Textuality » 4A Interacting

GPellis-the closet scene lines 1-10 + definitions
by GPellis - (2011-02-09)
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THE CLOSET SCENE-FIRST PART (LINES 1-10)

This scene belongs to scene 4 act 3 it is set in Hamlet's mother's closet, this means that they have to speak about private feelings which nobody has to listen. Here Hamlet compares his father's portrait with his uncle's.

In the first line there's "this" this means that they are closer to the two portraits, in the second Shakespeare chose to describe the two men with the word "brothers" because he wants to underline that even if they are brothers they are totally different.

In the third line Hamlet starts to describe his father's portrait, he starts describing his father's brow which is grace, this means it has something divine, as a matter of fact Hamlet sees his father like a God and a divine figure. The first simile he uses to emphasize his father's perfection is his father's hair. He compares it with Hyperion's curls, moreover curls are sign of smartness, an important skill for a leader. Than he compares his father's forehead with Jove and Shakespeare, to underline the king's skills of commanding and fighting, compares the king with Mar, the war god. Than he compares Mercury, the herald of gods, to highlight his moral stability. Than he describes his father like the most beautiful man and the most powerful man so the reader can understand that Hamlet has a great esteem for him.

Hamlet uses a high register because he is speaking with a queen, his mother and also because he is talking about his father, the king who is a great person. He uses also euphemism, irony and lots of metaphors and similes.

Furthermore he describes his father perfection to highlight the faults of his uncle and to underline the great difference between them.

PORTRAIT: pɔːtreɪt/

▶noun

  • 1 an artistic representation of a person, especially one depicting only the face or head and shoulders.
  • 2 a description in language or on film or television.
  • 3 [as modifier] denoting a format of printed matter which is higher than it is wide. Compare with landscape.

PORTRAY: /pɔːˈtreɪ/

▶verb

  • 1 depict in a work of art or literature.
  • 2 describe in a particular way.
  • 3 (of an actor) play the part of.

PORTRAYAL:

Noun

1. A word picture of a person's appearance and character.
2. Acting the part of a character on stage; dramatically representing the character by speech and action and gesture.
3. A representation by picture or portraiture.
4. Any likeness of a person, in any medium.
5. Representation by drawing or painting etc.
6. The act or process of portraying; description; delineation.