Hamlet wants to avenge his father's murder. However, his indecision prevents him from taking action. Which of these excerpts fro
m act IV mark the turning point of Shakespeare's tragedy?
A.) Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood,
And do such bitter business as the day
Would quake to look on.
(Hamlet, act IV, scene III )
B.)O heavens, die two months ago, and not forgotten
yet? Then there's hope a great man's memory may outlive his life
half a year: but, by'r lady, he must build churches then;
(Hamlet, act IV, scene II )
C.) Now might I do it pat, now he is praying;
And now I'll do't—and so he goes to heaven,
And so am I reveng'd. That would be scann'd:
A villain kills my father; and for that
I, his sole son, do this same villain send
To Heaven
O, this is hire and salary, not revenge.
(Hamlet, act IV, scene III)
D.) O, it offends me to the
soul, to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to
tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who,
for the most part, are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb
shows and noise. I would have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing
Termagant; it out-herods Herod: pray you avoid it.
(Hamlet, act IV, scene II)
