Hamlet Act 2 Quotations 1l2f3n

Skyler Kessler English 12 AP

Act 2 Quotations

3/2/14 McCartin

21. “…brevity is the soul of wit.” 2.2.97 Polonius  This quotation means that being succinct is important. Excess explanation would cause redundancy. Wit referred to intelligence in Shakespear’s time, so this quote implies that having good communication skills is essential to intelligence. However, this phrase is interesting since Polonius often delivers long speeches. 22. “More matter with less art.” 2.2.103 Queen  The Queen is speaking to Polonius, and this quotation means the same as the prior quote: brevity is intelligence, and substance is more important than rhetoric. 23. “Though this be madness, yet there is method in ‘t.” 2.2.223-4 Polonius  The modern phrase “there’s a method in the madness” derives from this. Here, Polonius is speaking to Hamlet. Polonius knows that he is crazy, but recognizes a sort of method to his actions. 24. “…there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.” 2.2.268-70 H  Claudius has summoned Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to go spy on Hamlet. He is speaking to both of them, and this quotation shows that Hamlet is a prisoner of his own thoughts. In saying this, he also implies that both Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are naïve. 25. “What a piece of work is man…” 2.2.32 Hamlet  Hamlet, speaking with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, explains that he has lost all joy in human interaction. He is fed up with the corrupt condition of Denmark and the spying of Guildenstern and Rosencrantz. This monologue by Shakespeare is in the form of prose. 26. “I am but mad north-north-west… I know a hawk from a handsaw.” 2.2.402-3 H  In saying this, Hamlet hopes to persuade the others that he is mad and crazy. However, they actually serve the opposite purpose—to convince them that he is sane. By his choice of words, he indicates that he is able to choose the times when he is mad, and at other times is capable of being sane and recognizing his enemies. 27. “O, what is a rogue and peasant slave am I ! “ 2.2.577 Hamlet  Hamlet says that he is basically incompetent for having not already attacked Claudius. “Rogue” means useless vagrant, and a peasant is someone of little worth. Hamlet knows that he needs to get revenge. Just as he speaks harshly to others, Hamlet doesn’t spare himself. 28. “What’s Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,” 2.2.586 Hamlet  In this scene, there is a monologue retelling Hecuba’s response to the death of her husband, King Priam. The First Player says that Hecuba’s grief was profound. Hamlet concludes that her grief is appropriate. Hamlet notes the Player’s emotions in response to hearing about a

death, and then pits himself for not having taken action regarding his own father’s death. 29. “…the devil hath power/ T’ assume a pleasing shape;” 2.2.628-9 Hamlet  Hamlet notes that the ghost looks like his father, but he is not certain that the ghost is of his father. Hamlet thinks the ghost could be the work of the devil, taking the shape of his father (a pleasing shape). 30. “The play’s the thing’ Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King.” 2.2.633 H  In saying this, hamlet means that by re-enacting the scene where Claudius killed his father, Hamlet will cause him to experience guilt and it will be obvious that Claudius is the murderer to all those who witness his reaction.