Brush Up Your Shakespeare

Welcome to ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare,’ where we explore the most poignant and memorable moments of the Bard’s masterpieces! In this episode, our insightful host takes you through the final scene sharing Hamlet Act V, Scene 2, with a focus on the moving line: ‘Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.’ Join us as we examine the themes of death, honor, and finality that bring this tragic play to its unforgettable conclusion. Whether you’re a seasoned Shakespearean scholar or new to his works, this episode offers a touching analysis, thoughtful commentary, and a fresh perspective on the emotional farewell to Hamlet. Subscribe now for a deep dive into the beauty of Shakespeare’s words, and let’s brush up on the brilliance of the Bard together. Your literary adventure awaits!

This scene takes place entirely in a graveyard! And Shakespeare, sensing things are getting a bit heavy, lightens things up with some comedy between two gravediggers! One of the gravediggers pops up a skull that belonged to the court jester, Yorick, and hands it to Hamlet. This begins one of the most famous vignettes in Shakespeare: That of Hamlet holding a skull in the palm of his hand while he speaks to it! And what Hamlet has to say to that skull may be some of the darkest lines in literature!

Laertes returns to Denmark incensed over the murder of his father, Polonius, and seeking revenge. Things go from bad to worse when Laertes finds out that his sister has gone mad and then drowns herself. But Claudius is able to turn the wrath of Laertes away from himself and toward Hamlet, whom Claudius has sent on a voyage to England . . . a voyage from which Hamlet will never return. Or will he . . .?

With Hamlet safely on his way to certain death in England, Claudius must deal with another threat to his throne: Laertes, the son of slain Polonius, is coming back from France to seek revenge for HIS father’s murder, and Laertes has his sights set on Claudius as the likely suspect! Adding to his rage, Laertes finds out when he gets back to Denmark that not only is his father murdered, but his sister Ophelia has gone mad! Will Claudius be adroit enough to redirect Laertes’ wrath away from him and keep his throne? Listen and find out!

This scene contains one of the most brilliant soliloquies in the all of Shakespeare, and it doesn’t start with, “To be or not to be”! Hamlet realizes he has been thinking about revenging his father’s murder too long, and now resolves to take action to kill the King, his uncle, Claudius!