according to shakespeare, there was something operating in nature, perhaps inside human nature itself, that was rotten -- a canker, as he put it.
of course hamlet's response to this, and to his mother's lies, was to continually probe and dig -- just like the gravediggers -- always trying to get beneath the surface. the same was true in a different way in julius caesar. jon, go ahead.
okay -- okay, thompson! every- thing's all right now -- nancy!.
i'll call your mother.
you'll need a hall pass!