“Not where he eats, but where he is eaten. A certain convocation of politic worms are e’en at him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet. We fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots. Your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service--two dishes but to one table. That’s the end.” -page 197
In this passage, Hamlet is telling his uncle where Polonius’ body is, in the morbid and convoluted way that we have all come to expect of him. Although all those around him believe that he is insane, these words are actually very wise, and they express two things very clearly: what little power Claudius actually possesses, and what little worth Hamlet sees in life and humanity.
The latter part is obvious: Hamlet believes that all creatures are equal, in that they will all one day be eaten by worms and maggots. “That’s the end” suggests that there is no heaven or hell, only this macabre feast. The fact that worms are mentioned as the “only emperor[s]” brings this point further and alludes that humanity has been put on this planet for one reason, and that is to provide food for worms and maggots.
Why say this to his uncle, instead of to any other character? Simple: Claudius is the definition of a fat king. He eats, drinks, and lives in excess, and he shows little remorse for what he did to be able to do that. He is satisfied with himself, but Hamlet knows better. In the end, according to him, all of his uncle’s power and prestige will be worth nothing but food. As much work as the king may put into feeding “all creatures” for the purpose of feeding himself, he is only feeding maggots. His life, like everyone else’s (in Hamlet’s mind), is practically worthless, and his nephew would never miss an opportunity to remind him, while also revealing his dark worldview a little more clearly.
I agree wholeheartedly in the argument Hamlet makes and your interpretation of it. Hamlet remarks that everyone dies, and tells Claudius this because he is overindulgent in this lifetime. I wish you would have written more, this is such a good post. Overall, great job!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really great post. I really love how you explain Hamlet's negative world view and connect it to this post. I think it is also interesting that he very clearly states in this scene that everyone is equal because we all become maggot food, but he also has said so many misogynistic things in the past. I wish you had written a little more because this post is very insightful and well written.
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