OK, James, you spooked me. So, I looked it up. The context is very
complex. http://www.shakespeare-literature.com/Hamlet/7.html It is one of
the Mad Scenes, at the end of which Hamlet describes his ... uh ...
depressive state of mind. But the characterization of "man" seems sincere,
because he immediately tells us that he is unable to take joy in these human
qualities. Here is the whole speech.
HAMLET
I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation
prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king
and queen moult no feather. I have of late--but
wherefore I know not--lost all my mirth, forgone all
custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily
with my disposition that this goodly frame, the
earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most
excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave
o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted
with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to
me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.
What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason!
how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how
express and admirable! in action how like an angel!
in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the
world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me,
what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not
me: no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling
you seem to say so
I suspect that the expression "piece of work" did not come into ironic use
until much later.
Whew!
Nick
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf
Of James Steiner
Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2010 5:27 PM
To: The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group
Subject: Re: [FRIAM] Updike Vs the Bard
I thought Hamlet was being ironic... Or am I being the Mayor of
Missingthepointsville?
~~James
www.turtlezero.com
On Wed, Dec 1, 2010 at 2:13 PM, <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Define yourself. You'll be right!
>
>
>
> Me, I prefer Hamlet's definition:
>
> What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in
faculty! In form, in moving, how express and admirable! In action how like
an angel! In apprehension how like a God!
>
> Peter Lissaman, Da Vinci Ventures
>
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============================================================
FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
