What does pregnant mean in Hamlet?

When Polonius comments how pregnant some of Hamlet's replies are, he means that they are full of hidden meaning, just as a pregnant woman is "full" of an infant to be born, who is nevertheless hidden from sight.

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What does Polonius mean when he says pregnant?

RALPH: The word pregnant was used earlier, in Hamlet's conversation with Polonius. Polonius uses it to refer to Hamlet's strange replies to his questions — and there, we saw that Shakespeare used it figuratively to mean that Hamlet's words were full of hidden meaning.

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Does Ophelia get pregnant in Hamlet?

By this point, Ophelia would be well aware of her pregnancy, and well aware that she would soon begin to show outward signs of it.

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What's the evidence that Ophelia is pregnant?

Is there any evidence that Ophelia was pregnant? People can stage Hamlet that way, but there is no evidence in the script that Ophelia is pregnant. The best evidence that she has had sex with Hamlet is the song she sings that ends: “Quoth she, 'Before you tumbled me, you promised me to wed.

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What does Hamlet mean when he tells Polonius not to let his daughter walk in the sun?

Hamlet says she should be kept out of the sun, as the sun would likely conceive with her too, thus likening our delicate Ophelia's womb to a dead dog rotting in the sun, which would then breed maggots.

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myShakespeare | Hamlet 2.2.207 Animated Note: Pregnant

23 related questions found

How pregnant sometimes his replies are?

“Polonius: Indeed, that's out of the air. How pregnant sometimes his replies are! A happiness that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of.”

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Does Hamlet warn Polonius that his daughter is pregnant?

In II, ii, Hamlet mockingly warns Polonius that "Conception is a blessing, but not as your daughter may conceive - friend look to't'. [Thanks to reader Winnie H for this point.]

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What disorder does Ophelia have?

Ophelia's diagnosis with PTSD humanizes a character that audiences have pitied for centuries, but with whom they could not empathize. Unlike many psychological ailments, this disorder does not connote “insanity,” to which many viewers cannot relate.

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How is Ophelia sexualized?

Perhaps the most descriptive sexualization of Ophelia is when Gertrude describes her dead body as “mermaid-like” (4.7. 201) with “her clothes spread wide” (4.7. 200). Describing her clothes as “spread-wide” is especially suggestive, as to reference the act of removing clothing before sex.

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What medical condition does Ophelia have?

Background: Ophelia's syndrome is the association of Hodgkin's Lymphoma and memory loss, coined by Dr. Carr in 1982, while it's most remembered for the eponym in reminiscence of Shakespeare's character, Dr.

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Does Ophelia lose her virginity to Hamlet?

Analyzes how ophelia's confession that she has lost her virginity comes in her state of madness. she is talking about the promises hamlet made to her before she had sex with him. Analyzes how ophelia's father, polonius, claudius, and gertrude question her character. hamlet knows the truth and speaks of it bluntly.

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Have Hamlet and Ophelia slept together?

It would have been risky for Shakespeare directly to portray pre-marital sex between aristocratic characters, but Hamlet gives us reasons to suspect that at some point before the beginning of the play, Hamlet and Ophelia have had sex.

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Why can't Hamlet marry Ophelia?

Bidding his sister, Ophelia, farewell, he cautions her against falling in love with Hamlet, who is, according to Laertes, too far above her by birth to be able to love her honorably. Since Hamlet is responsible not only for his own feelings but for his position in the state, it may be impossible for him to marry her.

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What is the symbolism of Polonius in Hamlet?

On the archetypal level of Hamlet, Polonius embodies three roles--the wise old man, the fool, and the scapegoat-- in a schema composed also of embodiments of the archetypal hero-prince, the anima, the racial father, the shadow, the terrible mother, and the night sea journey.

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Is Ophelia Polonius only daughter?

Ophelia is Polonius' daughter and Laertes' sister. She has been in a relationship with Hamlet. Claudius is the newly crowned King of Denmark and husband to Gertrude. He is Hamlet's uncle.

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What does Hamlet say to Polonius about conception?

Conception is a blessing. But not as your daughter may conceive, friend, look to't.

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Does Hamlet abuse Ophelia?

Hamlet uses Ophelia for his own personal gain, he toys with her emotions by making to seem as though she is the cause of his madness. Hamlet emotionally abuses Ophelia with no regard for her psychological well-being.

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Did Hamlet seduce Ophelia?

Ophelia falls in love with Hamlet and is seduced by him. However, she is warned (belatedly) by her father and brother that she must not give in to the prince because, even if he does love her, a marriage between them is unlikely and without her virginity, she would be lost.

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What does Ophelia symbolize in Hamlet?

Ophelia's character is important in the story because she represents femininity, and Hamlet is able to act out his aggression towards his mother on Ophelia. Although she is really a naïve and innocent girl, Hamlet believes all women are manipulative and use their feminine nature to take advantage of men.

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What does Ophelia's flowers symbolize?

Ophelia uses flowers as symbols of her deep sorrow and grief. She is very upset because her father, Polonius, has just been killed by Hamlet. Being a sensitive and intelligent young woman, Ophelia needs to express herself, and she does so by passing out flowers to the court in her seeming mad state of mind.

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How did Ophelia lose her child?

Ophelia Nichols' 18-year-old son Randon Lee died by gun violence on June 24.

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What does the name Ophelia symbolize?

Ophelia is a Greek girl's name meaning “aid” and “help.” This name is best known for the tragic heroine in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Although Ophelia's story is heartbreaking and poignant, the name also represents beauty and selflessness.

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Was Ophelia's death an accident?

Some see Ophelia's death as an accident; others see it as a suicide resulting from the accumulation of a series of unfortunate events: her rejection by her boyfriend, her father's murder, and her possible pregnancy.

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Was Ophelia married to Hamlet?

Ophelia (/əˈfiːliə/) is a character in William Shakespeare's drama Hamlet (1599–1601). She is a young noblewoman of Denmark, the daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes and potential wife of Prince Hamlet, who, due to Hamlet's actions, ends up in a state of madness that ultimately leads to her drowning.

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Does Hamlet ever forgive his mother?

It is true that Hamlet had to overcome many moral and emotional obstacles in the play in order to be more prepared to destroy Claudius, but it is poignant that the moment that propels him forward to absolute action is when he forgives his mother and decides to avenge her, along with his father.

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