Monday, January 9, 2012

Class Blog Writing #1: Hamlet 1.1-1.2

Write your reaction to the beginning of Hamlet, focusing on Act 1, Scenes 1 and 2 and especially on Hamlet's first soliloquy, "O, that this too too sullied flesh would melt..." (1.2.129-159).  What is Hamlet feeling here? What are the causes of his strong emotions? Is this believable? Have you or someone you know ever felt like this?  (Write minimum of 4-5 sentences, pls.)

4 comments:

  1. Poor Hamlet; his dad has just passed and already his mom has seemed to move on. She remarried a mere 3 months after her dear husband passed and worst of all, according to young Hamlet, was that his mother married his uncle. I don't know how I would be able to cope with my father passing especially if my mom remarried my uncle. I don't think I could ever get over the weirdness of that situation (especially because my dad is an identical twin). Hamlet handled his situation better than I would have. He is able to control himself and emotions whereas I would not be able to. He still blames his mother for deserting him and his father for a far less noble and more interested in furthering his own reputation. Hamlet has every right to be upset and I hope that he will be able to reveal his uncle's and mom's true motives behind the rushed marriage and other questionable decisions.

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  2. "He felt betrayed at some points because he thought of his father as a great man and very sincere to his wife. We also was able to notice that he was being all upset but in the end of his soliloquy he decided to just keep quiet. This was a bit odd." The negative power of betrayal is key to our emotions and those of Hamlet. You notice that Hamlet decides to keep quiet and do nothing after his emotional first soliloquy on the desperate series of events in his life. And, you note it is odd. What would you have done? What should he have done?

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  3. "I don't think I could ever get over the weirdness of that situation (especially because my dad is an identical twin). Hamlet handled his situation better than I would have. He is able to control himself and emotions whereas I would not be able to." Wow- your dad is an identical twin- that would make it even stranger, indeed! You write about Hamlet being able to control his emotions- keep that in mind as we watch his actions after the visit from his father's spirit. Control of emotions may explain much in scenes to come.

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  4. I meant it was odd because after all the anger that he expressed, he just decided to keep quiet. However, if I was him I would have done the same thing. I would feel more than just upset but at the same time I would not know what to do about that situation. So, I would keep quiet at first and think carefully on what I should do to get the uncle to feel the pain and get revenge on him.

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