"wholesome" and "command"
Wordplay
Act 3,
Scene 2
Lines 289-303
Guildenstern
Hamlet
Guildenstern
Hamlet
Rosencrantz
Hamlet
Rosencrantz
In this passage, there are several moments of wordplay that offer multiple interpretations, depending on the perspective of the character:
“wholesome”
- Helpful (Rosencrantz’s meaning)
- Healthy (Hamlet’s meaning; he cannot give a healthy answer since his mind is diseased, he is mad)
“command”
- Possess (Rosencrantz will have, or possess, Hamlet’s answer)
- Given an order (Hamlet’s answer is commanded by his mother)