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Lay her i' the earth: And from her fair and unpolluted…

“Lay her i' the earth: And from her fair and unpolluted flesh May violets spring! I tell thee, churlish priest, A ministering angel shall my sister be, When thou liest howling. HAMLET. What, the fair Ophelia! QUEEN GERTRUDE. Sweets to the sweet: farewell!” quote by William Shakespeare
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“Lay her i' the earth: And from her fair and unpolluted flesh May violets spring! I tell thee, churlish priest, A ministering angel shall my sister be, When thou liest howling. HAMLET. What, the fair Ophelia! QUEEN GERTRUDE. Sweets to the sweet: farewell!”

William Shakespeare

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker urges a lover to embrace natural, unspoiled love, contrasting it with false pretenses.

In simple terms: Choose pure, simple love over artificiality.

Key Takeaway

Seek genuine connection.

Themes

love nature authenticity

Mood

dramatic poetic

Type

literary emotional

When to use this quote

  • courtship
  • poetic expression
  • personal relationships

Key Concepts

Romanticism human desire

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does “unpolluted flesh” symbolize?
  • How can authenticity be maintained in modern romance?
A Different Perspective

Idealizing nature may ignore practical realities.

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