Key Quotations (DP IB English A: Language and Literature: HL): Revision Note

Hamlet: Quotations

Remember , you should use textual references, including quotations. This means summarising, paraphrasing, referencing single words and the referencing of plot events are all as valid as quotations in demonstrating that you understand the play. It is important that you remember that you can evidence your knowledge of the text in these two equally valid ways: both through references to it and direct quotations from it. 

Overall, you should aim to secure a strong knowledge of the text, rather than rehearsed quotations, as this will enable you to respond to the question. It is the quality of your knowledge of the text which will enable you to select references effectively.

If you are going to revise quotations, the best way is to group them by character, or theme. Below you will find definitions and analysis of the best quotations, arranged by the following themes:

• Appearance versus reality

• Order and disorder

• Mortality and decay

• Sex and love

• Revenge

Appearance versus reality

One of the most prominent manifestations of the theme of appearance and reality is the deceptive nature of several key characters. This permeates the play, challenging characters and audiences to discern the truth behind the façades presented by the characters.

 “This above all: to thine own self be true” – Polonius, Act I, Scene III

Meaning and context

• Polonius speaks this line as he imparts fatherly advice to his son, Laertes, who is preparing to depart for France

Analysis

• In this quote, Polonius is offering guidance to Laertes on how to navigate the world and maintain one's integrity

• Polonius gives this advice about being true to oneself while he himself is often deceitful, exemplifying the hypocrisy and irony in the play:

  • This contradiction underscores the theme of appearance versus reality, highlighting the disparity between how characters present themselves and their true natures 

• The quote raises questions about the tension between individualism and conformity:

  • It suggests that in a world full of expectations and pressures, maintaining one's individuality and integrity is of paramount importance

• Laertes’s adherence to these words could be contrasted with Hamlet's struggle to find his own true self and his delay in taking action

“Seems, madam? Nay, it is. I know not ‘seems” - Hamlet, Act I, Scene II

Meaning and context

• In this line, Hamlet is addressing his mother, Queen Gertrude, after she has queried why he is so affected by his father’s death

Analysis

• In this quote, Hamlet admits that his grief and sorrow are not just an outward appearance or a facade but rather, they are genuine and deeply felt and that he is truly mourning the loss of his father

• By repeating the word “seems” and then denying its validity, Shakespeare uses antithesis to convey the conflict between appearance and reality:

  • Hamlet's refusal to accept mere appearances reveals his deep contemplative nature and scepticism

• This quote highlights Hamlet's deep sense of melancholy and alludes to his introspective and philosophical struggles

• It also foreshadows Hamlet’s struggles with the authenticity of the people and events around him

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks” - Queen Gertrude, Act III, Scene II

Meaning and context

• Queen Gertrude speaks this line during a performance within the play, where a character in a play within the play is vehemently declaring her love and fidelity to her husband

Analysis

• This quote carries a strong sense of irony:

  • Queen Gertrude, who is herself entangled in a web of deceit and intrigue, comments on the insincerity of the queen's protestations of love

• Gertrude's remark suggests that the character's protestations of love are excessive and insincere:

  • She could be recognising a parallel between the play's character and her own situation, realising that the queen in the play is trying too hard to convince others of her innocence

  • She may be subconsciously acknowledging her own guilt and insincerity,  particularly regarding her hasty marriage to Claudius after the death of King Hamlet 

• This quote alludes to the nature of truth and lies, sincerity and deceit

Order and disorder

The play depicts a world where the established order of the Danish court is disrupted by treachery, deception and moral decay. Through the characters and their actions, Shakespeare explores the consequences of this disorder and the profound impact it has.

“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” -  Marcellus, Act I Scene IV

Meaning and context

•  This line is spoken by Marcellus, a guard on duty at the castle of Elsinore to Horatio,  Hamlet's friend and confidant, as they both witness the ghost of King Hamlet, walking the grounds

Analysis

• The quote sets a foreboding and ominous tone and suggests that something is seriously amiss or corrupted within the kingdom of Denmark

• It foreshadows the impending tragedy and turmoil that will unfold

• The phrase “something is rotten” metaphorically points to the idea of political corruption and moral decay within the state:

  • It is metaphorically likened to a decaying body, implying that corruption has infiltrated the highest levels of power

• Marcellus's comment reflects suspicions about the legitimacy of Claudius's rule and the circumstances surrounding the succession:

  • On the surface, Denmark may appear stable and prosperous, but beneath it is plagued by deception, treachery and disorder

