emphasis


 

 

When Hamlet leaps in Ophelia's grave after Laertes, he asks: "What is he whose grief / Bears such an emphasis", and as they wrestle, he says: "I prithee take thy fingers from my throat" (Ham.5.1.255-260). A little later he compares his love for Ophelia to that of Laertes: 

 

269 I lov'd Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers
270 Could not with all their quantity of love
271 Make up my sum.  (Ham.5.1.269-271)

In the only other occurrence of the word 'emphasis' we find a similar combination of choking and competitive loving:

 

 

Cleo.
Did I, Charmian, 
67 Ever love Caesar so? 

Char
67 O that brave Caesar! 

Cleo. 
68 Be chok'd with such another emphasis
69 Say "the brave Antony."  (Ant.1.5.66-69)

 


16 September 1999

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