Important Words & Passages In Hamlet

• Act II 755-758 "fishmonger" 
• Hamlet attempts to confuse Polonius in order to convince Polonius that Hamlet is crazy. Polonius asks Hamlet if he knows who he is, and Hamlet responds with: "you are a fishmonger." Not only does this confuse Polonius and leads him to believe Hamlet is insane, but it is also a way for Hamlet to speak down to Polonius
• 763-766 "the play's the thing" 
• In Hamlet's soliloquy he reveals his plan for the players to reveal what King Claudius had done to Hamlet's father. The important line in the soliloquy is: "I'll have these players / Play something like the murder of my father." The passage sums up Hamlet's plot for revenge.
• Act III 766-769 "To be or not to be"
• Hamlet's famous "To be or not to be" reveals his inner struggle of whether to live or die. This passage is so important to the play because it summarizes Hamlet's struggle, and gives reasoning for his actions.
• 787-791 Queen: "cleft my heart in twain" 
• Queen Gertrude expresses her sadness due to Hamlet's "insanity." She relays to Hamlet that his insanity has broken her heart.
• 816-820 Osric 
• Osric's character is in the play for comic relief. Osric enters the play in the darkest and most depressing scene, in which Hamlet, Laertes, Gertrude, and Claudius are all about to die. His foolish behavior brings a little comedy and light to the play right before everyone dies.