1. Summary: Hamlet, Marcello, and Horatio stand guard outside Elsinore to watch for the ghost. Hamlet explains the Danish custom of carousing, and bitterly imagines the other countries' negative view of the aristocracy of Denmark. The ghost then appears and beckons Hamlet. Hamlet's companions warn Hamlet about following the phantom, believing that he could get harmed. Nevertheless, Hamlet follows the ghost.
2. Quote: "But to my mind, though I am native here and to the manner born, it is a custom more honored in the breach than the observance. This heavy-handed revel east and west makes us traduced and taxed of other nations. They clep us drunkards, with swinish phrase soil our addition; and indeed it takes from our achievements, though performed at height, the pith and marrow of attribute."
During these lines, I really feel for Hamlet and his kingdom. I understand where Hamlet is coming from; the Danish reputation really rests on the king's shoulders, and by acting irresponsibly, Claudius is soiling Denmark's reputation. This, unfortunately, is taking foreigners' attention away from the merits of the nation and towards its faults. How sad.
3. Reaction to the Ghost:
Finally! Some phantasmic action! Unlike the ghosts and witches in Macbeth, I really enjoyed the ghost in Hamlet. I think my intrigue springs from the movie, which did a nice job of portraying the eerie late Hamlet. In this scene, he is silent, which poses some questions. 1) Why can't he speak in front of Hamlet's friends? This is the second time he has refused to speak to them. 2) If the ghosts didn't speak to Hamlet's friends, is it possible that that he isn't speaking to mortals at all? In that case, is Hamlet hallucinating the bulk of the next scene? Hmmm... seems suspicious.
2. Quote: "But to my mind, though I am native here and to the manner born, it is a custom more honored in the breach than the observance. This heavy-handed revel east and west makes us traduced and taxed of other nations. They clep us drunkards, with swinish phrase soil our addition; and indeed it takes from our achievements, though performed at height, the pith and marrow of attribute."
During these lines, I really feel for Hamlet and his kingdom. I understand where Hamlet is coming from; the Danish reputation really rests on the king's shoulders, and by acting irresponsibly, Claudius is soiling Denmark's reputation. This, unfortunately, is taking foreigners' attention away from the merits of the nation and towards its faults. How sad.
3. Reaction to the Ghost:
Finally! Some phantasmic action! Unlike the ghosts and witches in Macbeth, I really enjoyed the ghost in Hamlet. I think my intrigue springs from the movie, which did a nice job of portraying the eerie late Hamlet. In this scene, he is silent, which poses some questions. 1) Why can't he speak in front of Hamlet's friends? This is the second time he has refused to speak to them. 2) If the ghosts didn't speak to Hamlet's friends, is it possible that that he isn't speaking to mortals at all? In that case, is Hamlet hallucinating the bulk of the next scene? Hmmm... seems suspicious.
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