Hamlet is Hamlet's lack of respect for the dead makes us wonder if his remorse was genuine. Please wait while we process your payment. This quote is ironic because Claudius is the one expressing it. Hamlet wants to be sure that Claudius is guilty so he devises a plan to test the ghost's story. However, Hamlet is an unusual revenging hero, and the discussions of revenge in the play highlight a conflicted view on vengeance. | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} foh! (Claudius, act 3 scene 3) "I must be cruel only to be kind; Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind." (Hamlet, act 3 scene 4) "How all occasions do inform against me, and spur my dull revenge." (Hamlet, act 2 scene 4) "Alas, poor Yorick! 's' : ''}}. At first Claudius does not explicitly state that he killed his brother. Yet this quote also works on another level, establishing a contrast between Laertes and Hamlet. We finally hear Claudius confess his sins in Act III, Scene 3, as he prays after viewing Hamlet's play The Mousetrap. "Claudius can be seen to be an effective, modern rule" "a strong monarch, like Claudius, might well be thought preferable to a weak but virtuous one: and probably better than someone like Hamlet, whose sanity is in doubt and who cannot act with decisiveness . By 'primal eldest curse,' Claudius is referring to the biblical story of Cain and Abel. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. But in an ironic way this also refers to the behaviors of Claudius, who murdered his brother, stole the throne and married his brother's wife. In fact, his obsession with Gertrude is so problematic that the Ghost returns in Act III, scene iv, to tell Hamlet to lay off his mom. Unlike Hamlet, Fortinbras has "mettle hot and full," and his actions have "stomach," i.e. HAMLETHaste me to know 't, that I, with wings as swiftAs meditation or the thoughts of love,May sweep to my revenge. IOT Solutions. Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as. These 'Hamlet' important quotes are some of the most famous Shakespeare quotes you can come across. It is in this very moment that Hamlet's thoughts turn bloody as he sets a direct course for revenge. 1. In his confession, Claudius reflects on the religious significance of what he has done: 'O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven. The plays the thingWherein Ill catch the conscience of the king. (II. First off, Hamlet, Fortinbras, and Laertes all want revenge for the deaths of their fathers. 2. Wed love to have you back! "My father's spirit - in arms - all is not well. Claudius 4. Hamlet reveals to his mother that his madness is nothing more than an act, but warns her not to reveal this fact to her husband Claudius. Act 1, Scene 2 I'll speak to it though Hell itself should gape And bid me hold my peace. Here are the best 'Hamlet' quotes. Claudius wonders whether Laertes actually feels as much grief as his performance of sorrow suggests. Hamlet says this to Claudius, having been escorted into Claudius's presence by armed guards after killing Polonius. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. I doubt some foul play., Physical imagery state of the body politic (Marcellus A1 S4), Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, Ghosts description of what the regicide amounts to A1 S5, Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder., Claudius admits his corruption that has given rise to the rotten state in A3S3 soliloquy, I am still possessed / Of those effects for which I did the murder, / My crown, mine own ambition, and my Queen, Continued imagery from the unweeded garden of A1 S2 now mentioned in closet scene by Hamlet, do not spread the compost on the weeds / To make them ranker, Claudius ethos how he has been trying to cure the rotten state A4S3 (in the wake of polonius death) what becomes his downfall, Diseases desperate grown / By desperate appliance are relieved, Ophelias mad words mock the disorder of the state by this stage A4 S5, Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark?, Claudius begins to realise his downfall, subtle foreboding of what is to come A4S5, When sorrows come, they come not single spies, / But in battalions, Claudius quickly calms Laertes rage, patronises and manipulates him A4 S5, Why now you speak / Like a good child, and a true gentleman, Dramatic irony in what he says to Laertes after Polonius death despite the fact we know he is guilty from the soliloquy, Claudius implies Hamlets deception has dwarfed his own, we know this is not true by how he is deceiving Laertes A4S5, I in forgery of shapes and tricks / Come short of what he did, Claudius, royal we, in relation to Polonius death reminiscent of court speech attempted solidarity, man of the people