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Shakespeare
for Scholars: |
Shakespeare
for Everyone Else: |
| A room in the castle.
Enter KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE,
ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN,
and Attendants
KING CLAUDIUS
|
In a room at the castle, King Claudius and Queen Gertrude
are talking to two new characters. These are both college students, with
the unusual names of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. These guys are both very
good friends of young Prince Hamlet, it seems.
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Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern!
Moreover that we much did long to see you,
The need we have to use you did provoke
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard
|
Claudius welcomes the two, and thanks them for coming. He
also mentions the fact that he sent for the two of them to come: “The
need we have to use you did provoke our hasty sending” (lines 3-4).
Normally, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern would be off at Wittenberg, the college.
However, they have interrupted their studies because King Claudius asked
them to come.
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Of Hamlet's transformation; so call it,
Sith nor the exterior nor the inward man
Resembles that it was. What it should be,
More than his father's death, that thus hath put him
So much from the understanding of himself,
I cannot dream of: I entreat you both,
That, being of so young days brought up with him,
And sith so neighbour'd to his youth and havior,
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Claudius asks if they have heard of
Hamlet’s recent “transformation.”
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That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court
Some little time: so by your companies
To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather,
So much as from occasion you may glean,
Whether aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus,
That, open 'd, lies within our remedy.
QUEEN GERTRUDE
|
He invites the two students to stay awhile at the castle,
and seek out Hamlet, and to “gather so much as from occasion you may
glean” (lines 15-16). In other words, he wants them to find out everything
they can about young Prince Hamlet. Claudius is asking Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern to spy on their own friend.
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Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you;
And sure I am two men there are not living
To whom he more adheres. If it will please you
To show us so much gentry and good will
As to expend your time with us awhile,
For the supply and profit of our hope,
Your visitation shall receive such thanks
As fits a king's remembrance.
ROSENCRANTZ
Both your majesties
Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,
Put your dread pleasures more into command
Than to entreaty.
GUILDENSTERN
But we both obey,
And here give up ourselves, in the full bent
|
Queen Gertrude then interrupts, and she remarks how close
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are to young Hamlet. “And sure I am that
two men there are not living to whom he more adheres” (lines 20-21).
It would seem that these three are stuck together, like Superglue. |
To lay our service freely at your feet,
To be commanded.
KING CLAUDIUS
|
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agree to “lay our services
freely at your feet, to be commanded.” They agree to the plan, after
they get up off the floor. |
Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.
|
King Claudius thanks them: “Thanks, Rosencrantz and
gentle Guildenstern.”
|
QUEEN
GERTRUDE
|
Queen Gertrude, who never could tell these two guys apart,
also thanks them: |
Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz:
And I beseech you instantly to visit
My too much changed son. Go, some of you,
And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.
GUILDENSTERN
Heavens make our presence and our practises
Pleasant and helpful to him!
QUEEN GERTRUDE
Aye, amen!
(Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ,
GUILDENSTERN, and
some Attendants.)
|
“Thanks, Guildenstern, and gentle
Rosencrantz.”
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Enter POLONIUS
LORD POLONIUS
|
After Rosencrantz and Guildenstern leave, Polonius enters
the room. Polonius has two bits of “news.”
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The ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,
Are joyfully return'd.
KING CLAUDIUS
Thou still hast been the father of good news.
LORD POLONIUS
Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege,
I hold my duty, as I hold my soul,
Both to my God and to my gracious king:
And I do think, or else this brain of mine
Hunts not the trail of policy so sure
|
First, the two messengers who took letters to the king of
Norway have returned (see Act I, Scene two).
|
As it hath used to do, that I have found
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.
KING CLAUDIUS
O, speak of that; that do I long to hear.
LORD POLONIUS
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Also, Polonius tells them that he knows the cause of
Hamlet’s “lunacy.”
|
Give first admittance to the ambassadors;
My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.
KING CLAUDIUS
Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.
|
This interests the King and Queen, but Polonius tells them
they must first attend to the two messengers. |
Exit POLONIUS
He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found
The head and source of all your son's distemper.
QUEEN GERTRUDE
I doubt it is no other but the main;
His father's death, and our o'erhasty marriage.
KING CLAUDIUS
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Polonius goes and gets these two, Voltimand and Cornelius.
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Well, we shall sift him.
