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The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 19.0198  Wednesday, 2 April 2008

From:		Cheryl Newton <cnewton71499@roadrunner.com>
Date:		Monday, 31 Mar 2008 23:27:32 -0400
Subject:	Threes in _Hamlet_

If Hardy is willing to allow yet another Hamlet question on the list: I 
took this to my retired English prof, & she said, "You know I hate 
Hamlet. Ask Cook's friends on line."

Are you familiar with any critical attention to groupings of 3s in 
Hamlet? If so, does it also apply to any of his other plays?

Examples:
2 gravedigger clowns + the jester Yorik (given voice by Hamlet)
3 friends - Horatio, R&G
3 Kings - the old Hamlet, Claudius, Old Norway
3 courtiers - Voltimand, Cornelius, Osric
3 appearances of the Ghost to the soldiers
(just 2 following appearances to Hamlet, but Campbell Scott placed the 
Ghost among the spectators at Hamlet's death, adding a 3rd vision)
3 soldiers - Barnardo, Francisco, Marcellus
3 players - king, queen, nephew
3 members of Polonius' family.
3 members of Hamlet's family - both before & after his father's death, 
thanks to Claudius' quick entry!

BTW - hearty thanks for all of your comments on the uses of soliloquies.

Cheryl Newton

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