A4 S7, I loved your father, and we love ourself, Claudius reflects on how hard it was to calm Laertes and how his meddling is coming back to him A4 S7, Hamlets description of Claudius in the final scene, He that hath killed my king and whored my / mother, Thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane. (Hamlet), The foul practice / Hath turned itself on me;the King, the Kings to blame(T/I). My words fly up; my thoughts remain below. Oh, my offence is rank. Act 3, Scene 1 Oh, my offence is rank. Hamlet has legitimate reason for unhappiness: his stepfather, King Claudius, had murdered Hamlet's father. Now here's a revenge hero the groundlings can get behind: revenge is a higher ideal even than churchor so Claudius tells Laertes. " (Polonius, act 2 scene 2) " To be, or not to be, that is the question ." For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Hamlet William Shakespeare 2021-02-09 Hamlet, probably composed between 1599 and 1601, takes place in Denmark and tells how Prince Hamlet carries out his revenge on his uncle Claudius who murdered Hamlet's father, the king, and holds the usurped crown as well as nuptials with Gertrude, the mother of Hamlet. Hamlet 2. Essay on Hamlet. a doll's house quotes about marriage. Yea, and perhapsOut of my weakness and my melancholy,As he is very potent with such spirits,Abuses me to damn me. Hamlet (Act I, Scene II) - The play's opening phrase belongs to Hamlet. That would be scanned: A villain kills my father, and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven. After the King sees the play, which reenacts the murder as the Ghost told it to Hamlet, the King becomes visibly uncomfortable and runs from the room. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. In an aside that his meant to be heard by us, the audience, but not the other characters on stage, Claudius says: How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience. Sometimes it can end up there. And so he goes to heaven, And so am I revenged. Would you like to get a custom essay? Happy ending? All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Powered by WordPress. Laertes responds with deep offense to Claudiuss suggestion that hes faked his grief, and he expresses an earnest drive for revenge. Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit! You can view our. After getting his proof from Claudius reaction to the play, Hamlet finally has no excuses for not going through with it. Hamlet HAMLET Now might I do it pat, now he is praying, And now I'll do 't. [He draws his sword.] Who's Who in HAMLET King Hamlet: Dead when the play starts, he appears as a ghost. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you Examine how Claudius' quotes speak to the role he plays in 'Hamlet' and the journey of his development along the way. "Revenge should have no bounds" In this quote from Act 4, Scene 7, Claudius states that revenge should happen no matter what. Hamlet starts, Shakespeares of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (1603), as, This the late King, by remarrying his evil, Hamlet for many years, they were not viewed. The Theme of Deception in Hamlet Multiple Business Theme by, The opportunity to kill Claudius early in the, Adjectives noun, dog. A and an work, To in everyones business.Ophelia: Poloniuss daughter and kind, Rithwik that Shakespeare uses to further the plot, Hamlet love if Old Hamlet died. He wants to repent of his murder, but he doesnt believe he really means it. Hamlet, Act 3 Scene 1 "Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love" Hamlet, Act 2 Scene 2 "This is most brave, That I, the son of a dear father murder'd, Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words, And fall a-cursing, like a very drab, As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 not crazyto us. This path chosen by Hamlet symbolizes mankind's own struggle with temptation and corruption. Free trial is available to new customers only. Hamlet Act 3 Quotes " To be, or not to be - that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them. (I.v. It smells to Heaven. Claudius sees the murder as an opportunity to eliminate Hamlet, because Laertes's obsession with revenge leaves him vulnerable. Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? (5.2.63-70). While Hamlet will prove Claudius's guilt with his play The Mousetrap, in Act III, Scene 2, we the audience get a glimpse of that guilt in the beginning of Act III. Hamlet's speech is very carefully constructed, with reason prevailing for the first long stretch of rhetoric until Hamlet's passion ironically overwhelms him and he explodes, "Fie upon't! Commanded by his father's ghost in Act 1 to 'Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder' by his brother Claudius, who has robbed him of his wife and throne as well as his life, Hamlet swears that 'with wings as swift / As meditation, or the thoughts of love,' he will 'sweep to [his] revenge' (1.5. Hamlet, an intellectual and scholar, starts to ponder this concept and realizes that, even if he avenges his father, he will still be committing murder most foul.. So by his father lost. 1. 