4.4.33-65+-+Hamlet


 * __ Fiction Hamlet Act 4 Scene 4  __** Billy Huddleston

Author- William Shakespeare Date published- Written in between 1599 and 1601

__ Passage from Act 4 Scene 4- Lines 31-66 __ How all occasions do inform against me, And spur my dull revenge! What is a man, If his chief good and market of his time Be but to sleep and feed? a beast, no more. Sure, he that made us with such large discourse, Looking before and after, gave us not That capability and god-like reason To fust in us unused. Now, whether it be Bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple Of thinking too precisely on the event, A thought which, quarter'd, hath but one part wisdom And ever three parts coward, I do not know Why yet I live to say 'This thing's to do;' Sith I have cause and will and strength and means To do't. Examples gross as earth exhort me: Witness this army of such mass and charge Led by a delicate and tender prince, Whose spirit with divine ambition puff'd Makes mouths at the invisible event, Exposing what is mortal and unsure To all that fortune, death and danger dare, Even for an egg-shell. Rightly to be great Is not to stir without great argument, But greatly to find quarrel in a straw When honour's at the stake. How stand I then, That have a father kill'd, a mother stain'd, Excitements of my reason and my blood, And let all sleep? while, to my shame, I see The imminent death of twenty thousand men, That, for a fantasy and trick of fame, Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause, Which is not tomb enough and continent To hide the slain? O, from this time forth, My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!

In the very beginning of the scene Fortinbras tells a captain to go to the Danish king to ask permission for the movement of his troops into Denmark. He also asks the captain to ask the king of any request that he wishes to be carried out by Fortinbras in return for the passing of his army through the King’s land. Hamlet then runs into the captain on his way to the king and asks “Whose powers are these?” (Line 10) The Captain answers, “They are of Norway, sir.” (Line 11) Hamlet finds out that Fortinbras’ army is going to invade some part of Poland and he learns that Fortinbras, the son of the old king of Norway is leading the army. In Act 4 scene 4, Hamlet is going back to Denmark to exact his revenge on his uncle for murdering his father.

 In this passage Hamlet is revealed to have made up his mind on whether or not to kill his uncle for murdering his father and marrying his father’s widow, Hamlet’s mom. Hamlet compares himself to an animal that is either over thoughtful in his plans to take his revenge or to cowardly to act upon his thoughts. The attack on Poland parallels itself with the thoughts in Hamlet’s mind on whether or not the hurry and take his revenge or not. The commander of the army crossing Denmark to get to Poland is compared to Hamlet’s plans as he is talking to himself. He says that he has the means, willpower and ability to take his revenge, but he does not know why he can’t do it. He states that the commander of the army, Fortinbras, is fighting over something so small that no one wants it, but he is willing to risk his life for the honor. Hamlet sees a connection in having to commit murder for his father’s honor.

 This soliloquy moves the plot forward by showing that Hamlet knows what he must do, obtains the necessary means, ability and willpower to do it and sets forth with his plan to carry it out. An analogy is used to bring in the army of Fortinbras and hamlet’s ordeal. This brings up the theme of the play by having the main character Hamlet, make an important decision that changes the outcome of something of great importance. Life choices will effect what happens in the future and this is what Shakespeare shows in this scene.

 The structure of the passage is simple lines that make no emphasis on a certain point of the soliloquy, but does pull the overall passage forward in the mind of the reader has the climax of Hamlet’s choice of getting his revenge on his uncle. The importance of the structure makes the passage look like just another avenue in the play, but in the passage many important things are happening that advances the plot and defines Hamlet as the hero in the play. Hamlet may have been painted as the hero before this time in the play, but after this speech of his, he makes up his mind to complete his “hero’s task.”

The elevated diction in the passage shows the maturity of Hamlet finally coming through in his character. Slowly growing up throughout the course of the play, Hamlet is making life changing decisions and trying to be brave and dignified in his actions.

 The imagery of the scene comes into play when Hamlet notices around him that the 20,000 men led by Fortinbras, march almost certainly to their doom, but they go anyways for the honor that shall be their when they have accomplished their deed. Hamlet uses the symbolism of the army to show what he must do in order to take his revenge for his father.

 Controlling idea for the commentary: Hamlet as a rising character. - This passage shows him rising to his potential and him noticing that he can do what he feels needs to be done, he just needs the courage to face death by himself. He is committing himself to the plan of killing his uncle in the name of his murdered father and his “stained mother.” The meaning of the passage to the reader could put into understanding how Hamlet is feeling at the time that he is making a huge decision. The structure of the passage shows the clarity of thought, instead of the confusion that he has been going through throughout the play. The development of the character is at the climax point in this passage and the commentary can focus mainly on that.

Features for controlling idea for commentary: Imagery, Diction, Time, Comparisons and Advancement of plot.

Conclusion:  This passage is relevant to the progress of the play by adding in another avenue of thought for the audience to think of while they are watching Hamlet’s ordeals. It is part of a sub plot that gives off information about the main character instead of the plot. The passage makes ties to the importance of life and how a life is full of honor and that must be fought for even if the chance is not great that the person fighting, will come out alive. This relation to life gives off the feeling of memories coming back to you when you hear it or read it. It brings out the importance of life as one thing, and honor of that life as an important aspect of that human life.