Question

Slanders, sir. For the satirical rogue says here that old men have gray beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and plum- tree gum, and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams—all which, sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down; for yourself, sir, should be old as I am, if like a crab you could go backward. What does hamlet mean?

Answer 1

This quote of Hamlet from Act II scene ii shows Hamlet insulting the old man Polonius and commenting on his "weak hams".

Step-by-step explanation:

The given passage is the speech given by Hamlet in Act II scene ii of the play "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare. His speech is directed at Polonius, the father of Ophelia.

The scene is when Polonius asks for permission to try to seek the truth behind Hamlet's strange behavior. So, by approaching him, he tried to confirm if he truly is mad because of his love for Ophelia or because of something else. So when he approached Hamlet who was reading a book, Hamlet told him that he is reading about a man who wrote that man will eventually grow old and have "gray beards". But he thinks that it is rude to write about that as it is true for all men to grow old, and need not necessarily be written about. He is indirectly referring to Polonius being an old man with "weak hams", insulting him through the facade of madness.