Regrets

Several distinctive forms are used to express the range of emotions which include regret, grief, sorrow, lament, and remorse. Some are intensified by being used in conjunction with an emphatic word or phrase, or can be preceded by O or Ah. A number are used in the Nurse’s report of Tybalt’s death (RJ III.ii.37,ff) and Gertrude’s reaction to Ophelia’s madness (Ham IV.v.27,ff).

Item Location Example
alack, ’lack AYL IV.iii.53 Alack, in me what strange effect
alack the day RJ III.ii.39 Alack the day! he’s gone, he’s killed
alack for woe R2 III.iii.70 alack for woe / That any harm should stain so fair a show!
alas Ham IV.v.37 Alas, look here, my lord
alas the day AYL III.ii.212 Alas the day, what shall I do with my doublet and hose?
ay me Ham III.iv.52 Ay me, what act
’lack Cym IV.ii.374 ’Lack, good youth!
out alas Tit II.iii.258 out alas, here have we found him dead
well-a-day MW III.iii.93 O well-a-day, Mistress Ford
weraday RJ III.ii.37 Ah, weraday! He’s dead
well-a-near Per Chorus.III.51 The lady shrieks and, well-a-near, / Does fall in travail
woe Ham II.ii.500 But who, ah woe!, had seen the mobled Queen

EXCLAMATIONS

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