HAMLET - BETRAYAL/ISOLATION

QUOTE ONE

• "A little more than kin, and less than kind"
• "Tis unmanly grief"
• "Nighted colour"
• Hamlet aside;
• Can be interpreted two ways; either, simply, that Claudius has been unkind to Hamlet by marrying his mother or, more deeply, that Claudius is so different from Hamlet and his father that he is almost of another species

QUOTE TWO

• "The serpent that did sting thy father's life
• Now wears his crown"
• "Treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain"
• Ghost to Hamlet
• This is an effective image, as the word "serpent" has connotations of the serpent found in the Garden of Eden. Just as that serpent was deceptive and cunning, and tricked Eve, so too is Claudius a liar who has fooled Denmark. "Sting" implies murder was unexpected and painful.

QUOTE THREE

• "To be or not to be; that is the question"
• "nobler in the mind to suffer"
• Hamlet; alone
• Hamlet is contemplating whether he should live, or commit suicide. He is in pain, but wonders wether it is "nobler" to live in pain than face a potential eternity in hell. Hamlet wonders this as he feels isolated in the knowledge bestowed upon him by his father, and cannot confide in anyone.

QUOTE FOUR

• "God hath give you one face, and you make yourselves another"
• "Almost as cruel, good mother
• As kill a king and marry with his brother"
• "Tears like Niobe"
• Hamlet to Ophelia
• Ophelia has been caught spying on Hamlet for Claudius. Hamlet is angered, and implies that, just as makeup is worn to cover flaws, Ophelia has put on a fake sweet and innocent act to gain Hamlet's trust, when she is intact just as deceptive and untrustworthy as the rest. Also refers to women in general (tears like Niobe).

QUOTE FIVE

• "Good night, sweet prince"
• Ironic
• Hamlet's isolation only ends in death. Here, his friend Horatio mourns his death. Ironic as Horatio is the only one who has remained by hamlet's side, and loyal/honest.