Yes, I analysed the word "table"... -- Great Books II

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Date Posted: 23:07:50 04/27/08 Sun
Author: tsawyer
Subject: Yes, I analysed the word "table"...

Following is an excerpt from my essay. It's a rough draft (aren't they all!), so forgive stupid or extraneous comments. Right-o.

Because of this great faith he has in his father, Hamlet pushes aside any other purposes in order to fulfill the Ghost's commands. Though Hamlet might hesitate throughout the rest of the play, his immediate reaction is that of unquestioning obedience: �Yea, from the table of my memory / I'll wipe away all trivial fond records,/.../And thy commandment alone shall live / within the book and volume of my brain / unmixed with baser matter� (1.5.98-99, 102-104). Primarily, this passage demonstrates Hamlet's unswerving adherence to the dictates of his father. He vows to forget all his past loves and cares, focusing solely upon the commandment of the Ghost. Though Hamlet uses the word primarily to refer to his mind as a tablet of instruction, a kind of mental notepad, �table� also can indicate the layout of a chess board. Chess requires the participants to remain completely focused on the ultimate purpose within the game�one cannot both play to win and to keep all his pawns at the same time. Similarly, Hamlet forces himself to focus entirely on his purpose: to take the king. He might have to make sacrifices along the way; he might lose a few pawns�Rosencratz and Guildenstern�or a queen. In his twisted version of the game which desires victory even at the cost of defeat, he might even have sacrifice his own king. He may have to sacrifice himself. To apply himself to any other purpose�even to consider himself an important piece as compared to victory�would be to destroy the strategic purpose to which he is committed.

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Replies:

Re: Yes, I analysed the word "table"... -- keder, 16:58:51 05/04/08 Sun
Re: Yes, I analysed the word "table"... -- sneidow, 21:38:30 05/04/08 Sun
Re: Yes, I analysed the word "table"... -- sneidow, 21:39:27 05/04/08 Sun