Hamlet Act I Important Quotes Study Notes

Text: “Before my God, I might not this believe/Without the sensible and true avouch/ Of my own eyes…This bodes some strange eruption to our state”
A) Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 75-76
B) Speaker: Horatio
C) Context: Horatio speaks these lines after witnessing the appearance of the Ghost that resembles King Hamlet. His disbelief reflects the tension and uncertainty regarding the state of Denmark, foreshadowing chaotic events. It highlights the theme of the supernatural.

Text: “A little more than kin, and less than kind!”
A) Act 1, Scene 2, Line 65
B) Speaker: Hamlet
C) Context: Hamlet utters this line in response to King Claudius referring to him as his son. Hamlet’s remark underscores the unsettling nature of his relationship with Claudius, now both his uncle and stepfather, hinting at the underlying tension and resentment.

Text: “Seems, madam? Nay it is. I know not seems.”
A) Act 1, Scene 2, Line 76
B) Speaker: Hamlet
C) Context: Hamlet responds to Gertrude’s inquiry on how he is feeling. His declaration indicates a difference between appearance and reality, a recurring theme throughout the play that sets the stage for his later struggles with deception.

Text: “Fie, ‘tis a fault to heaven,/A fault against the dead, a fault to nature,/To reason most absurd, whose common theme/Is death of fathers”
A) Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 147-150
B) Speaker: Hamlet
C) Context: Hamlet reflects on his mother's hasty marriage to Claudius following King Hamlet's death. This quote expresses his disdain for the situation and the unnatural nature of the events surrounding the death and remarriage, emphasizing his inner turmoil.

Text: “O that this too too sullied flesh would melt,/Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew,/ Or that the Everlasting had not fixed/His cannon ‘gainst self-slaughter.”
A) Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 129-132
B) Speaker: Hamlet
C) Context: Expressing deep sorrow, Hamlet wishes for his physical body to disappear. This soliloquy reveals his profound grief and contemplation of suicide, raising themes of mortality and despair.

Text: “Frailty, thy name is woman”
A) Act 1, Scene 2, Line 146
B) Speaker: Hamlet
C) Context: Hamlet criticizes his mother for her quick remarriage. This statement generalizes women's perceived weaknesses, reflecting Hamlet’s misogyny and disappointment toward femininity, particularly in the face of his father's death.

Text: “Thrift, thrift, Horatio. The funeral baked meats/Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.”
A) Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 180-181
B) Speaker: Hamlet
C) Context: Hamlet comments on the irony that the food from the funeral feast was used at the wedding. This illustrates his bitterness about the rapid transition from mourning to celebration, and suggests that time has not allowed for proper grief.

Text: “For the apparel oft proclaims the man”
A) Act 1, Scene 3, Line 68
B) Speaker: Polonius
C) Context: Polonius advises Laertes to be mindful of appearances as he goes off to France. This adage emphasizes the value placed on outward appearances in society, linking clothing to one’s reputation and character.

Text: “Neither a borrower nor a lender be;/For loan oft loses both itself and friend”
A) Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 75-76
B) Speaker: Polonius
C) Context: This is part of Polonius's advice to Laertes, emphasizing the risks involved in monetary dealings among friends and family. It presents an ethical standpoint on financial responsibilities.

Text: “This above all, to thine own self be true,/And it must follow as the night the day/Thou canst not then be false to any man”
A) Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 78-80
B) Speaker: Polonius
C) Context: Polonius encourages Laertes to prioritize authenticity and integrity over any external pressures, suggesting that being true to oneself is foundational for honest relationships.

Text: “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”
A) Act 1, Scene 4, Line 90
B) Speaker: Marcellus
C) Context: Marcellus expresses his concern about the ominous events surrounding the ghostly appearance. It signifies the moral and political corruption within Denmark, framing the atmosphere of the play.

Text: “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life/ Now wears his crown…” “O my prophetic soul!”
A) Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 39-40
B) Speaker: Ghost (of King Hamlet)
C) Context: The Ghost reveals Claudius's treachery to Hamlet. This pivotal moment brings to light the themes of betrayal and revenge, setting in motion Hamlet's quest for justice against his uncle.

Text: “If thou has nature in thee, bear it not.”
A) Act 1, Scene 5, Line 105
B) Speaker: Ghost (of King Hamlet)
C) Context: The Ghost implores Hamlet to avenge his murder, stating that it is against his nature to accept such wrongdoing. This appeals to Hamlet’s sense of duty and honor, strengthening the play’s themes of revenge.

Text: “O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain!/ … -- meet it is I set it down/That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain./At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark.”
A) Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 108-113
B) Speaker: Hamlet
C) Context: Hamlet wrestles with the duality of Claudius's nature—his outward kindness versus his inner evil. This highlights the theme of appearance versus reality that permeates the play.

Text: “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,/Than are dreamt of in your philosophy”
A) Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 166-167
B) Speaker: Hamlet
C) Context: Hamlet speaks to Horatio about the complexity of existence and the supernatural after encountering the Ghost. This expands upon themes of the unknown and challenges the limits of human understanding.

Text: “(As I perchance hereafter shall think meet/To put an antic disposition on)”
A) Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 172-173
B) Speaker: Hamlet
C) Context: Hamlet contemplates feigning madness, which he believes will help him navigate the treachery within the court while seeking revenge. This foreshadows his deceptive behavior and its implications.

Text: “The time is out of joint. O cursed spite,/That ever I was born to set it right!”
A) Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 188-189
B) Speaker: Hamlet
C) Context: Reflecting on the burdens of his fate, Hamlet acknowledges the chaotic state of Denmark and his role in correcting it. This quote captures the essence of his internal struggle and the weight of expectation placed upon him.