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What does all that lives must die passing through nature to eternity mean from Hamlet?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Queen Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, is telling him to stop looking and feeling so gloomy and to stop dwelling on his father's death. She states, "all that lives must die, passing through nature to eternity." It is a common observation that all living things finally stop living, from bacteria to whales. But where were we before we were born? Where will 'we' be after we die? Is there a beginning or an end to time itself, which witnesses all births and deaths without giving up one clue to this continuing mystery? All that anyone really knows is that we go from this earthly existence, "nature," back into the very same mystery from where we came, "eternity." The Queen is not interested in mysteries; she simply wants everyone to be in good spirits so that she and her new husband can enjoy themselves, even after murdering Hamlet's father. Queen Gertrude: "Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off,
And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.
Do not for ever with thy vailed lids
Seek for thy noble father in the dust:
Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die,
Passing through nature to eternity." To summarize, she quickly uses this timeless observation - we all die - simply to tell Hamlet to "get over it" and look toward healthier pursuits. Of course, he is helped to see the truth of his own mother's betrayal through his father's ghost, and eventually Hamlet brings vengeance to the new king and his mother in this excellent tragedy of Shakespeare.
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∙ 15y ago
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How do Claudius and Gertrude treat Hamlet's grief?
Claudius and Gertrude try to deal with Hamlet's sadness by giving a touching speech about how everything must die "passing from nature to eternity." Also, Claudius promises a party at which he will have his guards shoot canonns off every time he finishes a drink.
What does Hamlet tell Gertrude to do in act 3?
Good Hamlet cast thy nighted colour off and look like a friend upon Denmark. Do not forever with thy veiled lids seek for thy noble father in the dust. Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die, passing through nature to eternity. Which one might paraphrase as: My dear Hamlet, stop wearing these black clothes, and be friendly to the king. You can't spend your whole life with your eyes to the ground remembering your noble father. It happens all the time, what lives must die eventually, passing to eternity.
Is Hamlet respected by his peers in the play?
Horatio is a fellow student of Hamlet's who clearly loves him. Laertes is a Dane of about Hamlet's age, although of less exalted birth. Hamlet respects him and calls him "a most noble youth", while Laertes says of Hamlet's apology to him, "I am satisfied in nature" although it is difficult to believe anything he says at this stage. Fortinbras is probably as close to a peer as Hamlet has in the play, and he says "he was likely, had he been put on, to have proved most royal". While we do not know what Fortinbras's basis was for such a statement it surely confirms that Fortinbras respected Hamlet.
Is ophelia a disobedient daughter?
Not from what we see of her in the play. She breaks off with Hamlet when she's told to, and performs her job as bait when requested. The nature of her madness suggests that there may be more to it, though.
What is the relationship between Hamlet and horatio?
Both are manipulated by their fathers. Hamlet is persuaded by his father's ghost that he must avenge his father's murder by Claudius, but he doesn't really want to do it. Ophelia is persuaded by her father, Polonius, to find out from Hamlet what is wrong, but she doesn't really want to do it. Both have their fathers killed. Both can be said to suffer insanity.
How do you say eternity in Shakespeare?
"Shakespeare" is not a language. Shakespeare wrote in modern English and thus "eternity" is expressed by the English word "eternity" As in, "all that lives must die, passing through nature to eternity." (Hamlet Act 1, Scene 2)
How do Claudius and Gertrude treat Hamlet's grief?
Claudius and Gertrude try to deal with Hamlet's sadness by giving a touching speech about how everything must die "passing from nature to eternity." Also, Claudius promises a party at which he will have his guards shoot canonns off every time he finishes a drink.
What does Hamlet tell Gertrude to do in act 3?
Good Hamlet cast thy nighted colour off and look like a friend upon Denmark. Do not forever with thy veiled lids seek for thy noble father in the dust. Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die, passing through nature to eternity. Which one might paraphrase as: My dear Hamlet, stop wearing these black clothes, and be friendly to the king. You can't spend your whole life with your eyes to the ground remembering your noble father. It happens all the time, what lives must die eventually, passing to eternity.
Who wrote eternity of nature the poem?
The poem "Eternity of Nature" was written by Emily Dickinson. Dickinson was an American poet known for her unique style and exploration of themes such as nature, spirituality, and the passage of time.
What does If it be why seems it so particular with thee mean-Hamlet?
Gertrude is responding to Hamlet's response about her last remark. She is trying to talk him out of mourning the death of his father, her late husband. She has said that everybody's father dies; "it is common"; it happens all the time. The dead fathers go to heaven, passing from nature to eternity. Hamlet replies, "Ay, madam, it is common" which looks like he agrees although most likely he really means that her actions are "common" in the sense that they would suit a dairymaid better than a queen. (Hamlet is, as you have probably noticed, a bit of a snob). Gertrude however takes him at his word, and thinks she is getting through, so she asks the question, "If it be [common], why is it so particular with thee?" The word "particular" means "special to one person" as in "He has his own particular way of shuffling cards". What she is saying is, "Why if everyone else has this problem, are you acting like you are the only one who had a father die?"
What is the nature of the ghost king hamlet?
Sort of spiritual and ectoplasmic. He was a ghost, after all.
Who wrote to be or not to be?
William Shakespeare wrote the famous soliloquy that begins with "To be or not to be" in his play Hamlet. It is a contemplation on the nature of existence and the internal struggles of the character Hamlet.
What is the nature of Hamlet's speech to Laertes before they fence?
It's sort of an official and not very believable apology.
What image in the first verse is used to portray the passing of time?
In the first verse, the image of the "hourglass" is used to portray the passing of time as the sand trickles through the narrow neck of the glass, symbolizing the fleeting nature of time.
What does Space is to place as eternity is to time means?
This phrase suggests that space relates to place in the same way that eternity relates to time. Just as space encompasses all physical locations, eternity encompasses all moments in time. It emphasizes the vastness and infinite nature of both concepts.
What works as the thesis statement for a reflective essay based on Hamlet?
A possible thesis statement could be: "In reflecting on Shakespeare's Hamlet, one can explore the themes of revenge, madness, and moral ambiguity through the lens of the protagonist's internal struggles and external conflicts, ultimately revealing the complexities of human nature and the consequences of indecision."
What are the most important passages of hamlet act why?
Some of the most important passages in Hamlet include: Hamlet's soliloquy "To be or not to be," where he contemplates the nature of existence and the afterlife; the scene of Hamlet confronting his mother, Queen Gertrude, in her chamber about her hasty marriage to his uncle Claudius; and the final scene of the play, where Hamlet delivers his dying speech and appoints Fortinbras as the next ruler of Denmark. These passages are key moments in the play that reveal Hamlet's internal struggle, relationships with others, and ultimate fate.
