Shakespeer quote with the word sting6/4/2023 In other words, Claudius, who now wears the crown, was the devious and deadly ‘serpent’ that crept into King Hamlet’s orchard and poisoned him. Or, rather, not an actual snake – though the (metaphorical) ‘serpent’ that killed him has since taken the throne for himself. This section of the scene ends with the Ghost telling young Hamlet that the official narrative put about the kingdom, explaining King Hamlet’s cause of death, is false: he was not poisoned by a deadly snake that bit him. The serpent that did sting thy father’s life Rankly abused: but know, thou noble youth, ’Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard,Ī serpent stung me so the whole ear of Denmark ‘Lethe wharf’ is a reference to the river Lethe, which, in classical mythology, was associated with forgetfulness it’s the root of our modern word ‘lethargic’, meaning ‘slow to act’ and ‘sluggish’. He would have to be as unreactive as a bloated weed lodged in Lethe wharf for young Hamlet not to be stirred to action by hearing what the Ghost is about to say. Hamlet’s father responds by saying that he can see his son is responsive and eager to hear more. That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, Hamlet urges his father to tell him what happened, quickly, so that he can swiftly take revenge for his father’s murder – as swiftly as one falls in love.Īnd duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed Haste me to know’t, that I, with wings as swift
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