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The word "sift" means to question closely. |
(Re-enter POLONIUS, with
VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS.)
Welcome, my good friends!
Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway?
VOLTIMAND
|
The two ambassadors enter, and Voltemand explains what happened
over in Norway.
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Most fair return of greetings and desires.
Upon our first, he sent out to suppress
His nephew 's levies; which to him appear'd
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack;
But, better look'd into, he truly found
It was against your highness: whereat grieved,
That so his sickness, age and impotence
|
He tells how the King listened to their concerns. This sickly
old king had thought that Fortinbras was just planning an attack on Poland.
Poland is attacked all the time, so this was no big deal.
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Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests
On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys;
|
The King of Norway realized he might have been wrong,
and then called in the young warrior, Fortinbras. When the King of Norway
discovered that his nephew Fortinbras really had been planning on attacking
Denmark, the King ordered him not to. |
| Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine |
Young Fortinbras even received a "rebuke" from the King,
which means that the King scolded him. |
Makes vow before his uncle never more
To give the assay of arms against your majesty.
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee,
And his commission to employ those soldiers,
So levied as before, against the Polack:
With an entreaty, herein further shown,
|
Young Fortinbras had to vow that he would never attack King
Claudius. Apparently this problem is solved, and young Fortinbras will now
have to be satisfied attacking some other countries (especially Poland).
|
Giving a paper
That it might please you to give quiet pass
Through your dominions for this enterprise,
On such regards of safety and allowance
As therein are set down.
KING CLAUDIUS
|
They hand King Claudius a paper, which is an official request
that Fortinbras be allowed to "pass through" Denmark, on his way to attack
Poland. |
It likes us well;
And at our more consider'd time well read,
Answer, and think upon this business.
Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour:
Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together:
Most welcome home!
|
Claudius takes the pice of paper from him, and decides "it
likes us well." This is a bit much, though. After all, he did not even ask
the paper. |
Exeunt VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS
LORD POLONIUS |
The two messengers leave, having no
more lines to say.
|
This business is well ended.
My liege, and madam, to expostulate
What majesty should be, what duty is,
Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
Were nothing but to waste night, day and time.
|
Polonius is now alone again with King Claudius and Queen
Gertrude, and he changes the subject. |
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief: your noble son is mad:
|
Polonius explains that he will be brief, since
“brevity is the soul of wit” (line 96). |
Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,
What is't but to be nothing else but mad?
But let that go.
QUEEN GERTRUDE
|
Then, he discusses Hamlet’s “madness.”
|
More matter, with less art.
LORD POLONIUS |
Queen Gertrude has already grwon impatient with Polonius,
who is long-winded. She wants him to get to the point. |
Madam, I swear I use no art at all.
|
Truer words were never spoken. |
That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity;
And pity 'tis 'tis true: a foolish figure;
But farewell it, for I will use no art.
Mad let us grant him, then: and now remains
That we find out the cause of this effect,
Or rather say, the cause of this defect,
For this effect defective comes by cause:
|
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Thus it remains, and the remainder thus. Perpend.
I have a daughter--have while she is mine--
Who, in her duty and obedience, mark,
|
The word "perpend" means "think about it." |
Hath given me this: now gather, and surmise.
|
After Polonius blusters and stammers and beats around the
bush, he finally pulls out a letter, which Hamlet had sent to his daughter,
Ophelia. |
(Reads.)
|
Polonius reads it aloud, which is very nice of him, since
otherwise we would never get to know the contents. |
'To the celestial and my soul's idol, the most
beautified Ophelia,' --
(Stops Reading.)
That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is
a vile phrase: but you shall hear. Thus:
(Reads.)
'In her excellent white bosom , these, etc.'
QUEEN GERTRUDE
Came this from Hamlet to her?
LORD POLONIUS
Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful.
(Reads.)
|
|
'Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.
'O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers;
I have not art to reckon my groans: but that
I love thee best, O most best, believe it. Adieu.
'Thine evermore most dear lady, whilst
this machine is to him, Hamlet.'
(Stops Reading.)
This, in obedience, hath my daughter shown me,
And more above, hath his solicitings,
As they fell out by time, by means and place,
All given to mine ear .
