet is one of the most popular literary and theatrical characters of all time. The reason for this is that his character is more complex than Shakespeare allows the audience to see, this causes the audience to want to know more about his psyche and his internal thoughts. Hamlet is actually a student when his father dies and is quite the scholar for his age. The audience can see this through his philosophizing and contemplating throughout the scenes. He philosophizes about his father’s death throughout the acts and tries to better understand what, if anything, happens after we die. The audience sees Hamlet move from a regular introspective student to someone who is pessimistic and despondent. Hamlet is aware that he is quick with words and often uses them to manipulate his ‘friends’ Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.  Everytime the character hears from Hamlet he seems to be a different version of himself which is what keeps the audience watching.

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Shakespear’s Hamlet is one of the oldest and most well known books that talk about ‘mental health’ or as it was called “madness”. Shakespear’s inconsistent and unstable behaviour has been analyzed by many scholars over time as a fake act in order to convince those around him that he has gone mad, when in reality he knew what he was doing all along. However, we see in the middle of the play that Hamlet begins to truly go mad and does not have a grip on reality or his surroundings. He ends up slipping himself into a madness that cannot be recovered. The reader sees this when Hamlet stops referring to himself as “i” and instead begins to use the third person to describe his behaviour. Towards the end of the play, Hamlet’s madness allows him to be aquit from murder charges making the reader believe maybe he was sane the entire time. Shakespear never answers the question of Hamlet’s sanity and leaves the reader wondering. This is important as madness is the key to the entire play as it works as the character’s tragic flaw. In Act 5, Scene 2 Hamlet says “If’t be so, Hamlet is of the fraction that is wronged; His madness is poor Hamlet’s enemy”. This quote shows how Hamlet truly feels as though he does not have control over his behaviour and that he is in fact going mad. He apologizes to Laertes saying he does not want to act how he acts and it is all uncontrollable and impulsive behaviour.

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QUOTE:

LAERTES

5    For Hamlet and the trifling of
his favor,
Hold it a fashion and a toy in
blood,
A violet in the youth of primy        nature,
Forward, not permanent,
sweet, not lasting,
The perfume and suppliance
of a minute.
10  No more.

CONTEXT:

This scene focuses on Hamlet's love interest Ophilia. Everyone begins to give their opinion on Hamlet; they speak poorly of him telling Ophelia that Hamlet is nothing but a young flirt.The people mention that Hamlet’s words only mean as much as the state of Denmark allows them to mean.

ANALYSIS:

Throughout the heaviness of the act so far, the scene where Ophelia is getting advice about Hamlet is among the lighter more relatable scenes for the audience. Here we see two young adults who are plagued with feelings for one another and are tormented with the notion that it might be nothing more than flirtation. Through all of the death and sadness so far, this scene allows the audience to follow the plot of a love story and innocent love.

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QUOTE:

HAMLET

Why, what should be the fear?

I do not set my life in a pin’s
fee,

And for my soul—what can it
do to that,

70  Being a thing immortal as
itself?

It waves me forth again. I’ll
follow it.

CONTEXT:

In this scene Hamlet sees the ghost for the first time; this gives the audience insight into how he is feeling after the loss of his father and the marriage of his uncle and his mother. Hamlet begins to show interest in the ghost. He believes that the ghost is telling him something that is rotten in the state of Denmark, making Hamlet choose between taking action or letting God handle it.

ANALYSIS:

This quote is one of the most important in the act as it foreshadows significant events in the Acts to come. The audience sees Hamlet’s fear of the ghost start to dissipate and turn into an attraction where he feels drawn to the message that the ghost might have for him. This tells the audience that the ghost is most likely going to reappear throughout the whole play and that Hamlet and the ghost will develop some sort of bond.

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QUOTE:

GHOST

I find thee apt,
And duller shouldst thou be
than the fat weed
That roots itself in ease on
Lethe wharf,
Wouldst thou not stir in this.         Now, Hamlet, hear.
35   Tis given out that, sleeping in          my orchard,
A serpent stung me. So the
whole ear of Denmark
Is by a forgèd process of my
death
Rankly abused. But know,
thou noble youth,
The serpent that did sting thy       father’s life
40  Now wears his crown.
But howsoever thou pursuest
this act.

