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Line 2141-42 - Commentary Note (CN) More Information

Notes for lines 2023-2950 ed. Frank N. Clary
For explanation of sigla, such as jen, see the editions bib.
2141-2 {Pol.} <All.> Lights, lights, lights. Exeunt | {all but Ham. & Horatio.} 
2142 <Manet Hamlet & Horatio.>..
1881 Oxon
Oxon
2141 Exeunt . . . Horatio] Oxon (1881, p. 14): “In the play-scene Hamlet apparently affects insanity, or at least eccentricity; but his affectation soon becomes reality. On the departure of the King and Queen and retinue, he still talks to Horatio in the same wild style of jesting and buffoonery, though his friend is in the secret.”
1882 elze2
elze2
2141 Lights, lights, lights.] Elze (ed. 1882): “It is, of course, the Lord Chamberlain’s office to call for lights and to lead the king away; the reading of F1 is probably due to the actors who profited of the occasion in order to introduce a general coil and confusion on the stage and thus to produce a greater effect on the groundlings.”
1929 trav
trav
2141 Pol.] Travers (ed. 1929): All.] “obsequiously repeating a second order of Polonius (Q2).”
1982 ard2
ard2 ≈ elze2
2141 Pol.] Jenkins (ed. 1982): “F obviously means to increase the commotion.”
2006 ard3q2
ard3q2
2141 Thompson & Taylor (ed. 2006): “In performance the cry may be begun by Polonius/Corambis and taken up by others; alternatively, Polonius may demonstrate his loyalty to the King while the others watch silently.”

ard3q2: LLL //
2141 Thompson & Taylor (ed. 2006): “In some productions the disconcerted players linger for a while until Hamlet dismisses them with a gesture or a courtier returns to usher them off. The abrupt end to the ’show’ recalls the equally unceremonious dismissal of the ’Worthies’ at LLL 5.2.715.”
2141 2142