Notebook Entry on Hamlet, Act III, Scence II

Character: Hamlet

“Tis now the very witching time of night, when church yards yawn and hell itself [breathes] out contagion to this world. Now could I drink not blood, and do such [bitter business as the] day…Soft, now to see my mother…let not never the soul of Nero enter this firm bossom…I will speak [daggers] to her but use none” (367-377)

Through setting up the play, Hamlet discovers Claudius to be guilty of his father, King Hamlet’s murder. He declares that “now” is the “witching time” because he is facing the truth and is confirming the need to seek revenge. Hamlet also sees “now” as the time for the “churchyards to yawn” and “hell to breathe”. The personification for “Churchyards” to “yawn” is creating a fearful imagery, because the “churchyards” are actually graveyards. It gives a feeling that the graves are getting bored and now they want new companions, the dead. The personification for “hell” to “breathe out to the world” also serves as a fearful imagery. It creates a picture that death is calling for more victims, and the unrest spirits are shouting their pains. In additional both imageries foreshadow the disaster of Denmark after all the brutal fightings at the end.

Within these lines, Hamlet also asserts his bravery and cruelty. He claims that he is now able to “drink hot blood” and to “do bitter business” which would make other people “quake” or tremble. Hamlet has clearly escalated his hatred toward Claudius. He aspires to cruelly kill Claudius and then drink his hot blood. Nonetheless, Hamlet commits to a promise that he won’t hurt his mother; he will only “speak dagger” to her but will “use none” of them. This foreshadows Hamlet’s success in following his father’s order as not to hurt his mother.

Notebook Entry on Hamlet, Act I, Scence IV

Discovery V
The gears may somehow represent fate .

Strand: Fortune and Fate


“So, oft it chances in particular men, that for some vicious mole of nature in them, as in their birth, where in they are not guilty (since nature cannot choose his origin)” (23-25)

Hamlet realizes the existence of fate. He concludes that fate might ruin Claudius, because of his defect of drinking. He suggests that drinking would “break down [Claudius’] pales and forts of reason”, or ruin his reputation no matter how many achieves Claudius has. In fact, Claudius’ defect of drinking symbolizes his sin of murdering his brother, King Hamlet. His ambition to become king and intention to kill King Hamlet might not have been his initiatives or have originated from him, because he “cannot choose his origin”. (25) Fate is the reason for everything, and Claudius does not have the power to compete against fate to choose his “origin” or characterization. Claudius can only depend upon fate and accept whatever fate gives him. Therefore, Claudius didn’t choose to be evil at the very first place.

Fate also destroys Claudius by giving him defects. Among the defects of Claudius, such as to kill King Hamlet, to seduce Queen Gertrude, and to ruin their prince Hamlet, even one of the defects is sufficient to trap Claudius, because it “shall in the general take [him] to corruption.” (34) Hamlet not only predicts but also ensures himself of Claudius’ outcome. He believes in fate that it would compensate Claudius whatever he deserves.