Referring to my blog address... Part I

Ah yes, I think it is worthwhile to note that yes, I do know that I did misquote Shakespeare in my blog address. I did it on purpose, mind you. And here is why:

You see, I am like so many other students of English, a lover of Hamlet. Or rather, should I say both Hamlet and Horatio. Because as I see it, Horatio and I are more alike in thought and mind than Hamlet.. but that comes later you see...

"I have of late--butwherefore I know not--lost all my mirth, forgone allcustom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavilywith my disposition that this goodly frame, theearth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this mostexcellent canopy, the air, look you, this braveo'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof frettedwith golden fire, why, it appears no other thing tome than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason!how infinite in faculty! in form and moving howexpress and admirable! in action how like an angel!in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of theworld! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me,what is this quintessence of dust? man delights notme: no, nor woman neither, though by your smilingyou seem to say so." - Hamlet, Act II Scene II

This little introspective bit that Hamlet so eloquently phrases during his meeting with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern has a special meaning to me. It's so very multifaceted... this statement. But where to begin?

Let's start with what this quote is about, what's going on. I'm going to assume (yes, yes, I know what assuming does ... it makes a *** out of you and me... very clever dear reader...) that you have read Hamlet, that you are familiar with the plot, so I won't take unnecessary time to explain the grand tapestry of scandal and murder in the story. Instead, let's examine the meat and potatoes meaning behind Hamlet's words here.

"I have of late,—but wherefore I know not,—lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory;"
Quintessentially, the poor boy's depressed, and he's not entirely sure why. Sure the whole " My dad was murdered and my mom just married my uncle who happened to kill my dad all in the space of a few weeks." thing is depressing him, but there's something beneath the surface, something more that has our poor Prince of Denmark rueful. He cites the earth as a "sterile promontory": a lonely, desolate area. He further expounds upon this by painting with words he majesty and greatness of everything around him:

"-this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o’erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire,—why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. "

How grand! How majestic! How utterly amazing and miraculous ! And yet... how incredibly drab and grey... how like and unlike everything around it and everything before it and everything after it. That's what Hamlet's saying.

"What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! how infinite in faculties! in form and moving, how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension, how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?"

Oh now he's gone and done it. Ragging on nature is one thing, but now he's going to rag on man? First Hamlet praises man for it's accomplishments, it's grace and beauty, even going so far as to compare man to god at one point. But once he reaches this peak, it's like he gives up. He collapses, it's sort of like "What's the use?". For at this point in the proceedings of the story, Hamlet is in such despair, he says that man is nothing to him. He tires of this endless drama life has presented him what with the current scandal. He says "And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not me;" He is disgusted and exhausted with the concept of man, the universe and the reasoning behind man's actions.

There is a passage in the Bible, Ecclesiasties 1:9 to be exact, that is very similar in nature to what Hamlet relates: "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun." I believe that this verse is perhaps the inspiration behind what Hamlet is saying. It states a fact that is rather depressing, in my view: that everything's been done and that life is just one long song that is replayed over and over again. Which you have to admit, that's pretty depressing. I think that's really what Hamlet is contemplating in this phrase, man's place in the eternal loop that is life on earth. History repeating itself, so to speak...


(Will continue shortly... must go to a meeting, so sorry!!! COMING SOON: My similarity to Horatio...)