SHAKSPER 2000: Hamlet's "draw"

From: Hardy M. Cook (editor@ws.bowiestate.edu)
Date: 05/05/00 

The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 11.0968  Friday, 5 May 2000.

From:           Justin Drewry <jdad2@bellsouth.net>
Date:           Thursday, 04 May 2000 12:45:10 -0400
Subject:        Hamlet's "draw"

There is an ongoing debate between myself and a colleague as to what
Hamlet's definition of the word "draw" is in 3.iv.239 & 4.1.25 of the
folio.

Hamlet addresses Polonius's dead body while dragging it from the stage:

  "Come, sir, to draw toward an end with you."

And his mother replies to Claudies in the next scene that he has gone.

  "To draw apart the body he hath killed,"


Is Hamlet actually cutting the body to pieces in these quotations?

Thanks,
Andy Drewry
The Webb School
jdad2@bellsouth.net


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