Act 1
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75And there assume some other horrible form,
Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason
And draw you into madness? Think of it.
The very place puts toys of desperation,
Without more motive, into every brain
80That looks so many fathoms to the sea
And hears it roar beneath.
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where it takes on some other horrible form that drives you insane.
Think about it. The edge of the sea makes people feel despair even
at the best of times. All they have to do is look into its depths
and hear it roar far below.
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HAMLET It waves me still.
—Go on. I’ll follow thee.
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HAMLET It’s still waving to me. —Go ahead,
I’ll follow.
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MARCELLUS You shall not go, my lord.
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MARCELLUS You’re not going, sir.
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MARCELLUS and
HORATIO try to hold HAMLET back
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MARCELLUS and
HORATIO try to hold HAMLET
back.
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HAMLET Hold off your
hands.
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HAMLET Let go of me.
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HORATIO
85Be ruled. You shall not go.
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HORATIO Calm down. You’re not going anywhere.
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HAMLET My fate cries out
And makes each petty artery in this body
As hardy as the Nemean lion’s nerve.
Still am I called.—Unhand me, gentlemen.
(draws his sword)
90By heaven, I’ll make a ghost of him that lets me.
I say, away!—Go on. I’ll follow thee.
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HAMLET It’s my fate calling me. Every nerve in my body is now
as tough as steel. The ghost is still waving me over. Let me go,
gentlemen. (he draws his sword)
I swear, if anyone holds me back, I’ll make a ghost of
him! I say, get away!—Go ahead, I’ll follow
you.
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Exeunt GHOST and
HAMLET
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The GHOST and HAMLET
exit.
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HORATIO He waxes desperate with imagination.
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HORATIO His imagination is making him crazy.
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MARCELLUS Let’s follow. 'Tis not fit thus to obey
him.
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MARCELLUS Let’s follow them. It’s not right to obey
his orders to let him go alone.
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HORATIO Have after. To what issue will this come?
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HORATIO Go ahead and follow him. But what does all this mean, where will
it all end?
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More Help
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Character List
CHARACTERS -
Hamlet: Character Analysis
CHARACTERS -
Plot Analysis
MAIN IDEAS -
Is Hamlet really mad?
MAIN IDEAS -
Quotes by Theme
QUOTES -
Themes
MAIN IDEAS -
Review Quiz
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