CONTEXT:

In this scene the ghost reveals to Hamlet that he is his father. The ghost tells Hamlet that his uncle his evil and has seduced his mother with his clever words and fancy gifts; But just as you can’t corrupt a truly virtuous person no matter how you try, the opposite is also true: a lustful person like her can satisfy herself in a heavenly union and then move on to garbage. The ghost tells Hamlet that his uncle snuck up on him while he was sleeping in the orchard and poured a vile of henbane poison into his ear. Hamlet waits to tell Horatio and Marcellus what the ghost has told him and insists that he leave as Hamlet needs to be alone.

ANALYSIS:

Scene 5 in the 1st Act begins to build towards the climax of the plot. Hamlet begins to have internal realizations about his family dynamic, himself and the current political state of the country. Hamlet feels as though the responsibility has shifted onto him in this moment as he tells his friends to leave the matter alone as though his father’s ghost has entrusted only Hamlet to make the situation right.

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QUOTE:

POLONIUS

70    Observe his inclination in
yourself.

CONTEXT:

the apparently caring father Polonius hiresReynaldo to spy on Laertes. Polonius tells Reynaldo that he suspects that Laertes is up to something, which he must find out immediately.

ANALYSIS:

Although Polonius is the Villain Claudias’ right hand man in the play in this scene and throughout Act 2 Shakespeare chooses to portray him as a caring and concerned father of two. However, the introduction of Polonius as a caring father is Shakespeare’s way of creating shock later on in the plot.

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QUOTE:

POLONIUS

Indeed, that is out of the air.
(aside) How
pregnant sometimes his
replies are. A
happiness that often
madness hits on,
which reason and sanity
could not so
prosperously be delivered of.
I will leave him and suddenly        contrive the means of
meeting between him and my
daughter.—
(to HAMLET) My honorable
lord, I will most
humbly take my leave of you.

CONTEXT:

In this scene everyone is trying to better understand Hamlet, they truly believe he is starting to go mad. Polonius mentions that it must be due to Ophelia ending her relationship with Hamlet. Hamlet goes on to describe his nightmares and insists that they hire actors to perform his father’s death in front of his uncle in order to see his reaction.

ANALYSIS:

This scene is significant to the development of the play as the characters begin to theorize about Hamlet’s ‘madness’. This is important as Shakespeare never truly answers the audience's questions about Hamlet’s madness and his internal dialogue. Although Hamlet mentions how his nightmares have been increasing the characters blame his relationship with Ophelia ending for his descent into insanity not knowing how serious it really is.

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QUOTE:

I will speak daggers to her
but use none.
My tongue and soul in this
be hypocrites.
360  How in my words somever
she be shent,
To give them seals never,
my soul, consent!

CONTEXT:

In this scene Hamlet is getting ready to go see the play, which is the reenactment of his father’s death. In the play the Queen leaves the King so he can sleep, when a man sneaks up to him and murders him by pouring poison in his ear. The murder tries to seduce the queen who eventually accepts all of his advances. At the end of the play the audience learns that the man who kills the King is the King’s nephew.

ANALYSIS:

This act is building up the climax of the play as it reveals the murder of the king. The actions of this scene also build the plot for the duel to take place.This scene is interesting as Shakespeare breaks the fourth wall by creating a play within the play itself making the play multidimensional for its viewers.

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QUOTE:

Now might I do it pat. Now
he is a-praying.
75   And now I’ll do ’t. And so he
goes to heaven.
And so am I revenged.—That
would be scanned.
A villain kills my father, and,
for that,
I, his sole son, do this same
villain send
To heaven.
80   Oh, this is hire and salary,
not revenge.
He took my father grossly,
full of bread,
With all his crimes broad
blown, as flush as May.
And how his audit stands
who knows save heaven?
But in our circumstance and
course of thought
85   'Tis heavy with him. And am I
then revenged
To take him in the purging of
his soul
When he is fit and seasoned
for his passage?
No.
Up, sword, and know thou a
more horrid hent.
90   When he is drunk asleep, or
in his rage,
Or in th' incestuous pleasure
of his bed,
At game a-swearing, or about
some act
That has no relish of
salvation in ’t—
Then trip him, that his heels
may kick at heaven,
95   And that his soul may be as
damned and black
As hell, whereto it goes. My
mother stays
This physic but prolongs thy
sickly days

