Hamlet - Block C Extract Analysis Key Quotes (The Closet Scene)

With close reference to the language and imagery in this extract, examine how Shakespeare presents Hamlet and Queen Gertrude at this point in the play.

“Thou turn’st my eyes into my very soul;”

She acknowledges guilt but doesn’t clarify which specific misdeed is causing it.

“black and grained spots”

colour imagery associated with sin, evil and impurity.

Gertrude’s speech

Gertrude’s been deceiving herself but through making her look within, Hamlet has forced her into self-awareness.

“sweat of an enseamed bed… stew’d… nasty sty”

sibilance - disgust

“rank sweat of an enseamed bed”

graphic imagery

“nasty sty”

animalistic imagery

“In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed,/ Stew’d in corruption, honeying and making love/ Over the nasty sty!”

Hurtful language intended to degrade Gertrude.

The protagonist seems motivated by something very deep and dark.

Misogynistic views projected onto Gertrude.

“These words like daggers enter my ears;”

violent imagery - shows the extent to how much Hamlet’s words are hurting her.

“sweat Hamlet”

juxtaposition + contradicts the previous line - Queen Gertrude goes from angrily telling Hamlet off to pleading with him.

“A murderer and a villain!”

Exclamatory language - Refers to Claudius - Presents Claudius as a common thief.

“A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe/ Of your precedent lord; a vice of kings;/ A cutpurse of the empire and the rule,/ That from a shelf the precious diadem stole’

Shows off Hamlet’s intelligent linguistic skills - he’s taunting Gertrude for his own pleasure - each insult to Claudius is an insult to her.

[Enter ghost]

Only Hamlet can see the ghost - Raises the question of Hamlet’s sanity. - Antic-disposition?

“and hover o’er me with your wings,/ You heavenly guards!”

Biblical allusion and exclamatory language - Hamlet’s first reflex is to call for divine/spiritual protection in case the spirit is malevolent.

“Alas, he’s mad!”

antic-disposition working or is she right?

“tardy son to chide”

Hamlet’s inadequacy - the ghost has come to tell him off for ruining the revenge plot.