Quotes (Hamlet)

This section explains the key quote in the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is one of his most famous tragedies, exploring themes of revenge, madness, death, and morality. The play is filled with iconic lines that convey its central ideas and the complex emotions of its characters. Below are the key quotations from Hamlet, with explanations of their significance.

 “To be, or not to be: that is the question” (Act 3, Scene 1)

Speaker: Hamlet

Context: Hamlet is contemplating life and death, pondering whether it is better to endure the hardships of life or to end one’s suffering through death.

Significance: This soliloquy reflects Hamlet’s existential crisis, his inner conflict, and his deep despair. It explores themes of mortality, suicide, and the meaning of existence.

 “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” (Act 1, Scene 4)

Speaker: Marcellus

Context: Marcellus says this after seeing the ghost of King Hamlet, hinting at the corruption within Denmark.

Significance: This line symbolises the moral and political decay in Denmark under Claudius’s rule, setting the tone for the play’s exploration of corruption and evil.

 “Frailty, thy name is woman!” (Act 1, Scene 2)

Speaker: Hamlet

Context: Hamlet is angry at his mother, Gertrude, for marrying Claudius so soon after King Hamlet’s death.

Significance: Hamlet expresses his disillusionment with women, particularly his mother. It highlights his feelings of betrayal and his misogynistic view of women as weak and morally frail.

 “The play’s the thing / Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king” (Act 2, Scene 2)

Speaker: Hamlet

Context: Hamlet plans to stage a play mirroring King Hamlet’s murder to gauge Claudius’s reaction and confirm his guilt.

Significance: This quote shows Hamlet’s cunning and his reliance on theatre and art to reveal the truth. It demonstrates his hesitation to take immediate action, relying instead on proof.

 “Give me that man / That is not passion’s slave” (Act 3, Scene 2)

Speaker: Hamlet

Context: Hamlet speaks to Horatio, praising him for his rationality and self-control.

Significance: Hamlet admires Horatio’s ability to remain calm and reasonable, qualities Hamlet lacks. This highlights Hamlet’s internal struggle between emotion and reason.

 “Get thee to a nunnery!” (Act 3, Scene 1)

Speaker: Hamlet

Context: Hamlet speaks harshly to Ophelia, rejecting her and telling her to go to a nunnery (which could also mean a brothel).

Significance: This quote reveals Hamlet’s bitterness towards women, driven by his anger at his mother’s actions. It also shows his cruel treatment of Ophelia, whom he once loved, as part of his feigned madness.

 “The lady doth protest too much, methinks” (Act 3, Scene 2)

Speaker: Gertrude

Context: During the play-within-a-play, Queen Gertrude comments on the Player Queen’s excessive vows of love and fidelity.

Significance: This line is ironic, as Gertrude herself quickly remarried after her husband’s death. It raises questions about her loyalty and awareness of her own actions.

 “Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio” (Act 5, Scene 1)

Speaker: Hamlet

Context: Hamlet speaks while holding the skull of Yorick, the court jester he knew as a child.

Significance: This moment reflects on mortality, the inevitability of death, and the fleeting nature of life. It is a reminder of the equalising power of death, as even the once lively Yorick is reduced to a skull.

 “O, that this too, too solid flesh would melt” (Act 1, Scene 2)

Speaker: Hamlet

Context: In this soliloquy, Hamlet expresses his deep sorrow and suicidal thoughts after his father’s death and his mother’s remarriage.

Significance: Hamlet reveals his intense grief and disgust with the world, which is a recurring theme throughout the play. It introduces his contemplation of suicide and inner turmoil.

 “This above all: to thine own self be true” (Act 1, Scene 3)

Speaker: Polonius

Context: Polonius offers this advice to his son Laertes before he departs for France.

Significance: Although Polonius often gives hypocritical or superficial advice, this line emphasises the importance of integrity and self-awareness. However, it is ironic, as Polonius himself is not entirely honest or sincere.

 “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so” (Act 2, Scene 2)

Speaker: Hamlet

Context: Hamlet is speaking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about his dissatisfaction with Denmark, comparing it to a prison.

Significance: This quote reflects Hamlet’s philosophical outlook on life, suggesting that human perception shapes reality. It also speaks to Hamlet’s inner conflict, as his thoughts torment him.

 “I must be cruel only to be kind” (Act 3, Scene 4)

Speaker: Hamlet

Context: Hamlet says this to his mother, Gertrude, after confronting her about her marriage to Claudius.

Significance: This line encapsulates Hamlet’s belief that his harsh actions are necessary to bring about justice. It highlights his justification for causing pain in the name of truth, even if it hurts those he loves.

 “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life / Now wears his crown” (Act 1, Scene 5)

Speaker: Ghost (King Hamlet)

Context: The Ghost of King Hamlet reveals to Hamlet that Claudius murdered him.

Significance: This line confirms Claudius’s guilt and sets the play’s revenge plot in motion. The serpent imagery recalls the biblical story of the Fall, reinforcing the theme of treachery.

 “Brevity is the soul of wit” (Act 2, Scene 2)

Speaker: Polonius

Context: Polonius says this while speaking to Gertrude and Claudius about Hamlet’s apparent madness.

Significance: This is ironic because Polonius is known for his long-winded speeches. It reflects his self-deception and tendency to talk without much substance.

 “Madness in great ones must not unwatched go” (Act 3, Scene 1)

Speaker: Claudius

Context: Claudius expresses concern over Hamlet’s increasingly erratic behaviour.

Significance: This line reveals Claudius’s awareness of Hamlet’s potential threat. It also reflects the broader theme of madness, both real and feigned, and its consequences in the play.

“O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!” (Act 2, Scene 2)

Speaker: Hamlet

Context: In this soliloquy, Hamlet berates himself for his inaction after watching an actor become emotional over a fictional event.

Significance: Hamlet’s self-loathing and frustration at his inability to act decisively are central to his character. This soliloquy reflects his internal conflict between thought and action.

 “I am but mad north-north-west” (Act 2, Scene 2)

Speaker: Hamlet

Context: Hamlet says this to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, suggesting his madness is not genuine but controlled.

Significance: Hamlet admits that his madness is feigned, and this line highlights the theme of appearance versus reality. Hamlet’s manipulation of others by pretending to be mad is a key part of the plot.

 “O my prophetic soul! My uncle?” (Act 1, Scene 5)

Speaker: Hamlet

Context: After the Ghost reveals that Claudius murdered King Hamlet, Hamlet exclaims in shock.

Significance: This line reflects Hamlet’s suspicion of Claudius and confirms his worst fears. It solidifies his sense of duty to avenge his father.

 “Sweets to the sweet” (Act 5, Scene 1)

Speaker: Gertrude

Context: Gertrude scatters flowers on Ophelia’s grave during her funeral.

Significance: This line is filled with irony and sorrow, as Gertrude unknowingly offers flowers to her son’s lover, who died tragically. It contrasts the sweetness of the flowers with the bitterness of death.

“The rest is silence” (Act 5, Scene 2)

Speaker: Hamlet

Context: These are Hamlet’s final words as he dies from the poison.

Significance: Hamlet’s last words reflect the ultimate quiet of death, as his struggles come to an end. It underscores the theme of death and the inevitable silence that follows life.

These key quotes from Hamlet encapsulate the play’s major themes, including death, madness, revenge, and moral corruption. Each quote contributes to the development of characters, particularly Hamlet, and offers insight into the emotional and philosophical depth of the play. Understanding these lines and their significance is crucial in helping to analyse how Shakespeare uses language to explore complex human emotions and ideas.