I want to know what this line mean in hamlet:
but break my heart for i must hold my tongue
why do Hamlet not want to share his feelings with anyone?
http://nfs.sparknotes.com/hamlet/page_28.html
Hamlet doesn't feel he can say what he thinks because his mother has already married this man. Hamlet loves his mother too much to hurt her feelings, plus His mother and uncle have already told him to stop being so extremely mournful for his father. They don't want to hear anything more from him about why he feels so awful (why his heart is breaking).
thanks very much Writeacher :)
You're welcome, Mohammad!
The line you are referring to comes from Act 1, Scene 2 of William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. In this scene, Hamlet is speaking to himself, and the line signifies his internal struggle.
To understand why Hamlet does not want to share his feelings with anyone, we need to analyze the context and themes of the play. At this point in the story, Hamlet has recently learned about his father's death and his mother's hasty marriage to his uncle, Claudius. Hamlet is deeply saddened and disturbed by these events, and he feels a strong sense of betrayal.
The line "but break my heart for I must hold my tongue" represents Hamlet's internal conflict. He wants to express his emotions, confront his mother and uncle, and seek revenge for his father's murder, but he also realizes the potential consequences of acting on these feelings. Hamlet understands that openly expressing his true emotions could lead to further turmoil, both for himself and for those around him. Therefore, he decides to keep his thoughts to himself, holding back his true feelings.
This internal struggle is a central theme in the play - the conflict between reason and emotion, restraint and action, and appearance versus reality. Hamlet's decision to remain silent and keep his emotions hidden reflects this recurring theme, as he grapples with the dilemma of how to behave in a corrupt world.
To fully understand the meaning and significance of this line in Hamlet, it is recommended to read the entire play and pay attention to the characters' motivations and actions, as well as the development of the overarching themes. Reading analyses or interpretations of the play can also provide valuable insights into its deeper meanings.