Textuality » 4A Interacting

Hamlet, III act
by GTurco - (2009-01-13)
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The text is an extract from Hamlet, third act. Hamlet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in 1600/1601 and performed in 1602.

In the extract, Hamlet is in her mother's bedroom and he's talking to her.

He shows her two portraits, one of his father and one of his uncle and asks his mother rethorical questions ("have you eyes?") how can she love a " mildewed ear" .

Portraits became very popular in the Renaissance because were metaphor of people who were portaited.

Shakespeare makes the two caracters in comparision ( Hamlet's father and uncle) using two portraits.

Shakespeare makes a positive judgement of the father describing him with god's qualities; Gods's qualities that he uses underline specific moral qualities: Jove is god's father and god's king likeHamlet's father was the king and the most important figure in his kingdom; Hyperion is a Titan and this underlines that Hamlet's father was very strong and a point of reference for his nation; Mars is war's god and underlines Hamlet's father strong military power; Mercury is (in this case) the god of who can do things very quikly that underlines the king was very quick to make the right decision.

All this qualities are arranged in a climax.

All this accumulation of positive attributes ends up in a conclusion: Hamlet compairs his father to the most important God, strenght, point of reference for his kingdom, power and quick way of reasoning.

In addition the body's parts that Shakespeare uses stand in a methonimical way for the figure.

To underline the difference bertween the two figures Hamlet says that his mother lived before in a fair mountain (with Hamlet's father) and after in a moor (with his uncle).

In the dialogue Hamlet uses the impetative verb tens and this underline taht Hamlet talks with his mother as if he was the parent and his mother the child.

The use of imperativ sticks into mind how could his mother exchange partner.

In addition Shakespeare makes an emphatic use of the lenguage ( "can't you realize?") to stick what is written into mind.

The feeling that Hamlet's words convey are hatred ( "like a mildewed ear blasting his wholesome brother" ), sadness ("what grace was seated on his brow"), and disgust ("making love over the nasty sty") while Hamlet's mother feelings are remorse ("I see such black and grained spots as willnot leave their tinct") and shame ("speack to me no more").