Hamlet+4

5. When talking about Hamlet's murder of Polonius, Claudius says, "But so much was our love" (4.1.20). I found this quotation to be ironic/contradictory because (I believe they're talking about Hamlet, but I could be wrong?) he obviously does not love Hamlet nor does he really care what happens to him, as long as he is no longer in Denmark. It's also annoying that Claudius says, "My soul is full of discord and dismay," in reaction to this situation, but Claudius has also murdered someone and therefore, could be accused of being mad (4.1.46). In 4.3, King Claudius mentions that the decision to send Hamlet to England is "Deliberate pause," which the footnotes indicate to mean "the result of careful thought" (4.3.9). This is also ironic because clearly when Claudius killed his brother/Hamlet's father, he was not thinking carefully. This further proves that Claudius is a walking contradiction.

6. Hamlet no longer trusts anyone - finally! I think he has a right to be distrustful, but this paranoia also sort of leads to his true madness. In 4.2, Hamlet does not even tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, his childhood friends, where the body is (at the same time, he also knows that they are spies - so clearly, why would they tell him anything).

4 / 3. Hamlet says to Claudius, "My mother. Father and mother is man and wife,/ Man and wife is one flesh, (and) so, my mother" (4.3.60-1). - - I think I may come back to this quotation because I am still deciding/trying to grasp what I want to make of it. I know that it is significant in Hamlet's development and strong loyalty to his father. But if Hamlet sees his mother and father to be the same, then why is he so rude to his mother earlier in the play? Is Hamlet saying that his dead father/King Hamlet served as both his mother and his father? Then what does this make his mother? Does this add at all to the theory of the Oedipal complex, since he is talking about both of his parents?

5 / 4. Hamlet's soliloquy (4.4.34-69). This soliloquy demonstrates Hamlet's changes and his development into madness. Shakespeare implies this change when Hamlet says that "all occasions do inform against me/ And spur my dull revenge" (4.4.34-5). Hamlet is now triggered/encouraged by all of the feelings of hatred and dismay against him. As everyone disapproves of his actions and his madness, he feels more inclined to pursue this "revenge." At the end of this soliloquy, Hamlet says, "O, from this time forth/ My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth" (4.4.68-69). Hamlet's nature is now very aggressive and violent. His mind has become more focused on murder and blood than actually being loyal to his father, or making this right (was this ever his goal?). If I'm not mistaken, I believe this last line may be a heroic couplet (?), which could indicate that Shakespeare wants to draw attention to it. (Especially because Hamlet usually speaks in prose when he is alone).

5 (and a little 7). This may sound a bit harsh, but is it possible that Ophelia is just seeking attention? I know she is distraught over everything..But based on what we know of her relationship with her father, they were not that close - she just followed everything he said. At the same time, looking at the context of the time period, her faithfulness to her father does make sense. Either way, I think she was being a tad melodramatic..Drowning yourself is unnecessary. - On that note, I also think it is interesting that Gertrude delivers this news, as the other woman in the play who did not really have any real affection toward Ophelia. (Could it be possible that she is also lying? I think in this play, it is possible to question everything! The evidence is so ambiguous - 7.) In addition, I'd like to comment on the fact that in 4.5, when they are talking about Ophelia's madness, they question the fragility of "a young maid's wits," but when Hamlet was first accused of being mad, his mentality was never questioned (183). Gender standards (because women are more delicate) or something against Hamlet?

4. Claudius says, "Requite him for your father" to Laertes when talking about killing/avenging Hamlet (4.7.158). I thought this was ironic because Hamlet also wants to kill Claudius for his father (as Laertes wants to kill Hamlet for Polonius).