William Shakespeare - "Doubt thou the stars are fire"

John Everett Millais Ophelia Painting

“Doubt thou the stars are fire”

Doubt thou the stars are fire,

Doubt that the sun doth move,

Doubt truth to be a liar,

But never doubt I love.

Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2. Polonius.

William Shakespeare

Modern version:

“You may wonder if the stars are fire,

You may wonder if the sun moves across the sky.

You may wonder if the truth is a liar,

But never wonder if I love.”

William Shakespeare

#English #XVICentury #XVIICentury

The line "Doubt thou the stars are fire" is spoken by Polonius in Shakespeare's Hamlet. It means to doubt whether the stars are fire, the sun moves, or truth itself is a liar, but never to doubt the speaker's love for Ophelia. This quote expresses the depth of the speaker's feelings, emphasizing that while one may question many things, love should never be doubted.

William Shakespeare - "Doubt thou the stars are fire"

This is the beginning of a famous and powerful line from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. The full quote, spoken by Hamlet to Ophelia in Act II, Scene II, is:

"Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love."

Let's break down the meaning and significance of just the first part, "Doubt thou the stars are fire":

• "Doubt thou": This is an archaic form of "You doubt" or "Let yourself doubt." The use of "thou" and the inverted sentence structure are characteristic of Shakespearean English.

• "the stars are fire": In Shakespeare's time (and indeed, scientifically), it was understood that stars are celestial bodies that emit light and heat, essentially giant balls of fire or intense energy. This was a relatively well-established astronomical fact.

The Power of the Opening:

By starting with "Doubt thou the stars are fire," Hamlet is setting up an extreme and seemingly impossible scenario for doubt. He's asking Ophelia to question something that is considered a fundamental truth of the universe as it was understood then.

Its Function in the Larger Quote:

The purpose of this line, and the subsequent lines, is to emphasize the unwavering and absolute nature of Hamlet's love for Ophelia (at least at this point in the play). By suggesting she could doubt something as seemingly certain as the fiery nature of stars, he implies that his love is even more certain and should never be questioned.

Interpretations and Significance:

• Hyperbole: This is a clear example of hyperbole, an exaggeration used for emphasis or effect. Hamlet isn't suggesting Ophelia should actually believe the stars aren't fire, but rather using this unbelievable doubt as a comparison.

• Emphasis on Love's Certainty (Ironically): The irony is that, as the play progresses, Hamlet's actions and words become increasingly erratic and cruel towards Ophelia, casting doubt on the sincerity and stability of his love. So, while he claims his love should never be doubted, his behavior contradicts this assertion.

• Setting a High Bar for Doubt: By starting with such an improbable doubt, Hamlet creates a powerful contrast with the final line, making his declaration of love seem even stronger.

• Poetic and Memorable: The imagery of doubting the very nature of stars is striking and contributes to the poetic beauty and memorability of the line.

In conclusion, "Doubt thou the stars are fire" is a powerful opening to a famous declaration of love in Hamlet. It uses the seemingly undeniable truth of celestial bodies as fiery entities to highlight the supposed unwavering nature of Hamlet's affection for Ophelia, a claim that becomes tragically ironic as the play unfolds.

SOURCE: GEMINI

 https://www.poeticous.com/shakespeare/doubt-thou-the-stars-are-fire