78 lessons In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the hero is the representation of society and mankind, blinded by a lust for revenge which steers him down the path of evil. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Ophelia 7. The play's the thingWherein I'll catch the conscience of the King.(2.2.627-634). Leave her to heavenAnd to those thorns that in her bosom lodgeTo prick and sting her.(1.5.87-95). Did Gertrude have an affair with Claudius before he killed Hamlets father? Or are you like the painting of a sorrow, hamlet (1.5.31-37) But to recover of us, by strong hand. This highlights a contradiction at the heart of all revenge tales. Additionally, Claudiuss confession also gives the audience (and only the audience) confirmation that he did, in fact, kill his brother. Laertes, was your father dear to you? To me, it is a prison." - Hamlet. As Hamlet, now tasked by his father's ghost with exacting revenge, pursues Claudius and looks to get proof of his guilt, the regal facade demonstrated in the first quote starts to crack. Seem to me all the uses of this world. Continue to start your free trial. We'd want confirmation of our spirit visitations, too. It is clear that his purpose in life, like Hamlet is blurred by this hunger for revenge. However, his reference to the primal eldest curse that has been laid on his offence alludes to Cains murder of his brother, Abel, as recounted in the Bible. What quotes show that Hamlet wants revenge on Claudius? That would be scanned.A villain kills my father, and, for that,I, his sole son, do this same villain sendTo heaven.Oh, this is hire and salary, not revenge. (III. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. The Ghost isn't too happy about Gertrude's "damned incest," but he tells Hamlet to keep her out of things anyway. Act 1, Scene 2 Quotes Thrift, thrift, Horatio! SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. I'll not be juggled with.To hell, allegiance! Hamlet wants Claudius to go to hell for his sins, so he reasons he cannot risk killing him now. The tension between Claudius and Hamlet is first introduced in Act I, Scene 2. Laurence Olivier as Prince Hamlet in the 1948 film adapatation of Hamlet Claudius For Hamlet, this is good enough proof of his guilt. A brothers murder. Claudius utters these lines at the beginning of a soliloquy in which he confesses to murdering his brother. Claudius: The new King. Do Claudius and Hamlet have more in common than they'd want to admit? Claudius is referring to Hamlet here and his unpredictable behaviors. These are some of the best Hamlet revenge quotes on Claudius from the play. Hamlet gets a perfect opportunity when he sees Claudius at his prayers, kneeling with his eyes closed:Now I might do it pat. Hamlet by William Shakespeare: Act 3 Scene 4 | Action, Characters & Quotes, Hamlet by William Shakespeare: Act 2 Scene 2 | Summary, Quotes & Analysis, Horatio in Hamlet by William Shakespeare | Analysis & Relationships, Hamlet by William Shakespeare | Literary Devices, Analysis & Examples, Hamlet by William Shakespeare | Ophelia Quotes & Character Analysis, Play-Within-A-Play in Hamlet by William Shakespeare | Summary & Significance, Propaganda in 1984 by George Orwell | Summary, Techniques & Examples, Carnivorous Island in Life of Pi by Yann Martel | Symbolism & Analysis, Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston | Summary, Analysis & Symbolism, Dramatic Irony in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles | Analysis & Examples. Designed by GonThemes. | If an actor can weep for a fictional character, why can't Hamlet get himself moving for his actual dad? Why does Hamlet encourage the actor to recite the speech about Pyrrhus and Priam? Claudius is no more Machiavellian than Hamlet; both ultimately believe that the end justifies the means, and both ultimately sacrifice humanity and humaneness in the acquisition of their goals. Hamlet feels empty without resolution to his father's death and since there is no justice system that is going to reveal the truth about his . Set in Denmark, the play depicts Prince Hamlet and his revenge against his uncle, Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's father in order to seize his throne and mar-ry Hamlet's mother. The harlot's cheek, beautied with plast'ring art, Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it. However, in Hamlet there are three main characters who are seeking revenge. #4- Here hamlet is thinking about revenge and how his thoughts and actions will be bloody. Hamlet's revenge is delayed in three significant ways. The object of that revenge is Claudius, his uncle and the reigning king, who killed Hamlet's father in order to take the throne and also marry Hamlet's mother, Gertrude. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one: ). Major problem alert: First, the doctrine of Purgatory doesn't say anything about murder helping Purgatorial souls get to heaven prayers, sure, but not vengeance. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! This Hamlet Scene-by-Scene Breakdown guides you through Shakespeare's longest play. As the object of Hamlet's anger, Claudius is the key antagonist, or opponent, of the protagonist in the play. | 2 Commanded by his father's ghost in Act 1 to 'Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder' by his brother Claudius, who has robbed him of his wife and throne as well as his life, Hamlet swears that . Vows, to the blackest devil! Unlike Hamlet, who keeps his rage largely to himself and trips himself up with uncertainty and hesitation, Laertes speaks plainly, telling Claudius he would cut the throat of the man who killed his father. By comparing his outward behavior to the makeup worn by a 'harlot,' Claudius is referring to the fact that many people in Shakespeare's time saw women's makeup as an abomination, as it covered up women's natural features and deceived men. flashcard sets, {{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | O heavy burden! A revenge tragedy is a play in which a character is wronged by someone and finds the only recourse is to take revenge, often through murder. 20% He then instructs Hamlet he needs to take revenge:Ghost: If thou didst ever thy dear father loveHamlet: O God!Ghost: Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. The procrastinating prince. Vows, to the blackest devil!Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit!I dare damnation. ii.561-567)In this passage, we again see Hamlet contemplating the danger of revenge. HORATIONow, sir, young Fortinbras,Of unimprovd mettle hot and full,Hath in the skirts of Norway here and thereShark'd up a list of lawless resolutesFor food and diet to some enterpriseThat hath a stomach in 't; which is no other(As it doth well appear unto our state)But to recover of us, by strong handAnd terms compulsatory, those foresaid landsSo by his father lost(1.1.107-116). Hamlet Act I, scene v-Act II, scene i Summary & Analysis - SparkNotes Summary: Act I, scene v. In the darkness, the ghost speaks to Hamlet, claiming to be his father's spirit, come to rouse Hamlet to revenge his death, a "foul and most unnatural murder" (I.v.25).Hamlet is appalled at the revelation that his father has been murdered, and Gertrude once doted on Hamlet's father, the king, but after the king's death, she hastily married his brother, Claudius. Pointing out that Hamlet's father lost a father and so did his father before him, he is saying it is just a part of life. Noteworthy Hamlet Quotes "No place indeed should murder sanctuarize; Revenge should have no bounds." - Claudius "I was born to set it right." - Hamlet "O, that this too, too solid flesh would melt, Thaw and resolve itself into a dew!" - Hamlet "Listen to many, speak to a few." - Polonius This more thoughtful, introspective approach to revenge is highlighted in many of the famous passages from the play in which Hamlet contemplates taking his revenge. An error occurred trying to load this video. Hamlet says to the Ghost, "Speak; I am bound to hear." He means that it is his duty to listen to the spirit of his father. Second, after the Reformation, Protestants rejected the idea of Purgatory as a "Catholic superstition." 63) . So Claudius' crime is not only bad in its own right, but is of a particularly horrible, or 'rank,' nature, as it recalls humanity's first crime. But he must present a public face that not only denies that horrible crime but also projects power as the new king and Hamlet's new stepfather. Claudius is a sneak who murdered and lied. Okay, Hamlet sure seems eager enough for revenge herebut this is before he knows who he has to kill (Claudius). Compared to Hamlet, Laertes is like a little vengeance roadrunner: when he learns that his father's dead, he returns from France immediately, storms the Danish castle, and promises that he'll be "revenged." claptone tulum tracklist; planetary health nursing. / About, my brains." (Hamlet does have a kind of passion after all -- not for revenge, but for expanding upon the lust and depravity of Claudius and . This quote from Claudius does a great job