Claudius Straight Up Guilty--Hamlet #5

Claudius is guilty and the ghost was right all along. Hamlet makes reference to a chameleon in the beginning of Act 3, Scene 2 which I thought was very appropriate: "Excellent, i' faith, of the chameleon’s dish. I eat the air, promise-crammed. You cannot feed capons so" (3.2.86-87). Hamlet blends into the environment while keeping his true motive concealed. Even before the play, he maintained the facade of a mad man in order to carry out his plot against Claudius. Hamlet's plan goes surprisingly well and Claudius's guilt is exposed when he orders the play to cease. Once Hamlet has been figured out, Rosencrantz delivers the Queen's message: "Then thus she says: your behavior hath struck her into amazement and admiration" (3.2.) I thought that this was ironic considering the fact that the Queen has not been the most admirable person herself. Hamlet's behavior is more admirable because he has a noble cause to his plan, exposing the truth. 

Dalton Trumbo (recipient of the best name ever)'s excerpt

The young man and his father have come to a turning point in their relationship, a tense tone is created by the author through his use of short, simple sentences and lack of commas, mirroring the internal struggle of the boy. Trumbo does not use one comma throughout the entire excerpt, this syntactical choice creates tense and nervous feeling, paralleling the boy's sentiments towards a changing relationship with his father. At the beginning of the excerpt there are many lines spent specifically describing small details about their camping trip, demonstrating how important and familiar it is with both the father and son. The son's wish to go fishing with another boy is something completely new which he fears will disturb a routine that has lasted for many years. The speaker states the boy, "knew that it was an ending and a beginning" (25-26). The boy knows that this situation is bittersweet and he is afraid of his father's response. There is a clear lack of communication between the father and son. Little words are exchanged when the father hears out his son's request. However, the father lets the son take his extremely special fishing rod, signifying an acceptance towards their changing relationship: "His father's rod was a very valuable one. It was perhaps the only extravagance his father had in his whole life" (44-46). The father gives up this prized possession as a sign of respect and acceptance for his son's growth, although it does hurt him that he is forced to watch his son move on.

Hamlet #4

Hamlet is able to perpetuate his facade as a madman and devise a plan to see whether or not Claudius is the real murderer of King Hamlet. No one suspects Hamlet of doing anything wrong which allows him to pursue his plot. His plot revolves around a certain play:"the play's the thing/Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king" (2.2.606-607). Hamlet cannot decide whether or not to trust the ghost of the king and the play seems to be the answer. Hamlet wishes to take justice in his own hands and expose King Claudius for his true identity, a murderer 

Letter

Em,
I am so proud of you and I know that if your mother was there to watch you graduate, she would be overflowing with pride as well. Now that you are going off to college in just a few months, I would just like to remind you that education is the key to success in this world. However you classify success (material, financial, personal growth), education is what opens the doors to a brighter future. That being said, emphasis should be put on your education rather than your social life. I'm not saying that your social life is not important but, when it comes to decision making, education should come first. You aren't paying thousands of dollars to smoke joints and chill out with your friends. You are going to college to expand your breadth of knowledge to better yourself. Oh and that reminds me, if there is one thing that life has taught me over and over again, it's that there are never any good stories that come from the use of drugs. My brother being the prime example, a heroin addict, who's addiction eventually led to his death. Len Bias! Signed a multi-million dollar contract with the Celtics, dies that night from cocaine. I know you're smart but these are just reminders. You shouldn't let experimentation get the best of you. The only experiments I want you conducting are in a science lab, okay? I know you are a big hippy-dippy but use that to fight Monsanto and Halliburton. Not smoke pot and do drugs. I love you and you are very bright girl so I want you to continue to make good decisions when I send you off on your own. I know that there are big things ahead Em.

Dad

Figurative Language: The Author to Her Book, Anne Bradstreet

The speaker in this poem uses an extended metaphor to compare the book that she wrote to a child/offspring. In the first lines of the play she establishes this metaphor: "Thou ill-informed offspring of my feeble brain" (Line 1). She compares this book/novel that she has written to an unintelligent child. The use of figurative language helps to convey an image of  a poorly written book that the author seems to lament.The novel is a creation of her mind, just as a child would be a creation of her body. She refers to her book as "My rambling brat (in print)" (Line 8). She personifies the book as a rambling child. The word rambling has a negative connotation of senseless and ongoing gibberish. This enforces the idea that she does not think very highly of her book or writing style. The metaphor is continued by calling the book a brat. Again, emphasizing her dislike and negative thoughts regarding this book or "offspring". The speaker makes an attempt at editing her book but she seems to be unsuccessful, this is portrayed again through the use of personification and metaphorical language: "I washed thy face, but more defects I saw/And rubbing off a spot still made a flaw" (Lines 13-14). She compares the editing process to washing the face of a child. She is unhappy with the appearance of the child meaning that she is unhappy with her attempts at fixing the book. She is embarrassed that her book has been put into the public's eye but justifies the publication with her lack of money: "If for thy Father asked, say thou had'st none;/And for thy Mother, she alas is poor/Which caused her thus to send thee out of door" (Lines 22-24). She compares her book to a bastard child. She is embarrassed to call it her own but she has to send it out the door so she can make money. Rural families would often use their children to help on the farm. She makes this comparison to the publication of her book, sending it out the door and into the hands of the public.

Hamlet #2

Hamlet finally sees the ghost of what appears to be his father. After appearing three nights in a row with no words or gestures, Hamlet is the one who is able to make the ghost respond. It is apparent that the ghost has been trying to reach Hamlet rather than the other men on guard. The ghost appears after Hamlet makes a lengthy speech regarding his uncle and his partying: "The dram of evil, Doth all the noble substance of a doubt To his own scandal" (1.4.39-41). Hamlet states how even a small amount of evil can discredit something that is noble. These lines could be referencing his uncle's rapid marriage to Gertrude despite all the warnings against it. This could be seen as an act of evil that gives the royal family a bad reputation. It is ironic that the ghost appears right after this speech by Hamlet, the ghost motions for Hamlet to follow him, perhaps wanting to deliver some sort of message regarding the subject. I believe that King Hamlet's spirit is stalking the castle because he is upset and wants to communicate. Ghosts usually appear when their spirits are unrest. I believe that King Hamlet will continue to appear until he is able to rest properly.

Hamlet #1

Hamlet desires to go away to study in Wittenberg but his mother and uncle are adamantly against it. Hamlet respects their opinion calmly and decides to stay. He does not seem to have a fiery temper, he is rational and thoughtful: "I shall in all my best obey you" (1.2.124). Hamlet could become enraged about their decision and point out his mother's rapid marriage but he does not. After their discussion Hamlet tells the audience about how he mourns for his father and that he believes his mother was married too quickly. Hamlet seems to believe that it is unfair/unjust that she was able to move on so soon after his father's death. Hamlet is a very respectful, educated and even tempered man. This is how he is characterized in the first scene. However, because this is a Shakespearean tragedy, I predict a slow devolution of these traits throughout the next five acts.