Cultural_Studies_In_Practice_Hamlet_To_His_Coy_Mistress

Hello Readers!

Implied Culture Versus Historical Facts.

This blog aims to see how in "To His Coy Mistress" - ANDREW MARVELL. The implied culture is shown, where the two speaker as well as the implied reader are only engaged in their wealth, leisurely talking and sexual activity, while the prevailing status of the then era isn't shown in term of disease, in the form of "Syphillis, sexual transmission etc". Which is actually the mind stressed problem of contemporary times also. 

In Hamlet we will see "the two mighty opposites" in the form of Claudius and Hamlet. Who're centralized in center in picture the two inferior being Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are waving in periphery. Where they have to act or react as per their reaching hands not more than that.

So let's see..

Hamlet / Tom Stoppard (Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are dead):

In Hamlet we see 'power relations' which is reflected through two 'mighty opposites' Hamlet & Claudius. Where the inferior beings are called by Claudius from Wittenberg, are given a responsibility to execute 'Hamlet' by being at England, but fortunately it is known to the suspicious mind of Hamlet and he by blithely tricking into, replacing their names by him and ultimately both are executed.

If we consider their identities, they're travelling on periphery, while the two "mighty opposites" are centralized,and as those are centralized, do you think they will get any recognition as an established individual identity? No.

One of the metaphorical speech is also mentioned in this particular section, spoken by Rosencrantz that how they are mere "annexment of the massive wheel, which is located at the summit of the highest mountain". They're insignificant to those and are only pawns and sponge to be directed from them. They don't have their choices to implement upon, but are only followers of the commands, on which they have to get on without applying any sense.

So how these personalities can be interpreted. Though they're educated, may be knowing every pros and cons of life. Won't be knowing / not having any idea of the intentions of Claudius behind calling them from Wittenburg? They must have atleast some, right? But it isn't shown and are described as dumb among the two mighty opposites.

Hence Tom Stoppard says that who don't feel anything, can't differentiate between right or wrong, only do what is commanded by bowing on head, how their conscience is? Is it being dead as it can't hear anything / contemplate anything? And likewise he concludes his part by saying some of the below mentioned lines.

As he says: in his play, that these two are almost dead, and dead are likewise killed. Is there any offence in killing lifeless persons? Who are already dead.

To_His_Coy_Mistress

While on the other hand in 'To his coy mistress' we see both are representing 'elitist culture's where only three things are happening; chit-chat, love-making, eating and taking sensual pleasure throughout the novel.

If seen in contrast it seems as anyones's life can't be static, it fluctuates as the circumstances of life changes, sometimes there is joy sometimes sorrow, sometimes light sometimes dark as "Shakespeare says that life is constituted of two contrasting binaries, and both exists, either in absence or presence".

Jewels, education, ancestors, everything which is lavish is discussed but not about "everyday's disease, plague and syphilis". Whose threat is knocking on everyone's door, but the two speaker and the listener both are aloof from the real world and have engaged themselves in their dreams world. Seems as a life seen in imagination.

There is much to discuss but keeping this much to this, we understand here how Hamlet and To his coy mistress are seen parallely connecting with history and how it is evaluated and analyzed by succeeding generations point of views.

Thankyou

Samiya Kagdi

A learner at PG center

Department of English 

MKBU

APPLIED SOURCES:

Cultural Studies - CS IN PRACTICE : HAMLET AND TO HIS COY MISTRESS. 

Renaissance period : Hamlet soliloquy

Renaissance period : Hamlet soliloquy.

lets have a journey of internal thoughts along with Hamlet!

Samiya y kagdi

samiyakagdi313@gmail.com

samiyakagdi313.blogspot.com

Roll No : 32

Semester : 1(1st year)

Assignment topic : Detailed analysis of Hamlet’s soliloquies.

Submitted to: S. B. Gardi, department of English {Dilip Barad (Sir)}, MKBU University.

Abstract

Soliloquies are something that is related with internal emotions and feelings, chanting in aloud that can take place usually when person is alone. As here we are concern with Hamlet we would see how he is chanting his ongoing mental procedure, especially when in melancholy, enantiodromia kind of state etc.

Keywords 

Soliloquy, Hamlet, internal emotions, Melancholy, enantiodromia.

