LOVE’s Reviews > Hamlet > Status Update

In the corrupted currents of this world
Offence’s gilded hand may shove by justice,
And oft ’tis seen the wicked prize itself
Buys out the law;
But ’tis not so above.
There is no shuffling.
There the action lies
In his true nature.

One of my favorite things about reading Shakespeare is discovering what hides behind a single word. In Hamlet, Claudius calls himself a “limed soul.” Birdlime was a sticky substance used to trap birds, the more they struggled, the more trapped they became.

What a brilliant image for guilt: a soul trying to free itself, only to become more entangled.

Shakespeare never ceases to amaze me 🙂‍↕️🌹✨.

"My words fly up, my thoughts remain below.
Words without thoughts never to heaven go."

“Thus conscience does make cowards of us all.”

How often do we hesitate, not because we lack courage, but because we can see too many possibilities, too many consequences, too many what-ifs?

Sometimes our awareness protects us.
Sometimes it paralyzes us.

I love how Shakespeare captures that conflict in a single line 🩶✨.

“ The undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveller returns “

"Thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought. “

“ Doubt thou the stars are fire;

Doubt that the sun doth move;

Doubt truth to be a liar;

But never doubt I love.

O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; I have not art to reckon my groans: but that I love thee best, O most best, believe it. Adieu.

Thine evermore, most dear lady,

Whilst this machine is to him, Hamlet.”

🩶🫠

Now to my word;

It is “Adieu, adieu! remember me.”

I have sworn’t.

“ That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain.”

“ Till then sit still, my soul: foul deeds will rise,

Though all the earth o’erwhelm them, to men’s eyes.“


~ I have my suspicions already; now I’m waiting for them to be confirmed🙂‍↕️.

“But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue.”

💔