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“I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw.” (Act II, Scene ii) Hamlet - William Shakespeare

— raygun

To date, we have been given two bearings to successfully leave the island. Michael and Walt presumably set out on 325 degrees, as instructed by Ben. And Daniel instructed Frank to return as they came, on a bearing of 305 degrees.

We don’t yet know how successful Ben’s heading turned out, but Frank’s appeared to work well enough. I’m wondering if the general direction, just West of due North, might be an allusion to the famous quote from Hamlet, a work that the Wikipedia author describes as “also concerned with the slippery nature of reality.” With the quote “I am but mad north-north-west…”, Hamlet is winking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that all is not as it appears.

Unfortunately, neither of the given bearings precisely lines up with standard points on a compass, but they are close.

Brush up your Shakespeare. Start quoting him now. (from Kiss Me, KATE)

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