Hamlet: Soliloquy "Oh what a rogue and peasant slave am I"

Hamlet "Oh what a rogue and peasant slave" from Christian Carroll on Vimeo.

Before you complete this blog entry, you must paraphrase this soliloquy on your Hamlet page on your own website: transcribe it in its original form, paraphrase it line by line, and please AVOID the use of Sparknote-like sources! 

Self-reproach: 'And all for nothing?'

'What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba . . .?' demands Hamlet as he sees the player weeping for the sufferings of Hecuba. Faced with an actor who can cry at the imagined torments of a fictional character in a play, Hamlet reproaches himself for his own lack of action. The actor can weep 'for nothing', but Hamlet, with a murdered father, is incapable of taking revenge ('unrepugnant of my cause'). Like a day-dreamer ('John-a-dreams'), he does nothing.

     a. Do you think that Hamlet is being too hard on himself? Consider in turn each of the things he calls himself and decide if they are true ('rogue', 'peasant slave', 'dull and muddy-mettled rascal', 'John-a-dreams', 'coward', 'pigeon-livered'). Why does he level these accusations at himself. 

     b. Consider each of the seven things Hamlet calls Claudius in lines 532-3 and discuss justified you think each description is.

     c. Shakespeare often inserts lists into his plays (a literary device called copiousness). The accumulation of items helps to increase the intensity of the mood being created. Pick out the following lists: the player's reactions (lines 506-509); what the player would do if he acted Hamlet (lines 514-518); what Hamlet imagines a bully would do to him (lines 524-527); what Hamlet calls Claudius (lines 532-533). Write a new list to insert into the soliloquy (for example, a list concerning his mother, or his false friends).

Primary Blog Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 200-250 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the Shakespearean character's name that you selected in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm on Friday 12/14! 

Secondary Blog Response Expectations (read everyone's primary responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 100-150 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing.  Please use the Shakespearean character's name that you selected in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm on Sunday 12/16!