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Summary. Analysis. Inside Elsinore, Hamlet tells Horatio the story of his escape from the ship bound for England. Even though Hamlet was not a prisoner, per se, on the first leg of his journey, he felt like one, and was determined to get free.
He highlights this in Act 5 Scene 2 in the way that he creates a confusingly disjointed scene to show the lack of coherency in societal beliefs. These views Shakespeare had and how he ridiculed society made him quite liberal for his time.
Despite the pure nihilism of this speech, Macbeth seems to fluctuate between despair and ridiculous bravado, making his own dissolution rougher and more complex than that of his wife. Lured into a false sense of security by the final prophecies of the witches, he gives way to boastfulness and a kind of self-destructive arrogance.
Osric is an upstart courtier, spacious in the possession of dirt (line 87), who has little to say but attempts to make a showy impression in his speech as in his ridiculous clothes by dressing up that little in as many words as possible.
Analysis. Benedick banters with Margaret, who calls his gibes as “blunt as fencer’s foils.” (5.2.13) Benedick says that this is because his wit is not meant to hurt women. Leaving to fetch Beatrice, Margaret wittily replies that women have bucklers to defend themselves from the swords of men.
Analysis. Linked with language is the motif of communication. Brutus misreads the strength of Antony’s army and his own, assuming the latter is at its peak, the high tide which must be “taken ...
Analysis. Lennox and other Scottish lords and soldiers discuss the situation: Malcolm and his army are at Birnam Wood. Macbeth, in a constant rage verging on madness, is fortifying the stronghold of Dunsinane. With the mention of Birnam Wood and Dunsinane, the audience can see that Macbeth's fate is approaching. Active Themes. Quiz. Test Yourself.
