1.4.8-38+--+Hamlet

Scene 1.4 – Hamlet’s Speech -**Jamie Walker-**


 * Ay, marry, is't: ||  ||
 * ||  || But to my mind, though I am native here || 15 ||
 * ||  || And to the manner born, it is a custom ||   ||
 * ||  || More honour'd in the breach than the observance. ||   ||
 * ||  || This heavy-headed revel east and west ||   ||
 * ||  || Makes us traduced and tax'd of other nations: ||   ||
 * ||  || They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase || 20 ||
 * ||  || Soil our addition; and indeed it takes ||   ||
 * ||  || From our achievements, though perform'd at height, ||   ||
 * ||  || The pith and marrow of our attribute. ||   ||
 * ||  || So, oft it chances in particular men, ||   ||
 * ||  || That for some vicious mole of nature in them, || 25 ||
 * ||  || As, in their birth--wherein they are not guilty, ||   ||
 * ||  || Since nature cannot choose his origin-- ||   ||
 * ||  || By the o'ergrowth of some complexion, ||   ||
 * ||  || Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason, ||   ||
 * ||  || Or by some habit that too much o'er-leavens || 30 ||
 * ||  || The form of plausive manners, that these men, ||   ||
 * ||  || Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect, ||   ||
 * ||  || Being nature's livery, or fortune's star,-- ||   ||
 * ||  || Their virtues else--be they as pure as grace, ||   ||
 * ||  || As infinite as man may undergo-- || 35 ||
 * ||  || Shall in the general censure take corruption ||   ||
 * ||  || From that particular fault: the dram of eale ||   ||
 * ||  || Doth all the noble substance of a doubt ||   ||
 * ||  || To his own scandal. ||

-General info- Written by Shakespeare 1598-1601 The play of Hamlet deals with murder and revenge within the framework of a royal family. Themes of helplessness, meaninglessness, duty, and obligation are explored. Hamlet must confront his uncle who has killed his father and usurped the throne of Denmark. The conflict slowly expands and ultimately destroys nearly everything Hamlet holds dear and finally himself. -Speech info- 25 lines long Spoken by Hamlet to Horatio on the platform while they wait for the ghost to appear Occurs prior to Hamlet learning that Claudius was the murderer of his father Deals with themes of fate and flaws determining the lives of humans rather than their own actions Spoken in reference to the perceived penchant for drinking amongst Danes How one fundamental flaw or imperfection can grow to define someone. Foreshadowing in the sense that it indicates that Hamlet too bears an insurmountable flaw Hamlet over thinks things and that is ultimately his undoing. His dichotomy of rage and caution eventually become who he is. “Dram of Eale” is a crux, or mistranslation or copying error. It most likely means “dram of evil” as accepted by editors and Shakespeare scholars “Dram” can refer to both coin and weight. Interpretation of the meaning here is left to the reader. I personally view the speech as one of the defining elements of the play’s theme. Shakespeare tries to show us through Hamlet that humans are incapable of controlling their own fates. In this speech, Hamlet reveals the idea that some humans are doomed to act one way or another from their birth, an almost neo-Calvinist assessment from a non-theistic standpoint.