Originally Posted by
Janine
Lil Bloom, I finally got back; sorry to keep you waiting. I see others have come to your rescue...good. Her is my interpretation of the quotes
"that hath made him mad" -Polonius (2,2 line 125)
I believe here Polonius is speaking to the King and Queen and referring to Hamlet's recent actions as being one who is mad, due to being cut off from Ophelia by the urging of Polonius and his commands upon her to stop seeing Hamlet, who she has been seeing on intimate terms. Therefore Polonius (her father) feels that this has driven Hamlet to madness.
"Thanks Rosencrantz and Gentle Guildenstern" -King (2,2 line 35)
"Thanks Guildenstern and Gentle Rosencrantz" - Queen(2,2 line 35)
I believe this is a sort of tongue and cheek statement, whereby the Queen corrects the King on his observation of the two characters. She sees Rosencrantz as the gentle of the two.
Ok, let's see what I can do with these:
" More matter less Art"-Queen (2,2 line 103)
The Queen says this to the very long-winded Polonius - he likes to talk with florishes many times to try to impress everyone - she requires he speak the plain truth and not beat around the bush as to what he really is getting at concerning Hamlets and the relationship to his daughter and how that "hath made him mad"
"Though this be madness, yet there is method In't" - Polonius (2,2 line 220)
As Hamlet is talking or replying to Polonius he is indeed being quite crafty with his words and witty and there is deeper meaning in what he says or replies - Polonius recognises this and still thinking Hamlet 'mad' (insane), which is Hamlet's intention, he says 'there is method in his madness' - probably where the phrase came from "method in madness".
"Denmark's A prison"-Hamlet (2,2 line 262)
To Hamlet now Denmark is a kind of prison, he is imprisoned within his own grief and madness over his father's death, seeing his ghost and knowing he has been employed to advenge it and knowing also that he is no longer free in any way from what his responsibility as a son now means. Therefore, living under the rule of his murderous Uncle and mother who he feels has defiled her first husband, he feels he is in a prison.
"I am mad but North-North west" -Hamlet (2,2 line 402)
Not too sure about this line. I think it is just another example of Hamlet twisting his works in order to reply to Polonius. I believe before or after this are the lines about the buzz saw and the bird (was it an eagle's flight)...he says he knows the difference. Without looking them up I think this refers to the direction one is viewing his situation and from his perspective Hamlet knows he is not mad; from Polonius' perspective P believes he is insane. Anyone else have any ideas on this line? I am kind of guessing on this one. I have never been quite sure what it means.
"They Are the Abstract and Brief chronicles of the time" -Hamlet (2,2, line 550)
I thought this followed the speech "What a piece of work is man!", but now I don't think I am right. Is it right after the players meet Hamlet and recite? I am not sure which part of the play these lines come from. If you clue me in I can look it up and tell you better what it refers to?
"what's Hecuba to him, or he to (hecuba) "-Hamlet (2,2 line 586)
Hamlet says this in reference to the players and the head male player(actor) who becomes emotional over the grief in the play he is acting out the part from. In that play Hecuba's husband is killed and cut to pieces before his enemies; Hecuba sees this in the crowd as she hides the fact she is a queen. The player becomes totally impassioned as he acts through the lines and recites with tears in his eyes at the end. Hamlet them compares the actors relationship to Hecuba, whom he has no real relation to and to himself, Hamlet, who has lost a father to his uncle's supposed vicious behavior and his mother's possible support. Hamlet then goes into a long speech alone criticising himself for taking no action to remedy this or to advenge his father. He pits himself against the passion of the actor who shows such deep emotion. He sees himself as ineffectual, at this point and wavering, in carrying out his dead (ghostly) father's wishes to be avenged.
" The spirit i have seen/may be a devil"-Hamlet (2,2 line 628)
Hamlet and the others quest if the ghost was indeed a devil or other such creature and not to be trusted.
"The Play's the thing" - Hamlet (2,2 line 635)
The full line goes "The Play is the thing, in which to catch the conscience of the King."
By mimicing the crime his uncle has perpetrated on his father and the household, Hamlet is hoping to reveal, by the King's immediate and uncomforable actions/reactions that he is truly 'guilty' of the crime.
Hope this helps you understand the lines better.
