Hamlet 12ENG Essay Quotes

Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love, may sweep to my revenge.

Metaphorical image shows Hamlet’s eagerness

"The time is out of joint: O cursed spite, That ever I was born to set it right!"

The burden of revenge begins to weigh on Hamlet’s psyche. Begins the journey of his indecision.

"Am I a coward?"

Rhetorical question expresses Hamlet’s frustration with his own inability to act and avenge his father’s death.

“The play’s the thing, wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king.”

Metaphorical imagery shows Hamlet’s excessive thought

“Now I might do it pat, now he is praying”

Religious imagery + repetition creates urgency and shows that Hamlet has the perfect opportunity

And so he goes to heaven

Religious imagery shows moral conscience at play here

“Seems, madam! Nay, it is: I know not ‘seems’”

Repetition of the word “seems” introduces the complexity of false and appearances and inner truths.

“I have that within which passeth show.”

although one can easily put on outward appearances, what is ‘within’ cannot always be so easily determined. (juxtaposition)

“As I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on”

Dramatic irony creates tension as Hamlet now plots to put an act of feigned madness on.

“One may smile, and smile, and be a villain.”

Repetition of ‘smile’ emphasises the façade people can put on to hide their true intentions.

“Get thee to a nunnery.”

Shakespeare creates ambiguity here through the double meaning of the word “nunnery”, as referring to either a convent or a brothel. True intentions concealed

“God hath given you one face, and you make yourselves another.”

Metaphorical imagery symbolises how people can create different ‘faces’ for themselves through deceptive appearances and façades.