KING CLAUDIUS
|
The letter is a pledge, of sorts. It seems to pledge how
much Hamlet loves Ophelia. It tells her not to “doubt” that he
does. She can “doubt ...the stars are fire,” and she can “doubt
the sun doth move.” She can “doubt” that truth can be a liar,
but she should never “doubt” that Hamlet loves her.
It is a poem, and actually quite romantic.
|
But how hath she
Received his love?
LORD POLONIUS
|
Claudius asks whether Ophelia has been receptive to Hamlet's
"love." |
What do you think of me?
KING CLAUDIUS
As of a man faithful and honourable.
LORD POLONIUS
I would fain prove so. But what might you think,
When I had seen this hot love on the wing--
As I perceived it, I must tell you that,
Before my daughter told me--what might you,
Or my dear majesty your queen here, think,
If I had play'd the desk or table-book ,
Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,
Or look'd upon this love with idle sight ;
What might you think? No, I went round to work,
|
Polonius exclaims "What do you think of me!" It is interesting
that he does not worry about what Claudius thinks of Ophelia. He is only
worried that his own reputation might be ruined. |
And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:
'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star;
|
Polonius explains how he advised Ophelia not to see Hamlet. |
This must not be:' and then I precepts gave her,
That she should lock herself from his resort,
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens .
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice ;
And he, repulsed -- a short tale to make -- |
The word "precepts" means "orders." |
Fell into a sadness, then into a fast ,
Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,
Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension,
Into the madness wherein now he raves,
And all we mourn for.
|
Polonius suggests that this is why Hamlet has been so upset,
lately.
|
KING
CLAUDIUS
Do you think 'tis this?
QUEEN GERTRUDE
It may be, very likely.
LORD POLONIUS
Hath there been such a time--I'd fain know that--
That I have positively said 'Tis so,'
When it proved otherwise?
KING CLAUDIUS
Not that I know.
LORD POLONIUS
[Pointing to his head and shoulder]
Take this from this, if this be otherwise:
If circumstances lead me, I will find
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
Within the centre.
KING CLAUDIUS
How may we try it further?
LORD POLONIUS
You know, sometimes he walks four hours together
Here in the lobby.
QUEEN GERTRUDE
So he does indeed.
LORD POLONIUS
|
|
At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him:
Be you and I behind an arras then;
Mark the encounter: if he love her not
And be not from his reason fall'n thereon,
Let me be no assistant for a state ,
But keep a farm and carters.
KING CLAUDIUS
|
Polonius next suggests a plan: he will set up a meeting
between Ophelia and Hamlet, and he will then hide himself so that he can
“listen in” on the conversation. Polonius plans to conceal himself
behind an arras, which was a large curtain used to divide rooms (see line
179). |
We will try it.
QUEEN GERTRUDE
|
Polonius also invites King Claudius to hide with him, so
they both can listen in. Does this sound like more spying? Have we seen this
sort of tactic at work before in this play? Do you smell a “motif”
coming on?
|
But, look, where sadly the poor
wretch comes reading.
LORD POLONIUS
Away, I do beseech you, both away:
|
Will Hamlet kill the King? Will the guards keep their mouths
shut? Will Hamlet’s two college buddies spy on him? Will Ophelia obey
her daddy’s wishes? Will Polonius ever shut up? Stay tuned, boys and
girls, for Hamlet arrives at just that moment...
|
I'll board him presently.
|
The audience hopes this is not nearly as vulgar as it sounds. |
Exeunt KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE,
and Attendants
Enter HAMLET, reading
LORD POLONIUS
(To the King and Queen,
as they leave.)
O, give me leave;
|
Hamlet approaches, and the King and Queen decide to exit,
so Polonius can try to question him. As he walks up, we notice that the young
Prince is reading a book.
|
(To Hamlet.)
|
Alone, Polonius tries to make “small talk” with
the young Prince.
|
How does my good Lord Hamlet?
HAMLET
|
Translation: “How ya’ doing, old buddy, old pal.
old friend...”
|
Well, God-a-mercy.
|
Translation: “I am well, if God have mercy.” OR,
“Well, God have mercy! Look what the cat drug in...” OR “Well,
God have mercy upon us, and spare me from talking to this nincompoop!”
|
LORD
POLONIUS
|
|
Do you know me, my lord?
|
Translation: (“Is this guy playing with a full
deck?”) “Quick! How many fingers am I holding up? Who am I? Who
plays quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys?”
|
HAMLET
|
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Excellent well; you are a fishmonger.
|
Translation: “I know you very well. You are a fish
salesman.” [OR] “I know you only TOO well. You, sir, are on a
‘fishing’ expedition, since you are spying on me, for the King.”
