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Hamlet Similes A "Make Thy Two Eyes, Essay

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Hamlet Similes

a) "Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres" (1.5.17)

In this line from the first act of Hamlet, the ghost instructs his son to kill his uncle and in so doing, avenge his death. He asks that Prince Hamlet watch everything carefully in order to determine whether or not the Ghost speaks the truth. Just as it is the job of the stars to provide light in the darkness of night, Hamlet is asked to cast light into this dark situation. Instead of witnessing events with ignorance, Hamlet must now see everything in the light of this new information. By performing this action, he will be doing what is morally right and avenging a great wrong.

b) "What a piece of work is man!...in action how like an angel! In apprehension how like a god!" (2.2.300-301).

Hamlet has come to realize that his childhood friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have betrayed him. They are no longer his allies, but enemies of his...

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Here, he compares these two people and comes to the conclusion that they are representative of most of mankind. The men come to him as friends and promise help, like angels, but in reality they mean him nothing but harm. It discusses the kind of presentation man gives to the world when he hides his true character.
c) "Mad as the sea and wind, when both contend / Which is the mightier" (4.1.7-8).

In this quote, Queen Gertrude is explaining to her husband that she believes Hamlet to be insane. She compares his speeches to the howling of the wind in the ocean. He is pretending to be insane in order to find out how guilty Claudius is of regicide. Further, Gertrude wonders which of the two in this comparison would have more strength, the sea which can kill or Hamlet who may also. This proves to be an apt comparison because Hamlet, although not crazy, does become violent.

2. Beautiful passages:

a) "I did love…

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Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. New York, NY W.W. Norton, 1996. Print.
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