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All Site ContentHamletAct 4Scene 1
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"fit"
Wordplay
Act 4,
Scene 1
Lines 2-7

An explanation of the play on words of the word "fit" in Act 4, Scene 1 of myshakespeare's Hamlet.

Claudius

You must translate; 'tis fit we understand them.
Where is your son?

Gertrude

Ah, my good lord, what have I seen tonight!

Claudius   

What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet?

Gertrude

Mad as the sea and wind when both contend
Which is the mightier. In his lawless fit,

Shakespeare plays on two senses of the word “fit”, and will again on line 19:

  • necessary (Claudius’ need to understand Hamlet’s behavior)
  • a rage (Gertrude’s description of Hamlet’s emotional state)
  • appropriate (how best to constrain the mad Hamlet)