Hamlet #4

In this section of the play, the audience learns of Hamlet's true motives for revenge against Claudius. Hamlet is visited by friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and says, "I have of late, but/ wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all/ custom of exercises, and indeed it goes so heavily/ with my disposition that this goodly frame, the/ earth, seems to me a sterile promontory" (II.ii.318-322). Hamlet also describes his views of the world around him: "the/ earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most/ excellent canopy, the air—look you, this brave o'er-/ hanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted/ with golden fire—why, it appears no other thing to me/ than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors" (II.ii.321-326). From his quote, it is editable that Hamlet glorifies the earth, but then declares it as "a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors" (II.ii.326). Although Hamlet does recognize the positive and good qualities, he chooses to ignore them and focus more on the bad ones, which has an effect on his overall attitude. Hamlet goes on to describe people as well: "What a piece of work is a man! How noble in/ reason, how infinite in faculty! In form and mov-/ ing how express and admirable; in action how like/ an angel, in apprehension how like a god: the/ beauty of the world, the paragon of animals-and/ yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?/ Man delights not me" (II.ii.327-333). Here, Hamlet also glorifies humans by characterizing them as noble, infinite, god-like, and angelic. This statement contradicts another statement that Hamlet makes in his speech because to Hamlet, humankind is merely dust, which perhaps symbolizes death.