[OR] “I know you, very well. You are nothing but a fish salesman, since
you do not even have the guts to catch fish by yourself, and do an honest
labor, but you must resort to living off of other people’s labors.”
[OR] “I know you very well, indeed... I can tell by your looks, and
that smell... you sell fish.” [Take your pick, here, or choose all of
the above.] |
LORD
POLONIUS
|
|
Not I, my lord.
|
Translation: “You’ve got the wrong guy. It must
be some other smelly, old fool...”
|
HAMLET
|
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Then I would you were so honest a man.
|
Translation: “Then I wish you were as HONEST as a fish
salesman.” [Note—There is a stereotype that all fisherman lie,
and are dishonest. They supposedly lie about “the big one that got
away.” Also, fish sellers were known to cheat their customers, by putting
their thumb on the scales when they weighed a purchase. In other words, Hamlet
is clearly insulting the pompous windbag.]
|
LORD
POLONIUS
|
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Honest, my lord!
|
Translation: (“What does he mean? Did he just call
me... is he implying that I... could he actually be telling me... Nah!”)
“Uh, really?”
|
HAMLET
|
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Ay, sir; to be honest , as this world goes, is to be
one man picked out of ten thousand.
|
Translation: “Yes, honest. Since everyone is spying
on me and deceiving me, then finding an honest person is like finding one
in ten-thousand.” [OR] “Yeah, honest, you old fart, cause an honest
man around here lately is so rare as to be non-existent.”
|
LORD
POLONIUS
|
|
That's very true, my lord.
|
Translation: Uh, yeah... sure... (“Duh... I think I
agree with him... Do I agree with him?”)
|
HAMLET
|
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For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a
god kissing carrion, -- Have you a daughter?
|
Translation: [This is a tough one, but it should make sense
in a minute. For starters, “carrion” means the dead flesh of an
animal or a human. Also, some ancient scientists used to think that dead
flesh actually “bred” maggots. Why? They noticed how a dead body
would suddenly be full of the little nasty varmints after a few hours of
laying in the sun.] “If scientists were right, and the sun can actually
breed maggots in the corpse of a dead dog, because it is a dead corpse which
kisses God, if it can give birth to life...” [Now, for fun, look again
at the first phrase. The word “sun” might also mean “son,”
since the audience has no script to go by, and the sound is all that matters.
Now, try it:] “If the son [Hamlet] breeds maggots in a dead dog, [Ophelia],
who shall never breed, since you have ordered her not to see me, then she
will remain a virgin forever, and will only breed nasty little varmints —
It would take a God to kiss your daughter to cause her to conceive —
Oh, by the way, do YOU have a daughter?”
|
LORD
POLONIUS
|
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I have, my lord.
|
Translation: “Of COURSE, I have a daughter, but what
has she to do with all that dead flesh and maggot stuff?”
|
HAMLET
|
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Let her not walk i' the sun: conception is a
blessing: but not as your daughter may conceive.
Friend , look to 't.
|
Translation: “Then, do not let her walk in the hot
sun,” [OR] “Do not let her walk with the son [me].” “She
might breed some of those nasty little maggots. Conception is a blessing,
usually; If she were to conceive with the son [Me], it might be a blessing,
but not the way YOU would have her conceive. You ordered her to stay away
from me. Friend, I warn you. Think about it, you silly old goof.”
|
LORD
POLONIUS
|
|
[Aside]
How say you by that? Still harping on my
daughter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I
was a fishmonger: he is far gone, far gone; and
truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for
love; very near this. I'll speak to him again.
(Speaks to Hamlet.)
|
Translation: (“What did he say? He is still obsessed
over Ophelia, yet the guy did not even recognize me. He thought I sold fish.
