About Me (and my blog)

Hello! My name is Claire. I'm a 19 year-old Shakespeare nerd in her second year of college. This blog is intended to assist any budding Shakespeare lover (or those of you who have to read Shakespeare in class and just want to get it over with) in understanding the more difficult aspects of his works. This blog will summarize plays--by act and scene--in modern terms, helping you to better understand what exactly is happening on that stage.
I'm not a professional translator by any means, but I sincerely hope that my blog helps with all your Hamlet and Othello woes. Good night and good morrow, everyone!

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

"Think It No More" (Hamlet - Act 1 / Scene 3, Laertes Speech)

It's L'art time, everyone. He makes his first appearance (longer than three lines) in Act 1 / Scene 3. Laertes gives a long speech at the beginning of Scene 3, warning his sister, Ophelia, away from Hamlet.

L'art thinks that Hamlet's promises of love are false, and he goes on to explain why. He thinks Hamlet's love is one large flirtation. He claims the love could be over in a minute. The speech, roughly line for line, goes like this:

Try to think of his love like that (over in a minute).
Nature does not only grow
In strength and size, but, as the body grows,
The mind and soul
Grow as well. Maybe he loves you right now,
And there is no deceit currently,
But you must be afraid.
With his high rank, his will is not his own.
(He is subject to his royal birth.)
He may not, as unimportant people do,
Make his own choices. He can't because his choices
Effect the safety and health of the Danish state.
And therefore, his choice must be placed
On the voice and wishes of the state
That he is leading. If he says he loves you,
You must be wise enough to see that,
Due to his royal obligations,
His words can only mean
As much as the state of Denmark allows them to mean.
Think of how shameful it would be
If you gave in to his seduction
And lost your heart and chastity
To his uncontrolled pleading.
Watch out, Ophelia.
Keep your love under control,
Out of the danger of desire.
It's dangerous enough
To reveal your beauty to the moon- you don't have to reveal yourself to him.
Even good girls can get bad reputations.
Worms destroy early spring flowers
Before their buds can blossom.
Baby blooms are the most susceptible to illness.
So, be wary. Fear will keep you safe.
Youth often lose their self-control, even without a temper.

Laertes is very protective of Ophelia, and in that time, women were meant to save their virtues and be "good". He worries that his sister will lose her honor and good reputation because of her love for Hamlet. Hamlet is a servant to the state, so L'art knows that Hamlet cannot allow his relationship with Ophelia to go further than the state would allow.

Later, Ophelia's father gives her similar warnings and forbids her to see Hamlet, which is sad because they are adorable.


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