abeyance: a state of temporary disuse or suspension
ambivalent: having mixed feelings about someone or something; being unable to choose between two
beleaguer: to surround or beset, as with troubles
carte blanche: unconditional authority
cataclysm: any violent upheaval, particularly politically
debauch: to corrupt by sensuality, intemperance, etc.
eclat: brilliance of success, reputation
fastidious: excessively particular, critical, or demanding
gambol: to skip about, as in dancing or playing
imbue: to impregnate or inspire, as with feelings, opinions, etc.
inchoate: not yet completed or fully developed
lampoon: a sharp satire directed against an individual or institution
malleable: adapted or tractable
nemesis: something that a person cannot conquer
opt: to make a choice; choose
philistine: a person who is lacking in or hostile to cultural values, intellectual pursuits, aesthetic refinement, etc.
picaresque: pertaining to a form of prose fictional (originally Spanish) involving the adventures of an engagingly roguish hero; often humorous or satiric, dealing with the common people
queasy: inclined to or feeling nausea
refractory: hard or impossible to manage, stubbornly disobedient
savoir-faire: knowledge of just what to do in any situation; tact
Following the death of King Hamlet, young Hamlet finds himself in abeyance. While he is greatly affected by the event, everybody else seems to be ambivalent at best. Beleaguered by what seems like an unending chain of cataclysms, Hamlet's mother marries his uncle, gaining carte blanche in the process. However, the eclat of King Hamlet does not stop at death. Fastidiously, the ghost of King Hamlet explains to Hamlet that King Claudius poisoned him. Once imbued with the knowledge, Hamlet puts into action a plan that has him acting out a lampoon of insanity, practically gamboling about. The story is still inchoate, so his plan is fairly malleable. Of all the philistines Hamlet has to choose from, he opts to view King Claudius as his primary nemesis--a formidable force that he must nevertheless face. Despite the bouts of humor in the play, it is hardly shaping up to be picaresque (hence "tragedy"). Knowing Shakespeare's typical way of ending stories, one cannot help but feel a refractory queasiness as the end approaches. Even with all of Hamlet's savoir-faire, can he possibly get out of such a difficult situation?
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