Hamlet is one of my favorite plays. I consider it to be one of the most difficult, dense, and deep of William Shakespeare’s tragedies. I have read it many times, seen numerous stage and film productions, and have taught it in many of my classes. I have the joy of teaching it this summer in my “Renaissance Plays in Process” class for the Wescoe School of Muhlenberg College, and I will teach it again this fall in “Shakespeare.” I thought, therefore, I would offer a few of the important quotations from the play.
“There is special providence in the fall of a sparrow; if it be now, ’tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come. The readiness is all.” (Act 5. Scene 2. Lines 217-220)
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” (Act 1. Scene 4. Line 90)
“The play’s the thing/Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king.” (Act 2. Scene 2. Lines 605-606)
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. The Complete Works of Shakespeare 4th Edition. David
Bevington Ed. Longman. Chicago. 1997.
It’s nice to read some lesser known (to me) Hamlet quotes.
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Thank you!
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You are welcome!
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I think we hear some Stoic influences in that first quote. You’re right – Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most difficult yet rewarding works.
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I think you might be correct; certainly there is a wide range of philosophies used in this play.
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Though it’s probably the most well known, my favorite quote from Hamlet is “To be or not to be, that is the question.” The ultimate existential tantial statement.
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Typing too fast. Ignore the “tantial” word. 😄
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That is fine!
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My favorite as well. Played Polonious in a production years ago.
Thanks for this post.
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You are very welcome, and you are fortunate to have played in Hamlet.
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Reblogged this on Ayesha's Diary.
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Thank you!
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Alas, poor Jack Kerouac,
I didn’t know him at all.
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A nice paraphrase of Hamlet!
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