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What does 'quintessence of dust' mean?
What is the difference between 'Quintessence' and 'dust thou art'?
What does quintessence mean in Hamlet?
What does hamlet mean by 'dust'?
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?
The beauty of the world, the paragon of animals—and yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me— nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so.’
Hamlet praises man as a 'piece of work' and a 'quintessence of dust' in Act 2 Scene 2. He contrasts his own depression with the beauty and nobility of human nature, and questions the meaning of life.
Hamlet calls man the noblest and most admirable of God's creations, but also the purest extract from the dust of which all things are made. He wonders why he is not delighted by man or woman, and questions his own sanity.
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. More recently, in the 20th century, the phrase ‘a nasty piece of work’, or more recently just ‘a piece of work’, has been coined to mean ‘a really bad person, lacking morality and scruples’.
quintessence] Besides the four elements of fire, earth, air, and water, the early alchemists believed that there was a fifth essence, which was the highest. This, then, means the concentrated virtue of the spirit (the "dust").
A summary of Act II: Scene ii in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of Hamlet and what it means. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.
