In Act II of Shakespeare's Hamlet,
Ophelia relates Hamlet's strange behavior, Claudius, who fears for his life and has
already hired Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to question Hamlet, agrees to hide with
Polonius and spy on the contrived meeting of Ophelia and Hamlet. When Hamlet meets with
Ophelia, she feigns attendance upon maidenly matters. But, Hamlet is in a misogynistic
mood and tells her he did not love her and she should go to a nunnery rather than "make
monsters" of men.
Of interest are Hamlet's words about
marriage which Claudius and Polonius overhear. Hamlet predicts that everyone who is
presently married shall live except for one, and the rest shall stay as they are; that
is, unwed:
God hath given you one face, and you make
yourselves another. You jig and amble, and you lisp; you nickname God's creatures, and
make your wantonness your ignorance. go to, I'll no more on't, it hath made me mad. I
say we will have no more marriage. Those that are married already, all but one, shall
live. The rest shall keep as they are. To a nunnery, go.
(3.1.151-157)
After hearing
these words, the fearful Claudius announces his plan to send Hamlet to England,
ostensibly for Hamlet's safety, but in reality to distance him from Claudius. This scene
is just another of those that illustrate the theme of Appearances vs.
Reality
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