Introduction

As we know “William Shakespeare” belongs to ‘Elizabethan Era’ from (1550-1620) and as he was unconcerned about the “three unities” introduced by “Aristotle” his plays were said to be unsystematically produced and hamlet belongs to one of them.

Hamlet  soliloquy

In this soliloquy we would see how frustrated by his life, he is willing to sacrifice it but restraint himself because according to “Christianity it is sin”.

"O, that this too too solid flesh would melt 

Thaw and resolve itself into a dew,! 

Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd 

His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God"! 

Moving forward to the other lines, it shows ‘Hamlet’s melancholic state’ and something like superficial as what he is feeling he- cannot show to people, he has to adjust him according to people’s requirement/wishes.

“How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, 

Seem to me all the uses of this world! 

Fie on't! Ah fie! 'tis an unweeded garden, 

that grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature”.

To describe melancholic state we have some synonyms like stale/flat/unprofitable that he personally feels for himself. Then it can be presumed that he satirically here tries to portray “Gertrude” and his father’s treatment towards her that “how he was caring and loving by nature that he even won’t allow heavenly wind- to touch her but unfortunately everything seems to be in vain and see how at last his mother "a woman" may be expected of doing something like this.

And he describes…”women as frailty”.

“For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak 

with most miraculous organ. I'll have these players 

Play something like the murder of my father 

Before mine uncle: I'll observe his looks; 

I'll tent him to the quick: if he but blench, 

I know my course. The spirit that I have seen 

May be the devil: and the devil hath power 

To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps- 

Out of my weakness and my melancholy, 

As he is very potent with such spirits”.

Analyzing this para. As Hamlet has heard from devil (in his father’s form) that his father is being murder and it is his sacred duty to avenge his murder. But he thought perhaps “what he is seeing in front of him in his father’s form is devil and he has such power that he can pleasantly transform himself. So let me check on my own...

Then he plans “a mouse trap” to caught Claudius..

 Red-handed, he says, “he will observe him and if he incase finds him guilty, he knows what he has to do (I know my course) for that he has used “belching” word. Which means ‘coming out terrible flame’ but here it may be ‘to see his guilt that appears on his face’ that whether he is burning with that bite of conscience.

"Abuses me to damn me: I'll have grounds 

More relative than this: the play’s the thing

wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king”.

Then he is described by the writer in the state of dilemma. Where he ponders on how he should act? Here his moral and philosophical aspect is seen also psychological enantiodromia aspect of whether to act promptly or to endure what is happening and what has happened till now.

So he says…

“To be, or not to be: that is the question: 

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer 

The slings and arrows of outrageous- fortune, 

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, -

And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep; 

No more; and by a sleep to say we end”.

Nobler = morality.

Endurance =philosophical aspect.

Enantiodromia = dilemma (to be or not to be).

Prompt action = considered as psychologically weak.

“O, my offence is rank it smells to heaven; 

It hath the primal eldest curse upon't

A brother's murder. Pray can I not, 

Though inclination be as sharp as will”.

Aforementioned soliloquy is spoken by “Claudius”. After the completion of (mouse-trap) play, he inclined (come to realization) his guilt (my offence is rank it smells to heaven) and fears if it would be known to everyone what will happen? Perhaps he would be made to sacrifice his usurped throne and his beloved wife. For whom he has killed his brother.

At this particular time it happens that Hamlet passes through the prayer room strongly willing to kill him but as it is in Christianity (vocal system of accepting prayer) he postpones to, and later on destiny leads him to avenge his father’s murder, during the duel going on between the two “Hamlet & Laertes” which is actually pre – planned by Claudius.

But as it is said..

“One who digs pit for another, himself  is destined to fall first(as it is nature’s law)”.

The same happens in Claudius’s case he had poisoned sword and made poisonous drink for Hamlet but God saves him. Instead of blessing him with human’s conspiring death, he is blissed with warrior-like death.

Hence we learnt how in chronological order (Shakespeare) has constructed his play, concerning soliloquies mostly spoken by Hamlet and how then a role into soliloquy is taken by Claudius and which helps to give a complete form to a part of the play.

Work citations
D. Barad,(4th Friday, January, 2013)https://dilipbarad.blogspot.com/2013/01/ma-english-study-material-reading.html: M.A.(with English)sem-1,2: the renaissance period:Hamlet:Hamlet's soliloquies.