If Hamlet were to be given advice by Miss Emily, she would tell him ôgrief could not cause a real [man] to forget noblesse obligeö (Faulkner, 1931, p. 429). HamletÆs position is one of royalty, similar to Miss EmilyÆs aristocratic position in her Southern town. Miss Emily would tell Hamlet that he must refrain from engaging in such behaviors as fooling the King with a mock play, berating his mother for something she did not know she was doing, and for abandoning Ophelia. Under no circumstances would she tell him to abandon Ophelia, for Miss Emily knew how to keep her man. As the townsfolk said of her and Homer, ôShe will persuade him yetö (Faulkner, 1931, p. 429). Miss Emily would tell Hamlet that he should keep Ophelia with him and shut out the rest of his acquaintances because something is ôrotten in the state of Denmarkö (Shakespeare I.iv.90).
Hamlet would more than likely inform Miss Emily that the ghost of his father has asked him to avenge his death, but Miss Emily would tell him he should no longer be captive to his fatherÆs whims. She would explain to Hamlet how, after years of being captive to her fatherÆs every whim; she was able to throw off his shackles once he was dead. She would tell him to ignore the commands of the ghost of King Hamlet, hold on to Ophelia, and close himself off from the rest of Denmark is he wishes to find peace. References
Faulkner, W. (1931). A rose for Emily. 425-432.
Shakespeare, W. (2001). Hamlet. Ed. A. R. Braunmuller. New York: Penguin Books.
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