Monday, March 21, 2011

(Magpie 58, ABC Wednesday, Writer's Island and Sunday Scribblings)
“J” is for “January.”
Hamlet is very excited.
It’s January and it’s a bitter cold night in Denmark. We’re on a battlement of Elsinore Castle, where the young Prince has just learned that his late father was murdered, murdered by his own brother, the present King.


And Hamlet learned this from his father himself, who has appeared in the form of a Ghost who begs his son to avenge his murder.
Hamlet’s mind ranges wildly: was that really his father? Or could it have been an evil spirit, a fiend trying to trick him into performing an evil deed – to kill his uncle?


And of course there’s the possibility that he had imagined the whole thing. He has got to find out the answers to his questions.
He comes upon his two friends, who had also previously seen the Ghost.

Hamlet: “Good friends, as you are friends, scholars and soldiers, give me one poor request.”
Horatio: “What is it, my lord. We will.”
Hamlet: “Never make known what you have seen tonight.”
Horatio and Marcellus: “My lord, we will not.”
Hamlet: “Nay, but swear it.”
Both his friends readily swear to it.
But that’s not nearly enough for the young Prince. An oath is all well and good, but this is serious business. It calls for a special kind of oath.


Hamlet: “Upon my sword.”
Marcellus: “We have sworn, my lord, already.”
Hamlet: “Indeed, upon my sword, indeed!”
Quite astonishingly, the Ghost calls out from beneath the stage: “Swear by his sword!”
They swear again. Horatio's amazement is unlimited.

Horatio: “O day and night! But this is wondrous strange!”
Hamlet: “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

38 comments:

Brigid O'Connor said...

I think that last line has to be one of the best I have ever read, enjoyable post

Rob Kistner said...

I really like where you took this...

rob kistner
Image & Verse

Berowne said...

By email from California Girl:
"After reading the most recent posts in chronological order, I am to become a 'follower' because you, sir, are a man after my own heart. Why? Shakespeare, old movies & F. Scott, personal favorites all. Yes, I'm an English Lit major who favored 20th century American Lit as well. I'll be back."
Great. I'll keep the light on for you. :-)

Elizabeth said...

Hamlet is terribly excited...and I'm terribly excited to see your lovely piece about him. x

Altonian said...

Hamlet - the man who couldn't make up his mind.
Nice work again Berowne, and a weird touch of almost 'same wavelength' synchronicity: My post this week is entitled 'To be free, or not to be free.'

Rinkly Rimes said...

You always come up with the classical reference that just fits!

Reflections said...

Interesting piece. I definitely like where you wound the words on this one. Well done.

Isabel Doyle said...

thank you for explaining that scene sir, I was always confused by the references to cooking ...
nicely twined

Tess Kincaid said...

Delicious post, Mr. B. I love this line and quote it often:

There are more things in heaven and earth, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Berowne said...

"Delicious post, Mr. B."
Another generous comment from Tess K. -- thanks.

Kathe W. said...

Well done Berowne! I too especially like that last line!

Jinksy said...

Heaven and Earth are full of surprises! LOL

Helen said...

Ah .. Professor Berowne ~ well done!

Everyday Goddess said...

I always enjoy your Magpies!

Trulyfool said...

Berowne,

Nothing more confirming than the sword. Nothing backing up the oath but the power to defend against those who would have us take it back. Nothing 'spiritual' to match the hard edge of one.

I'm such a modern man, B. Simply could not live in a 'heroic' age.

Trulyfool

Leslie: said...

Always a treat to see what you bring us each week. Another Shakespeare is always welcome! Have a jolly good week,

Leslie
ABCW Team

Carrie Van Horn said...

Bravo indeed Berowne....you always amaze me with your knowledge and flair with words! :-)

Roger Owen Green said...

Someone in an article I read just this morning compared Obama with Hamlet (and compared Hillary Clinton w Hillary Clinton). Hmm.

Nice job, as always.

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

J.Rylie.C said...

Very interesting J and so pretty too.

Please come and meet the J's in my Family, hope to see you around, thanks!

Berowne said...

Trulyfool, I am honored by your visit -- and thanks for the shoutout.

Hildred said...

As always, Berowne, I find much enjoyment and a lot to think about.

ds said...

Oh, what a wonderful way to weave in one of literature's greatest lines! So appropriate in these times, too. Thanks, Berowne.

Donna B. said...

Excellent...swept me away...

Berowne said...

Roger O G: "...compared Obama with Hamlet."
You may have something there. :-)

Berowne said...

ds: "Oh, what a wonderful way to weave in one of literature's greatest lines!"
Thanks, ds -- and by the way...
I don't feel dull
I don't feel hollow.
I found myself
In your "Blogs I Follow." :-)

Berowne said...

Donna B.: "Excellent...swept me away..."
What a great comment -- thanks.

Meryl said...

Thank you for this January sojourn! The text, the photos...great post.

Dave King said...

Excellent work.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Very enjoyable Magpie - I shall visit here with regularity!

Anna :o]

Berowne said...

Anna: "I shall visit here with regularity!"
I'll be looking for you...:-)

Berowne said...

Thanks, Meryl and Dave King, for some very encouraging comments.

Lucy Westenra said...

One always learns something here.

chiccoreal said...

Dear Berowne: One has to wonder whether or not Hamlet is possessed by the ghost's wisdom. How would Hamlet know such things as to the infinite reckoning through dead man's voices? What would be the bane of choice back then?

Annie Jeffries said...

Shakespeare - truly an unlimited resource. Well done.

Elizabeth said...

Really like the idea of unlimited amazement.

Elizabeth

Berowne said...

Eliza: "Really like the idea of unlimited amazement."
Hey, had to work it in somewhere. :-)

Lisa said...

Wow - way to encompass several prompts into one piece. I haven't mastered that yet and am still writing a new piece for everything.

Old Egg said...

What a treat to read your offerings which somehow fit prompts posted six days after your contribution is written.

 
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