Quarto In Hamlet

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In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, there are several textual differences between the First Folio and Second Quarto texts, which often affect the reading of a character or the play. One example of this phenomenon is in Hamlet’s first soliloquy. After being confronted by the Ghost of his father and hearing about the circumstances of King Hamlet’s murder, Prince Hamlet laments his own existence. He says that he wishes he could “melt” (Q2, 1.2.129), and then bemoans “Or that the Everlasting had not fixed / His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter. O God, God,” (Q2, 1.2.131-2). In the Folio, the line reads: “Or that the Everlasting had not fixed / His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter. O God, O God!” (F1, 1.2.129-30). In both versions, the first part of the line …show more content…
Hamlet makes multiple references to religion in his soliloquy, first referring to God’s “canon ‘gainst self slaughter” (F1, 1.2.130) and then again when he exclaims “O God, O God!” (F1, 1.2.130). Many people brush over this, as they do not believe there to be a specific scriptural provision against suicide. However, Faber points to Philippians verses 1:20 through 1:29, saying that these verses were significant to English writers, including Shakespeare and his contemporaries (98). The verses Hamlet references are spoken by Paul, for whom suicide is desirable because he wants to join Christ in Heaven. Paul ultimately decides that the virtuous choice is to continue living, because it is worthwhile to suffer in Christ’s name, and righteous to continue to spread the word of God. As part of his justification, Paul says “And whether to liue in the flesh were profitable for me, and what to chuse I know not” (GNV Phil. 1:22). Hamlet mirrors Paul’s use of the word “profitable” when he refers to “all the uses of this world” (Q2, 1.2.134) as “unprofitable” (Q2, 1.2.133). This parallel supports the idea that Hamlet is referencing Philippians in this soliloquy. This is significant, because Hamlet is specifically creating a comparison between himself and the scriptures, which shows how aware he is of the provisions against suicide. His hesitation about self-slaughter indicates a thorough understanding of the scriptural basis for this “canon” (Q2, 1.2.131), rather than a cursory knowledge of its existence. Moreover, after Hamlet exclaims “O God, O God!” (F1, 1.2.130), he does not speak of suicide for the rest of the soliloquy. The fact that the interjection breaks up the soliloquy into a part about suicide and a part that doesn’t mention it at all indicates that invoking religion is enough to stop him
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