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All Site ContentHamletAct 5Scene 1
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"living"
Wordplay
Act 5,
Scene 1
Lines 275-281

An explanation of the wordplay on “living” in Act 5, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s Hamlet.

Claudius

I pray thee, good Horatio, wait upon him. 
[Exit Horatio.] 
[Aside to Laertes] Strengthen your patience in our last night's speech.
We'll put the matter to the present push.
[Aloud] Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son. 
This grave shall have a living monument.    
An hour of quiet thereby shall we see. 
Till then, in patience our proceeding be.
[Exit.]

Claudius’ use of the word “living” has a second, ironic meaning: Ophelia’s grave will be accompanied by a monument to someone now living – Hamlet.