“O, speak to me no more; these words like daggers enter in mine ears. No more, sweet Hamlet!” Gertrude, Act I, Scene V

Meaning and context

In this quote, Queen Gertrude is pleading with Hamlet to stop speaking because his words hint at the truth at Claudius's murder of King Hamlet

Analysis

• The simile of words being like daggers is used to convey the disruptive nature of the truth

• Here, the disorder is not only in the external state but also within the relationships and the minds of the characters

• Hamlet's quest for truth and justice creates a disruption in the façade of order maintained by Claudius, revealing the underlying chaos and corruption

• This quote also highlights the strained relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude

Mortality and decay

The play presents a world marked by the inevitability of death and the decay of both physical and moral realms. It explores the universal inevitability of death, both as a physical reality and a philosophical contemplation.

“To be or not to be, that is the question” – Hamlet, Act III, Scene I

Meaning and context 

It is spoken by Prince Hamlet, in Act III, Scene I and delves into existential questions, moral dilemmas, indecision, the corrupting nature of power and the fragile line between madness and sanity

Analysis

• This quote delves into the philosophical question of existence:

  • Hamlet is contemplating the nature of life and death and whether it is nobler to endure the hardships and suffering of life or to opt for the unknown of death

• The quote encapsulates the fundamental human dilemma of whether it is better to continue living despite life's challenges or to take one's own life to escape them:

  • This internal struggle with existence defines Hamlet's character

• Hamlet's contemplation in this soliloquy is symbolic of his indecision and procrastination,  which are recurring ideas in the play:

  • He reflects on the consequences of action and inaction and is paralysed by his inability to make decisions

• Hamlet's contemplation of life and death also ties into the theme of madness:

  • Throughout the play, Hamlet's sanity is questioned and his philosophical musings contribute to the perception that he may be losing his mind

“Goodnight, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.” – Horatio, Act V, Scene II

Meaning and context

• This line is spoken by Horatio, Hamlet's close friend and confidant, upon witnessing Hamlet's death at the end of the play

Analysis

• Horatio's words function as a eulogy:

  • He addresses Hamlet affectionately as “sweet prince” expressing his deep sorrow and grief at the loss of his friend

• The reference to “flights of angels” elevates Hamlet's character to a princely and noble status even in death, underscoring the tragedy of his demise

• The quote marks the resolution of the play's central conflict and its tragic conclusion:

  • Hamlet's journey of self-discovery, revenge and inner turmoil have come to an end and Horatio's words provide a sense of finality

Horatio's words prompt the audience to reflect on the transient nature of human life and the inevitability of death

Sex and love

Several characters are connected by sexual relationships, love or marriage. The theme of sex and love is exemplified by the dysfunctional romantic relationships that define these characters.

“Frailty, thy name is woman!” – Hamlet, Act I, Scene II 

Meaning and context

• This quote is said by Prince Hamlet, in Act I, Scene II and expresses his deep disillusionment and frustration with women, particularly in the context of his mother,  Queen Gertrude

Analysis

• It could be viewed that Hamlet's words reflect a misogynistic view, suggesting that women are inherently weak or fickle:

  • Hamlet accuses his mother Gertrude of being morally weak and sees his mother's hasty remarriage to Claudius as morally questionable

• Hamlet's expression of his mother's frailty can also be seen as reflective of his own internal conflict and sense of moral duty:

  • He is torn between his love and loyalty to his mother and his duty to avenge his father's murder

  • This inner turmoil leads to Hamlet's indecision and inaction and his inability to reconcile his conflicting emotions

Revenge

“Though this be madness, yet there is method in't” – Polonius, Act II, Scene II

Meaning and context

• Polonius utters this line as he observes Hamlet's seemingly irrational behaviour, which includes his erratic speech and actions

Analysis

•  The phrase “there is method in't” suggests that Polonius believes that behind Hamlet's madness, there is a deliberate plan or strategy and that Hamlet is feigning madness for a specific purpose 

• The quote ties into the broader themes of deception and appearance versus reality:

  • Hamlet's feigned madness is just one example of the many layers of deception and pretense in the play, where characters often wear masks to hide their true intentions

• The quote foreshadows the unfolding of the play, as Hamlet's feigned madness becomes a central element in his plan to uncover the truth about his father's murder and seek revenge against Claudius:

  • It demonstrates Hamlet's ability to maintain his façade of madness while pursuing a hidden agenda