Hamlet Notes ~ Act III Scene I

• scene opens with the questioning of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern by Claudius and Gertrude > they have no satisfying answers about Hamlet, only that he has invited King and Queen to the play
• Gertrude continues to wonder if Hamlet acts lunatic because of his love for Ophelia, and they hope to conclude the answer with their meeting > belief that Ophelia can "save" Hamlet
• the famous soliloquy occurs moments before Hamlet encounters Ophelia, strategically placed and posed with a book
• Ay, truly; for the power of beauty will sooner
  transform honesty from what it is to a bawd than the
  force of honesty can translate beauty into his
  likeness: this was sometime a paradox, but now the
  time gives it proof. I did love you once.
• Hamlet responds to Ophelia's love as never having felt it, he tells her to go to a nunnery, where she will be protected from all men
• When Ophelia lies about her father being at home, Hamlet is outraged and insults her, twice saying farewell and returning to heap on insults
• I say, we will have no more marriages:
  those that are married already, all but one, shall
  live; the rest shall keep as they are. > Suggesting the approximating death of King Claudius "all but one, shall live"
• After Hamlet's exit, Claudius wants to send him far, feeling as though Hamlet has an idea about the murder, but Polonius still believes in the despised love idea and forms a second scheme involving Queen Gertrude

"The Performative Utterance in William Shakespeare's Hamlet" Notes

• "a play about a man who could not make real what was found in his mind"
• he knew from the start what his task was, Hamlet waivers in committing the physical action of his duty
• "Hamlet, a character of almost unique vocal power--aesthetic power, descriptive power, artistic power, dramatic power-- " always has the ability to speak but not do
• performative language acts > "How to Do Things with Words (1962) [J. L. Austin], how certain language does not merely describe action but acts in being spoken."
• three main forces: locutionary force: deliver a message, the force of mutual intelligibility the illocutionary force: what is done in being said and the perlocutionary force, what is achieved by being said, the consequences of one's utterance, such as an order being followed (or refused).
• Technically, Hamlet only swore to remember his father, not to seek his revenge
• connection between "performative" and "performance" >> "simple connection of physical demonstrations of emotion to belief in the presence of that emotion to belief in the authenticity of the speaker's words."
• to over-do a self-performance is to risk all further opportunities for performative utterances (Hamlet's advice to the first player, as well as his own act of lunacy, emphasizes the need to act natural and real "hold a mirror up to nature")
• "Hamlet's antic disposition is not merely a tool to confuse and evade those around him, but an opportunity to cast off the constricting dictates of a preformed identity." > as well as an opportunity to explore himself
• "all of us create "utterly different yet self-consistent" visages of ourselves every day." > "creating utterly different yet self-consistent voices for his more than one hundred major characters"
• "Contrast this again to Claudius, who sees in his powerlessness to properly repent only the despair that comes from such a lack of agency, saying "What then? What rest?" (3.3.64). For Hamlet, the admission of his own inability to determine his fate is instead a moment of peace, a falling into faith, with the credo of acceptance, "Let be""
• "a man who uses that performative power in the unending task of the realization of the self."

Day of the Dead Rally!

"Let's spread cultural awareness and diversity at Righetti. Come to the Day of the Dead Rally tomorrow! With performances from the Thunder Drumline, Marimba Band, and Ballet Folklorico! Presented by the Latinos Unidos Club! We meet every Thursday at lunch in Room 323, join our community. (:" -President of Latinos Unidos, Edgar Rodriguez 

Come and join this cultural celebration! 💀💃🎶 Dance, music, and fun! 

