Question

Read the passage from Act V of Hamlet.

Laertes: Must there no more be done?

First Priest: No more be done:
We should profane the service of the dead,
To sing a requiem, and such rest to her
As to peace-parted souls.

Laertes: Lay her i’ the earth;
And from her fair and unpolluted flesh
May violets spring! I tell thee, churlish priest,
A ministering angel shall my sister be,
When thou liest howling.

How do the themes in the passage interact?

A: The passage shows that death conquers everyone, but family bonds outlast even death.
B: The passage shows that when people eventually die, those around them must move on with their lives.
C: The passage shows that brotherly love, while strong, is fleeting, whereas death is permanent.
D: The passage shows that everyone dies eventually, and love is a pointless emotion that brings ruin.

Answer 1

The best interpretation of the passage is **C: The passage shows that brotherly love, while strong, is fleeting, whereas death is permanent.**

In this passage, Laertes expresses deep sorrow and reverence for his sister's death, which highlights the strong bond of brotherly love. His passionate response reflects how deeply he feels the loss and the significance of family. The priest's response about the ceremony emphasizes the finality of death, suggesting that while Laertes's love and grief are profound, they exist within the context of an unchangeable reality — that death is irreversible and permanent. This juxtaposition highlights the contrast between the emotions associated with love and loss and the permanence of death itself.