Act III Scene II
First of all: INTERTEXTUALITY/ALLUSIONS/CONNECTIONS- Polonius refers to Julius Caesar and how he performed in that play as Julius Caesar when he was younger... coincidentally also written by Shakespeare. I think this is also foreshadowing that Polonius will die and his death will involve betrayal, like Caesar's.
When Claudius asks how Hamlet is doing, Hamlet responds "Excellent, i' faith, of the chameleon’s dish. I eat the air, promise-crammed. You cannot feed capons so." I think that "eating the air" means he tolerates the Claudius's fake interest in him and basically how he has lied to him since his father's death. He refers to it as air because it lacks substance and actual sincerity. I think Hamlet refers to himself as being like a chameleon because he hasnt really done anything openly to avenge his father's death, he has camouflaged his plans for revenge.
The notes at the back of my copy state: "the chameleon was supposed to eat air" (like how carrots are associated with rabbits and bones with dogs, people thought the chameleon's food was air - maybe because of the way it uses its tongue?)
ReplyDeleteThe notes at the back of my copy state: "the chameleon was supposed to eat air" (like how carrots are associated with rabbits and bones with dogs, people thought the chameleon's food was air - maybe because of the way it uses its tongue?)
ReplyDeleteMy good friend Adriana thinks that Hamlet is full of life
ReplyDeleteHi Julia,
ReplyDeleteLets examine the full meaning of the text - 'Excellent, i' faith' means hamlet is just like faith, it is not a physical element...'of the chameleon’s dish' means the belief by some that a chameleon is said to have eaten the air (but like faith it is believed). A chameleon also camouflages and like faith cannot be seen but is present if you believe it....'I eat the air, promise-crammed.' means that hamlet has filled himself with faith....'You cannot feed capons so.' means you cannot feed some people with faith, like Claudius, it was a direct attack on him.
he's trying to sound insane. there is no meaning in it
ReplyDeleteYeet
ReplyDelete“What did you enact”
ReplyDelete