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"swift"
Context and Language Videos
Act 1,
Scene 5
Lines 29-31a

A discussion of the metaphor "swift" in Act 1, Scene 5 of myShakespeare's Hamlet.

myShakespeare | Hamlet 1.5 Discussion: "Swift"

Hamlet

Haste, haste me to know it, that I, with wings as swift
As meditation or the thoughts of love,
May sweep to my revenge. 

Ghost

Hamlet

Ghost 

[Exit.]

Hamlet 

 [Hamlet takes out his notepad and writes.]
Video Transcript: 

RALPH: "As swift as thought" was a proverbial expression; so Hamlet wants to swiftly move to take his revenge as fast as thoughts can move — although it's a striking contrast between these thoughts, meditation, thoughts of love and Hamlet's actions, which will necessarily be violent.

SARAH: Notice also that "sweep" and "wings" evoke the image of a bird of prey diving on its victim.