In Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, in Act
Four, scene seven, Claudius is speaking to Laertes, who has returned to Elsinore castle,
prepared to seek vengeance on Hamlet for Polonius's
murder.
Claudius has cautioned Laertes from being rash in
killing Hamlet outright. He suggests that between the two of them, they can bring about
Hamlet's death so that no guilt will fall on either of them, and even Hamlet's mother
will think it is an accident.
The irony of the quote given
is that Claudius would think Hamlet so innocent. In other words, even after all that his
nephew has done—with the manipulation of the play to ascertain the King's guilt in the
murder of Old Hamlet, Polonius' murder (which the King admits could have been
him), and even his escape from Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern—Claudius still considers Hamlet to be generous, weak
and lacking in treachery or deceit. Ironically, despite Claudius' perceptions, Hamlet is
not lacking in deceit and he is not weak
(indecisive, perhaps), but he has been very astute in trying to
stay one step ahead of Claudius and tricking him into revealing his
guilt.
The entire quote
is:
[Hamlet],
being remiss,
Most generous and free from all contriving,
Will not
peruse the foils [swords]
(IV.vii.147-149)
Claudius
assures Laertes that Hamlet will be completely unsuspecting that the swords may have
been tampered with (poisoned), and that Claudius and Laertes will have nothing to worry
about in their plot to murder Hamlet. However, Hamlet is no fool: he has learned his
lessons well by now, and he suspects treachery from the King; but he is committed to his
purpose of avenging his father's death, so he agrees to the "game" of swords...and
possible betrayal.
No comments:
Post a Comment