ACT IV, Sc. 3, Lines 17-32: In which lines is a metaphor established and extended? Describe the meanings of this metaphor.

Question

King. Bring him before us.

Rosencrantz. Ho! Bring in the lord.

[Enter Hamlet with the guards]

King. Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius?

Hamlet. At supper.

King. At supper? Where?

Hamlet. Not where he eats, but where he is eaten. A certain

convocation of politic worms are e'en at him. Your worm is

your only emperor for diet: we fat all creatures else to fat us,

and we fat ourselves for maggots. Your fat king and your

lean beggar is but variable service - two dishes, but to one

table. That's the end.

King. Alas, alas.

Hamlet. A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a

king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm.

King. What dost thou mean by this?

Asked by Briana S #599863 on 2/12/2017 4:08 PM

Last updated by Aslan on 2/12/2017 5:18 PM

Answered by Aslan on 2/12/2017 5:18 PM

The worm becomes a metaphor for whatever it eats. the metaphor extends to the fish that eats the worm and the man who eats the fish.

Not where he eats, but where he is eaten. A certain

convocation of politic worms are e'en at him. Your worm is

your only emperor for diet: we fat all creatures else to fat us,

and we fat ourselves for maggots. Your fat king and your

lean beggar is but variable service - two dishes, but to one

table. That's the end.