Wherefore Art Thou Meaning?

"Wherefore Art Thou Meaning?" Many times while reading Shakespeare this is the main question on my mind. Through my own pondering & writing and hopefully some comments from others, I hope to find some answers.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Ophelia and Laertes (her brother) Scene

Ophelia and Laertes: A Brother's Words for Protection
by: bball10ash







 Here is a video I made of Laertes warning his sister Ophelia of the poor intentions of Hamlet.  I love Ophelia's response to this warning.  Below is the original script along with a modern translation.  The video is rough, but I am hoping to make an edited version soon.


[A room in the house of Polonius.]

Enter Laertes, and Ophelia, his sister.
Modern Translation:
LAERTES:
My necessaries are embark'd. Farewell.
And, sister, as the winds give benefit
And convoy is assistant, do not sleep,
But let me hear from you.
LAERTES:
The things I need are all on the ship. Goodbye.
And, sister, as the winds will be favorable
And the ships are strong to sail, don’t sleep,
Until you let me hear from you.
OPHELIA:
Do you doubt that?(5)
OPHELIA:
Do you doubt that?
LAERTES:
For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favours,
Hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood;
A violet in the youth of primy nature,
Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting;
The perfume and suppliance of a minute;(10)
No more.
LAERTES:
As for Hamlet and the foolishness of his attentions,
Think that it is only a phase and a toy in blood.
A violet in the youth of nature that is in its prime,
Bold, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,
The burning passion and extreme wanting of a moment,
Nothing more.
OPHELIA:
No more but so?
OPHELIA:
Nothing more than that?
LAERTES:
Think it no more.
For nature, crescent, does not grow alone
In thews and bulk; but as this temple waxes,(15)
The inward service of the mind and soul
Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now,
And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch
The virtue of his will; but you must fear,
His greatness weigh'd, his will is not his own;(20)
For he himself is subject to his birth.
He may not, as unvalued persons do,
Carve for himself; for on his choice depends
The safety and health of this whole state,
And therefore must his choice be circumscribed(25)
Unto the voice and yielding of that body
Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you,
It fits your wisdom so far to believe it
As he in his particular act and place
May give his saying deed; which is no further(30)
Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.
Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain
If with too credent ear you list his songs,
Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open
To his unmast'red importunity.(35)
Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister,
And keep you in the rear of your affection,
Out of the shot and danger of desire.
The chariest maid is prodigal enough
If she unmask her beauty to the moon.(40)
Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes.
The canker galls the infants of the spring
Too oft before their buttons be disclosed,
And in the morn and liquid dew of youth
Contagious blastments are most imminent.(45)
Be wary then; best safety lies in fear.
Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.
LAERTES:
Stop thinking about it,
Because nature, the moon, does not grow alone
In strength and size, but as this temple grows,
The inward duty of the mind and soul
Grows wide along with the rest. Maybe he loves you now,
And now no dirt nor trick dims the luster of
The purity of his intentions, but you must fear him.
His greatness considered, his intentions are not his own,
He himself is subject to his birth as a prince.
He may not, as lower persons do,
Select for himself, for on his choice depends
The safety and health of this whole state,
And therefore must his choice be subject
To the voice and consent of that state
That he is the head of. Then if he says he loves you,
You would be wise to believe it
Because then being in his particular act and place
May do what he says, which is what
The majority of people in of Denmark go along with.
So decide what loss your honor may receive
If you listen to his songs with a too believing ear,
Or lose your heart, or lose your virginity
To his wild sense of bad timing.
Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister,
And keep your affections deep within you,
Out of the range and danger of desire.
The most careful maid is wasteful enough
If she unmasks her beauty to the moon.
Virtue itself doesn’t aim at lying deeds.
An ugly disease afflicts the new flowers of the spring
Too often before they have bloomed,
And in the morning and liquid dew of youth
Contagious shriveling is the most imminent.
Be careful then. The safest way lies in fear.
Youth rebels against itself, even if no one else is near.
OPHELIA:
I shall the effect of this good lesson keep
As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother,
Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,(50)
Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven,
Whilst, like a puff'd and reckless libertine,
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads
And recks not his own rede.
OPHELIA:
I shall keep the purpose of this good lesson
As watchman to my heart. But, my good brother,
Don’t, as some insincere ministers do,
Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven,
While, like a proud and reckless wild man,
Preaches against the primrose path of sin
And does not practice what he preaches.
LAERTES:
O, fear me not!(55)
Enter Polonius.
I stay too long. But here my father comes.
A double blessing is a double grace;
Occasion smiles upon a second leave.
LAERTES:
O, don’t be afraid of me. I’ve stayed too long. But here comes my father.
A double blessing is a double grace,
It’s a better occasion to smile at saying goodbye again.

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