The closet scene

The famous Closet Scene belongs to the tragedy of Hamlet, act third, scene first.

This scene represents a very intimate moment, in which Hamlet finds a pretest to show his mother Gertrude the two portraits of his father and his uncle Claudius.

Right from the start Hamlet uses the imperative, the reader understand Hamlet does not feel insicure and the queen is directed by her soon. Hamlet's objective is to underline Claudius weak points.

In the 1^st line Hamlet starts comparing the two portraits, the use of this- this focuses on differences, it makes understand that even if they are brothers they are so different and also implies a negative opinion of Claudius. Also in the 2^nd line Hamlet underlines this characteristics using the words counterfeit presentment of two brothers.

He focuses his attention first on his father's portrait, this choice is not casual, he wants to underline the importance of his father.

In the 3^rd line Hamlet starts describing his father brow related to grace. He says: See what a grace was seated on this brow, the decision to connect grace to brow makes readers understand he wants to underline the characteristics of his father, they go behind the physical appearance.

In the same line the use of simple past (was) underlines his father is murdered.

In the 4^th line Hamlet compares his father's hair to Hyperion's hair and his father's forehead to Jove's one.

In the 5^th ,6^th and 7^th line he continues comparing his father to gods: An eye like Mars, to threaten and command; A station like the herald Mercury.

It is clear Hamlet presents his father as the best characteristics of the gods.

He has Hyperion's curls, the front of Jove, an eye like Mars, and a station like Mercury. Hyperion was one of the Titans. Jove was the king of gods. Mars was the god of war. Mercury is the messenger of the gods. Hamlet makes classical references in order to magnifies the figure of the father.

Continuing the analysis in the 7^th line Hamlet underlines the extraordinariness of his father.

He wants to make his mother reflect, he was her husband, the man she loved and there is too many difference between him and Claudius.

In the 11^th line Hamlet tries to make his mother understand what happened, Claudius poisoned his brother. He is the opposite of his father even if they are brothers.

Have you eyes?
Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed,
And batten on this Moor?

In these lines Hamlet asks his mother if she has got eyes, if she understand the situation. The repetition of the exclamation Have you eyes? (x2) makes the reader understand Hamlet is angry and offended.

He also uses a metaphorical language, he says his mother if she wants to feed that mountain and glut herself in that swap. In fact the marriage with Claudius can only cause more problems. In this lines there is a shift in language register, in fact while Hamlet describes his father he uses an aristocratic register reach of classical references. On the other hand when Hamlet describes his uncle he uses a degraded language, typical of poor people.

The comparison between Hamlet's father and Claudius is increased by the comparison between the mountain and the moor. The stylistic choices magnify the high characteristics of the father.

In the following lines Hamlet highlights the same concept but he quotes madness, ecstasy in order to emphasize his mother's inability ti judge.

Moreover Hamlet tries to find a reason of Gertrude's choices but he finds no solutions, he can not believe she loves him because she is too old to fell passion.

He continue criticizing his mother ( what judgement..?).

In the following lines Hamlet makes an association and he starts talking about madness.

In the 24^th line the protagonist blames to devil in order to find a solution to his mother's choices.

The succeeding lines repeats that normal senses would never choose a man like Claudius. In this lines Hamlet uses words connected to sense, like eyes, feelings, ears, sight, hands, smelling.

Finally Hamlet is disgusting because he thinks his mother is attracted only sexually by his uncle. In this lines he uses words that belong to a particular semantic field, like hell, flaming, wax, fire, burn, ardour... They refer to fire and passion.