The Many Possible Interpretations of Hamlet :: GCSE Coursework Shakespeare Hamlet

The Many Possible Interpretations of Hamlet Towards the close of the play, Hamlet has a short exchange alone with Horatio, which seems intended to set up the final opposition with Laertes, the Queen, Claudius, and the whole Court, and to make absolutely clear the nature of his own involvement. The passage exists in two good versions the second Quarto of 1604, and the Folio of 1623, which is now persuasion to represent Shakespeares revision of the earlier version.11 This second text adds fourteen lines in which Hamlet seeks to justify, as perfect conscience, his determination to kill Claudius with his own arm--or rather to quit him, which implies repaying as well.12 He then asks whether he would not be damned if he did nothing to eradicate this canker of our nature (V.ii.68-70). But up to now this later addition to the play does not establish a plain and simple faith.13 We notice that Hamlet expresses himself in rhetorical questions which seem to restrict his momentary certaint y. And only minutes later, as the last encounter approaches, his reluctance to tell all (Thou wouldst not think how ill alls here close my heart but it is no matter, ll. 208-09) and a further intrusion of vigorous and baffling wordplay cloud over these ultimate issues once more. Immediately onwards the King and Queen enter on stage, Hamlets words, spoken as he again finds himself alone with Horatio, are so tricky--or perhaps tricksy--that they baffled the original compositors of the text and have set modern editors at variance.14 Neither the Quarto nor Folio makes sense and various emendations have been proposed. No/knows has/owes leave/leaves ought/all of what/of ought, all shake up and change places with each other in the different versions. Today a text might read, Since no man, of aught he leaves, knows aught, what ist to leave betimes? or Since no man of ought he leaves, knows, what ist to leave . . ., or . . . no man owes aught of what he leaves, what ist . . ., or . . . n o man knows of aught he leaves, what ist . . . . (Was the deliverance ever absolutely clear in Shakespeares autograph manuscript, or in his head?) With Hamlets next words, as trumpet and drums page 24 announce the Kings arrival, the plays hero contrives yet another(prenominal) avoidance-tactic, refusing to talk further with a surprisingly curt Let be.