CONTEXT:

In this scene, Claudius and Guildenstern are having a conversation about sending Hamlet due to his ‘insanity’ as he revealed the truth about the King’s murderer. Polonius creates a plan to spy on the conversation between Hamlet and his mother. Hamlet tells us that he does not want to kill Cladius when he is praying as he believes that it would not be morally right and that he would not properly pay for his sins.

ANALYSIS:

This scene displays Hamlet’s lack of insanity as he reasons with himself. He plans to take revenge and kill Claudius but cannot get himself to do so when he has the opportunity as he knows that killing him while he is praying is not right in the eyes of the church and that if he dies at the moment where he is seeking forgiveness his soul will not have to pay for the sins he committed on earth.

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QUOTE:

Such an act

That blurs the grace and blush of modesty,

Calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose

From the fair forehead of an innocent love

45   And sets a blister there, makes marriage vows

As false as dicers' oaths—oh, such a deed

As from the body of contraction plucks

The very soul, and sweet religion makes

A rhapsody of words. Heaven’s face doth glow

50   O'er this solidity and compound mass

With tristful visage, as against the doom,

Is thought-sick at the act.

CONTEXT:

Hamlet and his mother speak about his father and she believes that Hamlet has insulted his father by the way he has been acting; Hamlet stands up for himself and tells his mother how he feels: that she has insulted her late husband by marrying Hamlet’s uncle. Hamlet finds Polonius spying on this conversation and kills him. The ghost appears before Hamlet and says that he has come to sharpen Hamlet’s appetite for revenge.

ANALYSIS:

In the beginning of this scene Hamlet spoke to his mother in the closet which in this time frame would be considered Incestuall behavior.  This speaks to the relationship between hamlet and his mother considering the Issues that they have faced throughout the book more specifically the issue of Hamlet's mother marrying his uncle after the passing of his father. this also goes to show that even at a time or marriage between a woman and her deceased husband's brother would not be societally looked down upon, a simple Behavior such as having a conversation in a closet would be extremely frowned upon. This goes to show that the relationship between Hamlet and his mother is deeply flawed and  Even though there was physically no ancestral Behavior present many people  view the scene as his mother's impurities being shown.

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QUOTE:

POLONIUS

Mad as the sea and wind

when both contend

Which is the mightier. In his

lawless fit,

Behind the arras hearing

something stir,

Whips out his rapier, cries, “A

rat, a rat!”

And in this brainish

apprehension kills

The unseen good old man.

CONTEXT:

This scene is a scene where Claudius asks Gertrude about how Hamlet's doing following the killing of Polonius and the drama ensued in act 3.  In this act Gertrude tells Claudius that He is as mad as the sea and the wind when they mix in a storm and that he was in an insane fit of rage when he accidentally murdered polonius.

ANALYSIS:

This quote can be interpreted two ways: one that Gertrude truly believes that Hamlet has gone mad and that he is beyond helping. The other is that she believes he is putting on a front of insanity in order to get revenge. This is an important point in the novel as the audience realizes that even Hamlet’s own mother cannot get inside of his head and understand his true motives allowing the audience to beg for further explanation.

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QUOTE:

HAMLET

Ay, sir, that soaks up the king’s       countenance, his rewards, his        authorities. But such officers

do the king's best service in

the end. He keeps them, like

an ape, in the corner of his
jaw, first mouthed to be last
swallowed. When he needs
what you have gleaned, it is
but squeezing you and,
sponge, you shall be dry again.

CONTEXT:

This scene Begins when Rosencrantz is asking Hamlet where the body of Polonius is and Hamlet refuses to give a straight answer, They then begin talking about the king and the politics of the crown, the last significant part of the scene is when Hamlet uses the analogy of a sponge to describe Rosencrantz

ANALYSIS:

The sponge analogy in this scene is one that shows the audience that Hamlet might not be mad after all. He says that Rosencrantz is like a sponge, soaking up all of the benefits of having Claudius as king and once Claudius is done with him he will ring the sponge out to get rid of the excess water. This is why Hamlet does not want to let Rosencrantz in on any of the secrets that he knows. Hunting the audience that his insanity might be an act.

