Hamlet Mousetrap

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As he awaits the beginning of “The Mousetrap” in act three, Hamlet uses his silver tongue to commentate on the short period of mourning that followed his father’s untimely death. This section of dialogue not only condemns those who have forgotten the former king, but also allows Hamlet to express his still fresh grief. When Ophelia corrects him in the fact that Hamlet’s father died four months ago instead of two hours before, he lashes out about the ephemeral quality of man’s memory. This scene is essential in setting up for “The Mousetrap” because it reinforces the concept that grief predominantly fuels Hamlet’s thirst for revenge. When Hamlet is reminded of how long the king has been dead, he retorts, “Let the devil wear black / I’ll have…show more content…
“Great” is the key word here, conjuring up images of men either performed magnificent acts or achieved grand things within their lifetime. It also implies that Hamlet considered his father to be one of these “great” men, though he does not elaborate on why but instead focuses on pointing out Claudius’ deficiencies in order to elevate the former king. This suggests that Hamlet’s grief has sanctified his father; the former king can do no wrong in his son’s eyes and deserves more of a remembrance. The word “hope” is also an essential part of this line, because Hamlet as a character tends to cynical. Instead of seeming genuine and optimistic, his use of “hope” seems to cause the reverse. It highlights his bitterness that no one seems to notice the injustice done to the former king. This theme is echoed in Hamlet’s prediction that the memory of a great man “may outlive his life by half a year” (3.2.127). Six months is not a lengthy period of remembrance and, furthermore, is a little more than how long the king has been dead. Once again, Hamlet reminds the audience of that he has not been given adequate time to process his grief before those around him have demanded he move
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