What do you think this line in Hamlet means?

Question

prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell
#must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words#

i have some ideas, but nothing good- any help? everything is appreciated

Answer 1

You have to look at the entire soliloquy to understand what Hamlet is saying here. In his speech, he is berating himself for waiting so long to enact his revenge for his father's murder. So, in this line- he is saying that all forces (heaven and hell, good and evil, himself and his father's ghost) have pushed him into doing something about the situation...but he didn't. He refers to himself as a whore- a whore of words. he will do anything and everything to be able to speak his mind...like a whore. So, rather than act and do what he knew he had to do (in terms of revenge) he mulled over it, talked about it, was melancholy about it, and basically waited too long.

Answer 2

In context, Hamlet has just heard/witnessed the player become passionate at reciting the "Hecuba" speech. Hamlet is upset with himself for simply moaning about his situation and not acting upon his father's ghost's request for revenge. An important part of this speech, touched on by the previous line that you copied, is that Hamlet still isn't quite sure if his father's ghost isn't a malicious demon, trying to get Hamlet to damn himself by killing a possibly innocent Claudius. Shortly after this line, Hamlet devises a plan to get Claudius show his guilt and, thus, confirm that his father's ghost is speaking the truth about his murder.

Answer 3

Could he be saying he's trying to unload his anger or rancor by talking about it, if only to himself?

Answer 4

Can't think of it at the moment!

Answer 5

dont kno