light vs. dark
- “Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and time agreeing, Confederate season, else no creature seeing”(3.2.239-241).
Lucianus, the king’s nephew in the play who is representative of Hamlet’s character, utters these words as he prepares to pour poison into the king’s ears. He acknowledges that his thoughts are “black-” dark, savage. No creature can see; the darkness of night conceals his identity as he carries out this murder. - “Give me some light, away!”(3.2.254)
Not only is Claudius demanding the play be stopped and the lights turned on so he can escape, but he is also deteriorating within his own self, as his guilt is consuming him, in the dark, as he watches the all-too-familiar events of the play. He wants light; he wants forgiveness, he wants to stop having to keep this immense secret, he wants to be absolved of his sin and be brought “light,” anew, from the Heavens. - “'Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood And do such bitter business as the bitter day Would quake to look on”(3.2.350-356).
The way Hamlet describes the night, what with the witches and the stench of hell rising from the churchyards; is significant in that it depicts Hamlet’s ever-intensifying, menacing thoughts associated with his drive for revenge. He says he could do such horrible deeds that would make people tremble the next day, in the light. The protection and cover of the darkness are inadequate in shielding others from Hamlet’s vicious, impending behavior. - “O bosom black as death!”(3.3.68)
This is something Claudius exclaims as he is pleading with the Angels for help. He understands the gravity of his sin, and he doubts he will be forgiven for he is still reaping the rewards (the crown and the queen) of the murder. Claudius believes his heart to be as black as death because he feels doomed, incapable of leaving this sin in his past. He feels as though he himself is dying. - “What devil was ’t That thus hath cozened you at hoodman-blind?”(3.4.78-79)
Hamlet is furious with Gertrude for choosing Claudius over Old Hamlet, and he claims that the reason why she made such a nonsensical decision was because she had been (figuratively) blinded. This blinding represents darkness vs. light in that, as Gertrude was unable to consciously fathom what exactly she was doing by marrying Claudius, she was failing to see just how much better were the qualities of the noble Old King Hamlet. The brief passion, straying from reason, blinded her, and Hamlet rebukes Gertrude for allowing this to happen. - “O Hamlet, speak no more! Thou turn’st mine eyes into my very soul, And there I see such black and grainèd spots As will not leave their tinct”(3.4.89-92)
Gertrude begs Hamlet to stop, for his malevolent words have caused her guilt to rise to the surface, all at once. She says the marks of her sin are so thick and black that they can never be washed away. Once again, the purpose of describing the sin as “black” is to imbue it with darkness, malice, permanence.
Humor (as defense mechanism)
- "Nor do we find him forward to be sounded. But with a crafty madness keeps aloof When we would bring him on to some confession Of his true state"(3.1.7-10). Guildenstern says this to Claudius, who wants to know about Hamlet's recent behavior. According to the servants, Hamlet tends to "beat around the bush" when asked questions, and he constructs creative, witty answers so as to avoid exposing the true reason for his odd behavior.
- "Excellent, i' faith, of the chameleon’s dish. I eat the air, promise-crammed. You cannot feed capons so"(3.2.86-87). When Claudius asks Hamlet how he is doing, Hamlet says that he is wonderful, for he eats the air like chameleons do. Some possible explanations for this eccentric answer include: to mess with Claudius and strengthen his belief that Hamlet is insane or to mock Claudius.
- "With drink, sir?"(3.2.272) Hamlet asks if Claudius has an upset stomach because he had too much booze, although he knows the real reason for Claudius's disconcerted state (namely, the feelings of guilt that resurfaced in him as he watched the play). Hamlet feigns oblivion and innocence by suggesting that alcohol is to blame for Claudius's discomfort.
- "O wonderful son that can so ’stonish a mother! But is there no sequel at the heels of this mother’s admiration?"(3.2.294-296) Once again, Hamlet's sarcasm kicks in. Rosencrantz tells him that Hamlet's behavior has "astonished" Gertrude, and Hamlet pretends this is a good thing, claiming that this astonishment must be the equivalent of admiration. Of course, deep down, he is fully aware of the fact that his behavior outrages his mother.