HAMLET         It waves me still. Go on, I’ll follow thee.

MARCELLUS   You shall not go, my lord.

HAMLET                                 Hold off your hands.

HORATIO        Be ruled, you shall not go.

HAMLET                                 My fate cries out

And makes each petty artery in this body

As hardy as the Nemean lion’s nerve.

Still am I called – unhand me, gentlemen –

By heaven I’ll make a ghost of him that lets me!

I say away! – Go on! I’ll follow thee.

Exeunt GHOST and HAMLET.             (1.4.79-86)

Hamlet’s not listening; he has eyes only for the Ghost. It waves me still. It’s still beckoning to me. And he’s made his mind up: go on, I’ll follow thee; he addresses the Ghost directly, not engaging with his desperately worried friend. Marcellus hasn’t given up yet: you shall not go, my lord, setting his obedience as a soldier against his duty, as he sees it, to preserve life. But Hamlet’s adamant; he may draw a knife, a gun, put his hand on his sword: hold off your hands. Don’t try to stop me. Don’t you DARE. Horatio’s got his breath back for one last attempt: be ruled, you shall not go, be ruled by REASON, your sovereign, be sensible, please! Don’t follow it!

But Hamlet’s determined; he may be holding them off with a weapon. My fate cries out—I have to do this, it’s my destiny—and makes each petty artery in this body as hardy as the Nemean lion’s nerve. And because I know that I have to do this, that I have no choice, I’m strong enough to do it; I’m braced, bold, invulnerable, my weakest sinew as strong as that legendary lion that Hercules defeated. (Ever the student, still, a classical reference to hand—but now he’s claiming to be like, not unlike Hercules. He’s asserting that he’s his father’s son.)

Still am I called—the Ghost beckons again—unhand me, gentlemen—let me go! now! (They’re physically holding him back.) By heaven I’ll make a ghost of him that lets me! And he brandishes his weapon again, with more intent, more ferocity; don’t doubt me, don’t try to stop me. I’m prepared to kill. I say away! Back off! Leave me! And then, once more, he turns to the Ghost. Go on! I’ll follow thee.

And off they go…