He is mad. Three bricks short of a load. Although, I remember when I was
young, and used to go nuts over a member of the opposite sex. I shall try
to talk to the guy again.”)
|
What do you read, my lord?
|
Translation: “What is it that you are reading, since
you are walking around with that book plastered in front of your face?”
|
HAMLET
|
|
Words, words, words.
|
Translation: “Its just a bunch of words.” [OR]
“I can only see the words in the book, the meaning escapes me. I am
not really paying any attention to the context.” [OR] “Yet more
of your silly words, words, words... talk, talk, and more talk...” [OR]
“I can hear your words, but that is all. You are hiding your REAL purposes,
and trying to deceive me, you silly windbag.”
|
LORD
POLONIUS
|
|
What is the matter, my lord?
|
Translation: “What is the ‘matter’ or the
‘meaning’ of the words? What are they about?”
|
HAMLET
|
|
Between who?
|
Translation: “What is the matter? Between who? What
is the matter between me and Ophelia? Me and Claudius? Me and You?”
|
LORD
POLONIUS
|
|
I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.
|
Translation: “Uh, no, you misunderstood, I meant the
‘matter’ that you are reading.”
|
HAMLET
|
|
Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here
that old men have grey beards, that their faces are
wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and
plum-tree gum and that they have a plentiful lack of
wit , together with most weak hams: all which, sir,
though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet
I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down, for
yourself, sir, should be old as I am, if like a crab
you could go backward .
|
Translation: “Lies, sir. The author writes lies, for
the satirical old rogue claims that old men have certain qualities which
just happen to resemble you, but I consider the author dishonest for having
actually written it down in a book, even though it is the truth, in this
case...” “Also, you will one day be as old as I am, if you could
go backward in time, like a crab goes backward... you crab, you!”
[MORE THOUGHTS: Polonius is usually played with a beard, of course. The phrase
“gray beard” was an insult to any older man. Polonius may also
have a wrinkled face. If one has amber eyes, this was thought to be evil,
or sickly. Does Polonius also have “plum” or purple eyes? Perhaps,
if one has their eyes on the royal crown. “Purple” is the royal
color, after all. The “ham” is the leg muscle which propels one
forward. It is located on the back of your calf. If one had “weak
hams,” that meant that he will never do anything on his own, especially
fight or go to battle. This was an insult, in Shakespeare’s day. Hamlet
is calling the old coot a “chicken.”]
|
LORD
POLONIUS
|
|
[Aside]
Though this be madness, yet there is method
in 't.
|
Translation: “Although he is obviously wacko, it is
almost as if I could make some sense out of some of his words, if I only
had the intelligence to figure them out...”
|
[To Hamlet.]
|
|
Will you walk out of the air, my lord?
|
Translation: “Would you like to walk outside in the
fresh air...” (“This poor guy is in need of some fresh air. He
has gone completely batty”).
|
HAMLET
|
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Into my grave .
|
Translation: “Indeed, if I walk ‘out’ of
air, or into a place where there is no air, I will be walking into the grave,
where there is no air.” [OR] “If I walk with YOU outside, I may
be walking right into a trap, which might put me into a grave.”
|
LORD
POLONIUS
|
|
Indeed, that is out o' the air.
[Aside.]
How pregnant sometimes his replies are!
A happiness that often madness hits on,
which reason and sanity could not so
prosperously be delivered of. I will
leave him, and suddenly contrive the means of
meeting between him and my daughter.
|
Translation: “Oh, yeah, I see what you mean...”
“(I think.)”
ASIDE: “Some of Hamlet's replies seem so appropriate, somehow. Hmmm...
But, this is just a coincidence, that crazy people often sound more sane
than sane people could ever sound. That is proof that he MUST be insane.”
|
[To Hamlet.]
|
|
-- My honourable lord, I will most humbly
take my leave of you.
|
Translation: “My very good man, I beg your pardon”
[sucking up, sucking up] “but I am afraid I am going to have to leave
you, now.”
|
HAMLET
|
|
You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I will
more willingly part withal: except my life, except
my life, except my life.
|
Translation: ”There is nothing you can take from me
that I would not give up so easy as your ‘leaving’ me. Except,
of course, my life. My life. My life...”
|
LORD
POLONIUS
|
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Fare you well, my lord.
|
Translation: “Later, oh wacky one.”
|
HAMLET
|
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| These tedious old fools!
|
Translation: “These $#%$@#* fools!”
|
Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN
|
At this point, Hamlet's two school buddies, Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern, enter. |
|
But wait... The scene's not over yet. To go the conclusion,
you will need to click here. |