Vocabulary List #8

Abeyance-(N.) A state of temporary disuse or suspension.
Ambivalent- (Adj.) Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.
Beleaguer- (V.) Beset with difficulties
Carte blanche- (N.) Complete freedom to act as one wishes or thinks best.
Cataclysm- (N.) A sudden violent upheaval, esp. in a political or social context
Debauch- (V.) Destroy or debase the moral purity of; corrupt.
(N.) A bout of excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures, esp. eating and drinking
éclat- (N.) brilliant or conspicuous success
Fastidious- (Adj.) Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail
Gambol- (V.) Run or jump about playfully
Imbue- (V.) Inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality: "imbued with deep piety".
Inchoate- (Adj.) Just begun and so not fully formed or developed
Lampoon- (V.) Publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule or sarcasm.
(N.) A speech or text criticizing someone or something in this way
Malleable- (Adj.) Easily influenced; pliable
Nemesis- (N.) The inescapable or implacable agent of someone's or something's downfall
Opt- (V.) Make a choice from a range of
possibilities
Philistine- (N.) A person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them
Picaresque- (Adj.) Of or relating to an episodic style of fiction dealing with the adventures of a rough and dishonest but appealing hero
Queasy- (Adj.) Nauseated; feeling sick
Refractory- (Adj.) Stubborn or unmanageable
Savoir-faire- (N.) The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations.
(thanks Dulce)

Hamlet can cause people, including myself, to have ambivalent ideas what about Shakespeare is trying to say. Hamlet will beleaguer you , but you must persevere. Hamlet's father's revelation is sure to cause a cataclysm soon enough. Claudius debauched his sense of family ties when he decided to kill King Hamlet. I'm sure he considers the coup an eclat. Hamlet seems fastidious and does not see inchoate in his thinking. He considers Claudius to be his nemesis and a philistine. He will use savoir-faire and act like he doesn't know that Claudius killed his father while he plans his revenge. The knowledge of his father's murderer has imbued him with motivation to take revenge. He will opt for the approach to act insane or mad. His plan is inchoate and not fully formed yet. It is gamboling around in his mind. He felt queasy and dismayed during his first soliloquy. Hamlet is not a picaresque character, but is quite the opposite. His sanity will be put in a state of abeyance and he will act as if he had no sanity. Although acting insane he will have carte blanche and only two will know of it. You could tell by Claudius' lampoon that he was trying to embarrass Hamlet. Claudius seems like a character who is malleable and untrustworthy. I think Hamlet will be refractory in his revenge and stop no matter what the cost.