In class:
introductory performances
Remember that you must post each day on the assigned reading. There are a total of 10 posts at 10 points each. Do the math!
Parker's notes on Hamlet, so far
Act I.i. For two nights Bernardo and Marcellus have watched guard on the ramparts, for it is feared that Fortinbras the Younger, whose father had been killed in battle and also lost some land to the Danes, will seek to recapture this lost acreage. Whilst on guard they have seen a ghost that seems in the visage much like the old King Hamlet, whose demise was but three months ago.
These two have informed Horation, Hamlet's buddy and a member of a higher social class; hence what he says carries more weight. That there has been a ghose "bodes some strange eruption to our state" (I.i.80), notes Horatio. As well, when the world has been out of kilter, such as when "the mightiest Julius fell / The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead / Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets; / As stars with trains of fire and dews of blood,/ Disaster of the sun"(I.i.125-30), both entertains and entices the audience. In short Shakespeare is establishing a connection between Hamlet's father's death and other great historical events. In addition, he establishes a tie between the events of mankind and nature.
The ghost comes in, but disappears when the cock crows, or when "the morn in russet mantle clad / Walks o'er the dew of youn high eastern hill" (I.i.180-1).
Act I.ii. King Claudius has announced his marriage to "our sometime sister, now our queen, / Th' imperial jointress to this warlike state"(I.ii.8-9). So much for his "valiant brother;" on to the business of state.
We have met Laertes, the son of King Claudius' councillor Polonius. This ertwhile friend of Hamlet's has asked the king for permission to head back the school. It is given
King Claudius then importunes Hamlet to no more "persever / In obstinate condolement" (I.ii.96-7), for "'Tis unmanly grief / ...shows a will most incorrect to heaven"(I.ii.99-100). In other words, Hamlet needs to man up and accept his father's dying a natural process and that even God would be offended by his "impatient mind." Besides, now King Claudius is his father.
Note Hamlet's solioquy I.ii.(134-164) He contemplates suicide here and notes "fraility thy name is woman." It seems he has a problem with his mum- and maybe that explains his actions towards Ophelia, Polonius's daughter, Laertes' sister.
Hamlet and Horatio catch up. Hamlet isn't stupid; he knows that Horatio came for both the funeral and the wedding: "The funeral baked meats / Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables" (I.ii.187-8). Also note that Hamlet accepts his father's faults: "He was a man. Take him for all in all" (I.ii.195); still he acknowledges his father was special: "I shall not look upon his like again" (I.ii.196). So Horatio and Hamlet agree to meet upon the ramparts to talk to the ghost. Hamlet is concerned that his father's spirit is "in arms." Nothing can stop the truth from being revealed: "Foul deeds will rise,/ Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's / eyes (I.ii.279-81).
Check the long term reading schedule from yesterday.
For tomorrow: finish reading ACT I.
peri- It semms that Polonius and Laertes don't want Ophilia to believe in Hamlet's love because they feel it will be short lived, and Ophilia will pay for it.
ReplyDeleteI think that because Hamlet is going to try and seek revenge for his father that nothing good will come of this because in all the stories people try and seek revenge in they just end up hurting themselves even more.
ReplyDeleteShaundrana-
ReplyDeleteWhen Laertes finally leaves, Polonius tells his daughter that Hamlet only wants to sleep with her. He also tells his daughter she's an idiot if she actually believes that Hamlet loves her. Eventually leading up to him forbidding her to see HAmlet
why doesnt Laertes approve of Hamlet likeing his daughter Polonius? I think that Laertes thinks that Hamlet is going to hurt her in the long run if she goes with hamlet. I think that maybe Laertes should just give Hamlet a chance maybe it will be different than what he expects from him.
ReplyDeleteI don't like how Laertes doesn't let his sister ,Ophelia, like or love any one she wishes. I don't like how he is controlling over her as if she was a child.
ReplyDeleteIt was very smart of Hamlet to not tell Horatio and Marcellus about what the ghost of Hamlet told him. I think if he did they would of told people on accident or intentionally.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to make sure this works!
ReplyDeleteWillis A. Brooks-
ReplyDeleteI'm not exactly sure but did the ghost also tell him to kill his mom? If so makes since she did marry her brother-law within a month of her husbands passing and if she's in on it the chicks gotta go.
Olivia.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of act 1 scene 2, what is the king talking about? It sounds like someone died or something. And who's the ghost?
Mary,
ReplyDeleteAs Laertes prepares to go to France, Polonius gives Laertes some "DO's" and DONT's".
Why does Polonius tell Ophelia not to associate with Hamlet anymore?
Why does Laertes say Hamlet's will is not hs own or is "suject to his birth" ?
ReplyDeleteis there a deeper symbolism for the ghost that visited hamlet?
ReplyDeleteum ok!what was the king talking about!
ReplyDelete