setting up Claudius and Hamlet's relationship. GHOSTO horrible, O horrible, most horrible!If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not.Let not the royal bed of Denmark beA couch for luxury and damnd incest.But, howsoever thou pursuest this act,Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contriveAgainst thy mother aught. Hamlets father is murdered by his uncle Claudius, and the play centers on Hamlets quest for vengeance. And for the day confined to fast in fires. Discount, Discount Code In the lines quoted, Claudius echoes the debate he had with himself earlier in the scene concerning the effectiveness of his prayer. (2.2.577-584), After watching one of the traveling players (actors) deliver a moving speech, Hamlet berates himself for his inability to avenge his father's murder. His brother died and he married his sister-in-law rather hastily. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. A face without a heart? This is what leads him to use a play to catch Claudius and make sure he is guilty before killing him:The spirit that I have seenMay be the devil, and the devil hath powerTassume a pleasing shape. Laertes' intentions are to take revenge for his father as he clearly states, only I'll be revenged most thoroughly for my father" (140-141) even if the price is his conscious. At the same time, Hamlet feels a sense of shame that he (a man who has a very good reason to fight), does nothing about the fact that his father has been "kill'd" and his mother has been "stain'd." Claudius, though, attempts to blame this tension on Hamlet's immaturity and moral failing, as he has not been unable to move past his father's death. Rosencrantz 8. Act 1, Scene 2 But to my mind, - though I am native here And to the manner born, - it is a custom Laertes's and Hamlet's revenge lead to the deaths of Gertrude, Laertes, Claudius, and finally Hamlet (V. ii. Act 1, Scene 2 Frailty, thy name is woman! However, Hamlet's actions indicate that his sorrow is more than simply grief. 2. But we also see Claudius needling Hamlet and trying to emasculate him, calling his mourning 'unmanly grief.' As is typical with Polonius, this is an obvious observation presented as profound insight, as all he's saying is people who do evil often present a mask of good deeds and pious behavior. #3- This quote displays revenge in a very strong manner of revenge, as Claudius states that revenge should have no bounds. The Hamlet quotes below are all either spoken by Claudius or refer to Claudius. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. And so, Hamlet must wrestle with his conflicting beliefs about revenge. Laertes Character Traits & Analysis | Who is Laertes in Hamlet? Polonius 5. That's just what you get for being a tragic hero. Horatio talking about fortnibras avenging his father's lost lands (1.1.107-116) I am thy father's spirit, Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night. 2022 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. Claudiuss questions echo Hamlets earlier doubts about the grief of his own mother, Gertrude, and in this sense Claudiuss questions speak to the plays larger anxiety about the mismatch between appearance and reality. succeed. He realizes that, by taking revenge, he may very well end up sending himself to hell and his murdering uncle to heaven. 'This sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father, But you must know your father lost a father, That father lost, lost his -- and the survivor bound. But Claudius eventually convinces Laertes to pursue a more roundabout path to vengeance. Hamlet by William Shakespeare Study Guide, {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}}, 'Alas, Poor Yorick': Quote's Meaning & Overview, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Hamlet's To Be Or Not To Be Soliloquy: Meaning & Overview, Meaning of 'The Rest Is Silence' in Hamlet, Meaning of 'Now Cracks a Noble Heart' in Hamlet, English Literature for Teachers: Professional Development, Comprehensive English: Overview & Practice, Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Writing: Standards, College Composition for Teachers: Professional Development, 10th Grade English Curriculum Resource & Lesson Plans, 9th Grade English Curriculum Resource & Lesson Plans, 11th Grade English Curriculum Resource & Lesson Plans, 12th Grade English Curriculum Resource & Lesson Plans, Shakespeare's Claudius: Character Analysis & Traits, Satire in British Short Stories: Elements & Examples, Scientific Romance in 19th-Century British Short Stories, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. Laertes confronts Claudius stating "O, thou vile King, give me my father!" (118-120) unlike Hamlet who never confronted Claudius about his. Revenge, for Hamlet, isn't simply about killing Claudius it's about making sure he suffers in Hell, just like he thinks his father is doing. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. He then instructs Hamlet he needs to take revenge:Ghost: If thou didst ever thy dear father loveHamlet: O God!Ghost: Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. Ill have groundsMore relative than this. Why does Marcellus say, Something is rotten in the state of Denmark (1.4.94)? . Horatio: He is Hamlet's school friend. What is the significance of the gravediggers? . #5- as Laertes hears that his father has been killed he immediately swears that he will find the person and avenge his father. To give these mourning duties to your father. 3. (If you've ever cried over a movie romance while remaining stony-hearted during an actual fight, you know this feeling. By comparing himself to Cain, Claudius illustrates that he understands the severity of his sin, and he expresses his sense of his own moral corruption through images of decay and putrefaction: his sin is rank and sends the smell of rot all the way to heaven. "I dare damnation. (1.5.14-28). Hamlet hesitates to kill Claudius in act 3 because Claudius appears to be praying. Hamlet acts 3-August 29, 2019. Claudius's Quotes Madness in great ones must not unwatched go. He starts to question if the Ghost is actually his father or a demon who is trying to trick him. In Act III, Scene 1, Claudius is talking with Polonius, who observes that with 'pious action we do sugar o'er / The devil himself' (III.i.47-48). Uh-oh. In this sense, Claudius shares Hamlets penchant for self-doubt and indecision. Hamlet: Son of King Hamlet recently returned from college for his father's funeral and his mother's marriage. Read on for 'Hamlet' revenge quotes in Act 1, 'Hamlet' revenge quotes in Act 2, 'Hamlet' revenge quotes in Act 4, 'Hamlet' revenge quotes Act 5 that will help you study and understand the play. He counsels his nephew: 'This sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet. Hamlet Hamlet is a classic example of a tragedy as Hamlet suffers while trying to avenge his fathers death and eventually dies at the end while attempting to do so. His madness must also not go unwatched. (IV.vii.). After all, two basic tenets of Christianity are that death is supposed to be a reward for believers, and sins can be forgiven through prayer. (III.iii.). HAMLETDoes it not, think thee, stand me now uponHe that hath killed my king and whored my mother, Popp'd in between th' election and my hopes, Thrown out his angle for my proper life, And with such cozenageisv't not perfect conscienceTo quit him with this arm? [Scene Summary] A moment later, the Ghost repeats the message, but more strongly. Hamlet is, of course, set on his path of revenge by the ghost of his father. Characters: Hamlet (speaker) #7: "How all occasions do inform against me, / And spur my dull revenge!" Act 4, Scene 4 Techniques: Hyperbole, soliloquy, exclamation Characters: Hamlet (speaker) #8: "but one part wisdom/ And ever three parts coward". Laertes 6. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. I'll have groundsMore relative than this. iii.74-80)Hamlet thinks that Claudius, with his clean soul from his prayers, will be rewarded by going to heaven. For centuries critics have tied themselves in knots trying to solve the baffling problem Hamlet appears to pose. " It smells to Heaven. Or does he? Dont have an account? Act 3, Scene 1 How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience! Hamlet is afraid that if he kills him at that moment, Claudius will go to heaven. His father appears in Act I, Scene 5 and tells of how his brother Claudius murdered him to steal his throne and his wife. What makes Claudius a villain is that he is wrong, and Hamlet is right. So, is Hamlet more concerned with getting the throne than avenging his father? As Hamlet realizes that King Claudius murdered his father, he is uncertain to kill him. And, of course, Hamlet includes perhaps the most famous of all Shakespeare's lines, spoken by Hamlet himself: "Neither a borrower nor a lender be" (Polonius, act 1 scene 3) This above all: to thine own self be true " (Polonius, act 1 scene 3) " Brevity is the soul of wit. Hamlet, Part 1: An Introduction to Elizabethan Theater, Wants his state to move on from the death A1 S2, we with wisest sorrow think on him / Together with remembrance of ourselves, Fortinbras weak supposal of Denmark (implicit of the actual corruption) A1 S2, Our state to be disjoint and out of frame, Foreboding of the revelation of Claudius regicide by Hamlet A1 S2, My fathers spirit in arms all is not well. But Hamlet treats the subject differently than revenge plays like those mentioned above.