Quote by William Shakespeare
ROSENCRANTZ My lord, you must tell us where the body is, and go with us to the king.HAMLET The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body. The king is a thing -GUILDENSTERN A thing my lord?HAMLET Of nothing. Bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after!
Summary
In this quote from William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," Hamlet cleverly plays with words to reveal a hidden meaning. When asked by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about the whereabouts of a dead body, Hamlet cryptically responds by stating that the body is with the king, but the king is not with the body. Using wordplay, Hamlet suggests that although physically the king may be with the body, he is mentally disconnected or indifferent to it. By referring to the king as "a thing," Hamlet implies that the king lacks genuine concern or emotional attachment. He concludes the quote with a playful expression to distract from the matter, further highlighting his wit and complexity as a character.