Sugar Sugar (imported from my Hamlet blog)
Friday, January 25, 2008
Here's what I was talking about from Quarto 1, (4.6):
In Quarto 2 and Folio (3.1):
Gertrude delivers this "read" on Claudius in Quarto 1. In Q2 and Folio Polonius seems to throw it against the wall and it sticks to Claudius.
Sugar over the devil himself--love it.
Gertrude:Though there's some confusion with pronouns, I'm pretty sure Gertrude is referring to her husband Claudius here, as Horatio has informed her of the plot to assassinate Hamlet in England, which Hamlet has uncovered.
Then I perceiue there's treason in his lookes
That seem'd to sugar o're his villanie:
In Quarto 2 and Folio (3.1):
Polonius:Here I'm thinking long-winded Polonius instructing Ophelia on how to conduct herself when Hamlet arrives has a revealing moment, offering (unnecessarily) how an outward display of piety and devotion can conceal evil. He understands the Richard III (Machiavellian) formula for power and trips Claudius into a crisis of conscience, the "heavy burden" speech that follows.
Tis too much proou'd, that with deuotions visage
And pious action, we doe sugar ore
The deuill himselfe.
Gertrude delivers this "read" on Claudius in Quarto 1. In Q2 and Folio Polonius seems to throw it against the wall and it sticks to Claudius.
Sugar over the devil himself--love it.