a word from our sponsors
See the new shakespeare.com. This feature, while it still provides useful information, is no longer maintained.
Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 3.15.97: Top | Help
You wrote:
>>> I would like to know others interpretations of the Queens
speech in act 4 scene 7...it begins "There is a willow
grows askant the brook...." Thanks all! <<<Interpretations?
I am not certain what you mean by this. I have always
"interpreted" the speech as fairly "straightforward." She
is playing the claccis role of the messenger, telling the
audience what has occured. She has just learned of Ophelia's
death, (either because she witnessed it or because she was told).
She is telling Claudius and Laertes (and the audience) how
it appeared.I have seen others who tried to impose some speculation
that she is lying, or inventing truths, but I find no
clue that this is true in the text. Either she saw it,
and came running into the castle to tell, or someone
else saw it, and has just told her.Other than that (minor) issue, I see little room for
interpretation (beyond the verse, meter, etc.)-Bruce
Posted by Bruce Spielbauer on March 31, 1997 at 18:45:22
In Reply to "Hamlet: Ophelia commits suicide" posted by Heather on March 31, 1997 at 09:43:00
Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 3.15.97: Top | Help