Act 3 Scene 2 Line 8
"If his occulted guilt
Do not itself unkennel in one speech,
It is a damnèd ghost that we have seen,
And my imaginations are as foul
As Vulcan’s stithy."
2. Nero: A tyrannical Roman emperor from 54-68 AD that was known for his cruelty. He was famous for capturing and burning Christians in his garden at night to provide a source of light. Hamlet is saying that he wants to be cruel like Nero and evoke an emotional response in his mother, but he doesn't want to harm her or become a monster.
Act 3 Scene 2 Line 401
"'Tis now the very witching time of night,
When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood
And do such bitter business as the bitter day
Would quake to look on. Soft, now to my mother.—
O heart, lose not thy nature, let not ever
The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom.
Let me be cruel, not unnatural.
I will speak daggers to her but use none.
My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites.
How in my words somever she be shent,
To give them seals never, my soul, consent!"
- While doing research I discovered that Nero was adopted by his great-uncle whose name was also Claudius, I found this to be extremely coincidental. Claudius was a Roman emperor who was perceived to be weak because of physical ailments by some of the senators. This caused many of the senators to attempt to assassinate him, but they all failed, and Claudius died of natural causes at an early age.
3. Mark of Cain: The story of Cain and Abel is found in Genesis Ch. 4, Cain killed his brother Abel out of jealousy and was cursed with a mark by God. As Claudius sits in his room reflecting on his actions, he is asking how he can be forgiven when he has done something that is so frowned upon in the bible.
Act 3 Scene 3 Line 39
"Oh, my offence is rank. It smells to heaven.
It hath the primal eldest curse upon ’t,
A brother’s murder. Pray can I not.
Though inclination be as sharp as will,
My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent,
And, like a man to double business bound,
I stand in pause where I shall first begin,
And both neglect. What if this cursèd hand
Were thicker than itself with brother’s blood?
4. Mercury: God of commerce, messages, poetry, luck.
Hyperion: Titan God of Light
Jove: Roman King of Gods, & God of the Sky
Mars: Roman God of War
Hamlet is comparing each characteristic of his father to one of these powerful Gods, in order to show his mother how much superior his father was to Claudius. By giving his father all of these godly attributes, he is making Claudius seem weak and useless.
Act 3 Scene 4 Line 68
"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"
Personal Reaction: This act contained the most plot twists. I think that Ophelia is genuinely heartbroken and I feel bad for her. I wish that Hamlet would have just stopped being such a guy for once and made sure that she was okay, because she obviously isn't. Claudius is starting to face what he has done, and i'm looking forward to seeing how he handles his guilt in the final acts. Polonious death is going to be a very big issue to deal with, and i'm not sure how Hamlet is planning on sweet talking his way out of this one.
dooood
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