Hamlet Notes ~ Act II Scene II

• Hamlet is "transformed" in the eyes of those who surround him
• King Claudius asking Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to ask Hamlet questions (very similar to the Polonius and Laertes situation)
• Voltimand and Cornelius > nephew wanted to attack Denmark but was imprisoned by Voltimand and instead told to attack Poland (needs to go through Denmark to attack Poland)
• "brevity is the soul of wit" - Polonius
• Polonius tells Claudius and Gertrude what is "wrong" with Hamlet> says to cut his head off if he is wrong
• Gertrude figures that he is still grieving his father's death, and is angry about the fast marriage> changes her mind after Polonius' evidence (letter)
• Hamlet calls Polonius a 'fishmonger' > acts crazy as well as insulting him> Hamlet toying with Polonius
• "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't."
• "For there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." - Hamlet
• Hamlet + Rosencrantz + Guildenstern = fooling no one, Hamlet knows his friends are being paid to get information about him, knows they are being fake
• Men admit to being sent for by the Queen and King
• What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason!
  how infinite in faculty! in form and moving 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?
• Polonius returns, Hamlet calls him a big baby, Rosencrantz says that "an old man is twice a child"t,
• "O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou!" > Polonius would sacrifice his own daughter for his own advantage, just like Jephthah did
• I'll have these players
  Play something like the murder of my father
  Before mine uncle: I'll observe his looks;
  I'll tent him to the quick: if he but blench,
  I know my course. The spirit that I have seen
  May be the devil: and the devil hath power
  To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps
  Out of my weakness and my melancholy,
  As he is very potent with such spirits,
  Abuses me to damn me: I'll have grounds
  More relative than this: the play 's the thing
  Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king.
• Above statement> Hamlet is going to give 12 lines to 'First Player,' something similar to the death of his father, Hamlet will watch his uncle and his reaction to know his conscience> also the first time that Hamlet questions whether the ghost was his father or the devil in disguise

Hamlet Notes ~ Act II Scene I

• Polonius seems to be sending monetary gifts as well as word to his son Laertes through Reynaldo > also asks Reynaldo to bring news about his son, to see whether his son is being unruly > Reynaldo is told to question Laertes' friends and say things such as "isn't he wild" and report back their reactions
• "That's not my meaning: but breathe his faults so quaintly" > Laertes faults being "Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling, Drabbing: you may go so far."
• Polonius also wants to know what other Danes are in Paris
• Characterization: way Polonius operates, he plays tricks, thinks he is very smart (although he loses his train of thought)
• "bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth."
• "By indirections find directions out."
• Reynaldo departs, and Ophelia enters
• Ophelia runs in scared, Hamlet seemingly crazy (as he claimed he would act) entered her room, clothes loosened and practically falling off; he grabbed her by the wrist, sighed profoundly and then exited
• Polonius immediately wishes to tell the King that Hamlet is "deeply in love" with Ophelia, and that her rejection has driven him mad > other reasons for Hamlet's actions: all part of his plan, Ophelia is lying, Hamlet is feeling the pressure of his revenge
• "More grief to hide than hate to utter love." 

Hamlet Notes ~ Act I Scene V

• Old Hamlet is presently in limbo > never had the opportunity to atone because of his sudden death
• Young Hamlet is "bound to hear" as well as seek revenge
• DIRECTIVE: "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder."
• story to justify king's death > bit by a snake in the apple orchard > truly killed by Claudius
• Claudius first seduced his Queen, then poisoned King Hamlet (life, crown, queen stolen)
• Old Hamlet tells Young Hamlet to avoid falling into his feelings, always keep his honor, always have a straight head
• "taint not thy mind" > don't go crazy thinking about revenge
• directions are to kill his uncle, Gertrude will be handled by God and her own guilt
• Young Hamlet knows exactly what he has to do; knowing & doing are two separate things
• "O, wonderful" - Hamlet has confirmed the murderer > doesn't take the men into confidence because he is a calculating guy
• Hamlet makes men swear that they will say nothing
• "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." > Hamlet is addressing Horatio, as well as the audience
• "The time is out of joint: O cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right!"
• Hamlet tells the men that he may be acting odd, reminds them to say nothing, and that he wants people to think that he is a bit lunatic

Hamlet Notes ~ Act I Scene IV

• Claudius celebrates his coronation ~ festivities make the royal family look "swinish" and irresponsible
• "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.
• Claudius adds to suspicion with the above, should still be grieving the loss of the king
• Ghost arrives > Hamlet recognizes his father
• Image: A crypt opening and releasing his father
• WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE FATHER?
• Ghost beckons Hamlet & he wants to follow, Horatio thinking the ghost is a threat will not allow it
• "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."