Date/Time
Date(s) - 1 Nov 2016
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Location
Columbia University Faculty House
Category(ies) No Categories
Alan Gabbey, Barnard College and Columbia University
“Hamlet as Machine”
In Act 2, Scene 2 of Hamlet Polonius reads to Gertrude and Claudius a letter that Ophelia has received from Hamlet. He contrasts his undoubted love for her with three doubtful matters: the nature of the stars, the motion of the sun, whether truth can be a liar. He signs off with these intriguing words, “Adieu. Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to him. Hamlet.” According to the OED, this is the first appearance in print of “machine” in the sense of “a living body, especially the human body considered in general or individually”. Editors of Hamlet have accepted this reading of the term, yet it calls for serious qualification, and there are other meanings and associations that go well beyond the currently accepted meaning. Following some preliminary remarks about the three doubtful matters, I present three or four construals of “machine” that deepen the significance of the unique appearance of the term in Hamlet.
All meetings are held at the Columbia University Faculty House (enter through the gates on the North side of 116th St., between Amsterdam Avenue and Morningside Drive), at 5:30 pm.
Following the talk, at 7 pm, you are invited to join the speaker and other members of the Seminar to continue our discussion over dinner in Faculty House ($30 by check only, payable to Columbia University).
Please make sure to notify our Rapporteur, Barbara Vinck, by Monday 24 October if you plan to attend and, especially, if you plan to dine with us. There is no need to contact the Rapporteur if you do not plan to attend.