Paul Adrian Fried / HAMLET'S BIBLE

On the Significance of HAMLET 3.4 and 1-2 KINGS Elijah/Elisha, widow tales Here are some of the possibilities for this allusion’s significance:  - If Gertrude (aware of her sick soul and guilt in 4.5) desires to be blessed, then we must ask: What blessings do Hamlet (or his surrogates) beg of her, or what blessings does she offer, perhaps without even being asked (as mothers are sometimes prone to do)?  - Gertrude is faithful to her promise to keep Hamlet’s secret from Claudius (3.4.219-221).  - She overcomes her own reluctance and greets an apparently mad Ophelia (4.5.21).  - When Ophelia drowns, she portrays it not as suicide, but as a holy death, with Ophelia chanting lauds (4.7.202); Gertrude blames crown-envy for Ophelia’s fall into the brook: Ophelia had been placing “coronet weeds” (4.7.197, small floral crowns) on branches, and the sliver on which she stood was envious (4.7.98 envious about not receiving a crown like others). Gertrude figuratively and careful...

In Hamlet 3.4, after scolding his mother to repent of her marriage to his Uncle Claudius, Hamlet says a curious thing: "when you are desirous to be blest, I’ll blessing beg of you." (3.4.192-3) [1] If his mother desires or needs to be blest, why would Hamlet beg blessing of her? If someone desired medical aid, would you ask them to heal you? If they were hungry, would you ask them to feed you? This is counter-intuitive. But it may foreshadow something yet to come; it may also reflect a certain spiritual dynamic. To understand Hamlet’s cryptic statement, we might ask: Are there Bible stories that conform to this pattern, asking a favor of a person who is in need? Stories with which Shakespeare and his age were familiar? The answer is yes. Certain Bible tales demonstrate this dynamic. These include tales of Elijah and Elisha helping widows, and gospel tales of Jesus feeding multitudes. In each, a person or group is in need, and the prophet or Jesus first asks a favor be...