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QUOTE:

CLAUDIUS

I have sent to seek him and

to find the body.

How dangerous is it that this

man goes loose!

Yet must not we put the

strong law on him.

He’s loved of the distracted
multitude,

Who likes not in their

judgment, but their eyes.

And where ’tis so, th'

offender’s scourge is weighed,

But never the offense. To
bear all smooth and even,

This sudden sending him

away must seem

Deliberate pause. Diseases

desperate grown

By desperate appliance are

relieved,

Or not at all.

CONTEXT:

After Hamlet leaves Rosencrantz and Claudius begin talking about Hamlet's mental state.  They begin to plot how they can get rid of Hamlet without making it noticeable. Claudius says that “the people love him” and will not want to see him locked up.

ANALYSIS:

This quote display’s how others view Hamlet’s madness and the ways in which they conspire throughout the play to get rid of him. Claudius says some very observant facts about the justice system and the way that the people, if Hamlet is convicted of murder, would “pay attention to the severity of the punishment, not the severity of the crime”. They then decide that whatever choice they make has to ensure it is pointed and calculated.

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QUOTE:

HAMLET

How all occasions do inform

against me,

And spur my dull revenge!

What is a man

If his chief good and market

of his time

But to sleep and feed? A

beast, no more.

35    Sure, he that made us with

such large discourse,

Looking before and after,

gave us not

That capability and godlike

reason

To fust in us unused. Now,

whether it be

🤬 oblivion, or some

craven scruple

CONTEXT:

In Act 4, Scene 4 Prince Fortinbras marched his army through Denmark, however, Fortinbras asked the captain to ask the King of Denmark to march through his land. Hamlet speaks to himself about the pointlessness of war and fighting over land. He begins to become more introspective while there is political chaos ensuing around him.

ANALYSIS:

This scene is important as it draws the character back in to focus on what is happening in Hamlet’s psyche. Although there is chaos around him Hamlet seems to disassociate and focus on the deeper meaning behind the situation he finds himself in. He says that the war that Fortinbras is pursuing is pointless as there is no way that God or a divine force put humans on earth for this reason. We see Hamlet questioning the purpose of life and the influence of the divine.

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QUOTE:

OPHELIA(sings)

How should I your true love
know From another one?
By his cockle hat and
staff,
And his sandal shoon.

CONTEXT:

The scene begins with A quart gentleman Reporting that Ophelia is insane.  Gurtrude does not want to speak with Ophelia but once it is brought up. It may bring attention to the crown Gertrude agrees to speak with her. Both the king and queen try to speak with her however she does not respond. Claudius then brings up her father's death which undoubtably is the reason for her insanity. He then brings up the secret burial,  and questions about their father's death

ANALYSIS:

This quote shows that they  Not only believed Hamlet to be insane but also believed Ophelia to be insane. This act allowed for questions to be brought up around their father's death. And this also allowed for Gertrude's character to be called into question again. The song Choices for Ophelia are all songs regarding the topic of love. This demonstrates further that she may have went insane due to the rejection she felt from Hamlet.

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QUOTE:

I do not know from what part

of the world

5    I should be greeted, if not

from Lord Hamlet.

CONTEXT:

Miss Teen begins with Horatio receiving letters from Hamlet. Hamlet sent one letter to Horatio and said that the rest were to be delivered to the King. After Horatio delivered the other letters to the king he was to go.

ANALYSIS:

The return of Hamlet to Denmark is an extremely dramatic part of the play. The scene allows us to infer that Hamlet knew there were pirates lurking in every Bay, thus would Subvert Guilderstine and Rosencrantz mission.  This allows a reader to understand the level of communication that Hamlet was capable of, as well as Having Hamlet return at this point creates a force that drives the climax of the play

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QUOTE:

CLAUDIUS

Not that I think you did not

love your father

But that I know love is begun

by time,

And that I see, in passages of

proof,

110 Time qualifies the spark and

fire of it.

