Hamlet+1.3

__**Hamlet 1.3**__ __4. Quotations__ __6. Relationships__ __3. Questions__ are interspersed above.
 * "Perhaps he loves you now,/…but you must fear,/his greatness weighed, his will is not his own,/for he himself is subject to his birth./…for on his choices depend/ the safety and the health of this whole state./And therefore must his choice be circumscribed/unto the voice and yielding of that body whereof he is the head” (17-27). This highlights Hamlet’s duty to his country and position. Does Hamlet think of it as a duty? I think so but I am not sure yet if he actively thinks that his duties limit him. I like to connection between love and duty, and how they are not usually able to coincide. This makes me continue to ask whether or not Queen Gertrude’s marriages were of love or duty.
 * “Be wary then, best safety lies in fear” (47). This reminds me of the first scene, where they were so afraid of the ghost, but did they think their fear protected them? I think fear makes you more alert, which is true for the first scene, where they jump at ever noise.
 * “Give thy thoughts no tongue,/nor any unproportioned thought his act./Be though familiar, but by no means vulgar./…Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice./Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment” (65-75). Polonius’ wise advice to Laertes. He tells Laertes to be silent but vigilant, this ties in silence and secrecy as he gathers information. There is also a big sense of distrust.
 * “To thine own self be true,/and it must follow, as the night the day,/though canst not then be false to any man” (84-6). I really like this quotation because it stresses the importance of self identity. It is interesting that Polonius tells Laertes to be true to himself so that he will not deceive any one else, but his previous advice was to help him deceive others, or was that advice just to keep him out of trouble with allegiances?
 * Ophelia and Laertes have a good relationship; he is the (older?) protective brother and she is also independent enough to hold him accountable as well. “I shall the effect of this good lesson keep/as watchman to my heart. But, good my brother,/do not, as some ungracious pastors do,/show me the steep and thorny way to heaven,/…and recks not his own rede” (49-55). This also ties in religious beliefs.
 * “Look to ‘t, I charge you. Come your ways./I shall obey, my lord” (144-5). Ophelia respects her father and his commands, but will she (be able to) follow them?
 * Why is Laertes going away? this question is probably better for 1.2