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All Site ContentHamletAct 3Scene 2
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"wholesome" and "command"
Wordplay
Act 3,
Scene 2
Lines 289-303

An explanation of wordplay in Act 3, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s Hamlet.

Guildenstern

The queen, your mother, in most great
affliction of spirit, has sent me to you.

Hamlet   

You are welcome. 

Guildenstern

Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not of the right breed.
If it shall please you to make me a wholesome answer,
I will do your mother's commandment. If not, your
pardon and my return shall be the end of my business.

Hamlet   

Sir, I cannot.

Rosencrantz   

What, my lord?

Hamlet

Make you a wholesome answer; my wit's diseased. 
But, sir, such answer as I can make, you shall command —
or rather, you say, my mother. Therefore no more, but    
to the matter. My mother, you say.

Rosencrantz

Then thus she says: your behavior has struck her 
into amazement and admiration.

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)