There lives within the very

flame of love

A kind of wick or snuff that

will abate it.

And nothing is at a like

goodness still.

For goodness, growing to a

pleurisy,

115  Dies in his own too-much.

That we would do,

We should do when we

would, for this “would”

changes

And hath abatements and

delays as many

As there are tongues, are

hands, are accidents.

And then this “should” is like a       spendthrift sigh

120 That hurts by easing.—But to        the quick of th' ulcer:

Hamlet comes back. What

would you undertake

To show yourself in deed your

father’s son

More than in words?

CONTEXT:

Claudius confirms that Hamlet killed Polonius,  but Laertes can't understand why Claudius didn't punish Hamlet for such “capital crimes”. Claudius explains that he has restrained himself, even though he has no intention of letting Hamlet get away with his crimes.The next thing that happens is the messenger arrives with the letters. They then plot to kill Hamlet with swordplay. Drug testing they also discuss how they could cheat and make it easier for them to kill Hamlet.

ANALYSIS:

The first thing that comes to mind in this scene is Claudius.  Claudius demonstrated the ability to care,  which would mitigate his evil and add to the paradox inherent in his character.  Throughout this scene he also shows his Devotion to his wife. He does this by sparing Hamlet even though he's of great danger to the king, due to the impact it would have on his wife. As the season progresses his evil does show through when he Reveals His second reason for not Punishing Hamlet Which was the country's great love of Hamlet. Overall beginning expresses that he has not punished Hamlet so that he could look like a kind man and a responsable monarch.

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QUOTE:

How absolute the knave is! We must speak by the card, or equivocation will undo us. By the Lord, Horatio, these three years I have taken a note of it. The age is grown so picked that the toe of the peasant comes so near the heel of the courtier he galls his kibe.—How long hast thou been a grave-maker?

CONTEXT:

The scene begins with the Grave Digger speaking to the fact that the woman drowned herself, thus implying she killed herself  therefore she did not deserve Such indulgences. Through Hamlet's discussion with the gravedigger readers are given insight into different thought processes from the time around death. Laertes argues with the priest over Ophelia's burial. He gets into a heated argument with the priest over the priest not allowing Ophelia a Christian burial. Laertes and Hamlet get into an argument over who loved Ophelia best.

ANALYSIS

Hamlet dwells on the subject of death and that all men are worm's meat, that all that lives will one day die, and that no rank or money can change the equality of death. Death transforms even great kings like Alexander into trivial objects.  This gives the readers insight into Hamlet's mind as well as his thought process. This scene also allows readers to understand how strictly Religion was followed in this time period.   This is evident when the priest denies even people of the highest social status  a Christian burial. This scene also has many parts that relate back to the theme of Madness. This is mainly evidence when Hamlet and Laertes  are arguing over Who Loved Ophelia best.

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QUOTE:

Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in you, though I know to divide him inventorially would dizzy th' arithmetic of memory, and yet but yaw neither, in respect of his quick sail.

But in the verity of extolment, I take him to be a soul of great article, and his infusion of such dearth and rareness as, to make true diction of him, his semblable is his mirror. And who else would trace him? His umbrage, nothing more.

CONTEXT:

Hamlet in a calm state, recounts the events from his escape up until the plot to kill him. Claudius' behavior horrifies Horatio.the scene is set for the duel. The King calls Hamlet and Laertes together and has them begin the duel by clasping hands. Hamlet then asks for forgiveness regarding his acts at Ophelia's grave.  He then goes on to say that his Madness is responsible for Polonius's death, not him.

ANALYSIS:

This scene allows us insight into Hamlet's mind. It  demonstrates how Hamlet is of sound mind and understands his actions and the consequences regarding his actions, however it also shows how he was not of sound mind and regrets the actions he took.   This says a lot about how much as a person specifically when he apologizes for his actions around Ophelia's grave.   It demonstrates how he does want to be of sound mind and how hard he is trying  to understand himself, his father's death, and his life after his father's death. It is very evident that he has been through traumatic events and does need help dealing with his emotions. This also allows the reader to understand that in the time of the play being written certain things were not available as they are today such as mental health awareness.