Hamlet

Act 2, Sc. 2, lines 298-316: What is the theme of this speech? Connect Hamlet's theme to themes that have arisen so far in the play.

Hamlet. the earth seems to me a sterile promontory, this most

excellent canopy air, look you, this brave o'erhanging

firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why,

it appeareth nothing to me but a foul and pestilent

congregation of vapours. What a piece of work is a man, how

noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and

moving how express and admirable, in action how like an

angel, in apprehension how like a god: the beauty of the

world, the paragon of animals - and yet, to me, what is this

quintessence of dust? Man delights not me - no, nor woman

neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so.

Rosencrantz. My lord, there was no such stuff in my

thoughts.

Hamlet. Why did ye laugh then, when I said man delights not me?

Rosencrantz. To think, my lord, if you delight not in man,

what Lenten entertainment the players shall recieve from you.

We coted them on the way, and hither are they coming

to offer you service.

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There are two major these here. One has to do with his perception of human nature as connected with the royal court. He sees it as infected and poisonous. He believes that Denmark and its environment is natural extension of this corruption and rotting morality,

why,t appeareth nothing to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.

He also questions mans' sense of purpose or rather lack of purpose. Hamlet is really questioning his own inaction to his father's murder and his mother's moral infidelity, and yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me - no, nor woman neither....