Act 3
Claudius and Gertrude talk to Hamlet’s two friends who claim that they know not the cause of his recent behavior. They relate Hamlet’s enthusiasm towards the actors, and Claudius and Gertrude agree to see the play the actors are going to put on. Claudius and Polonius position Ophelia where they want her to be upon meeting with Hamlet so they can secretly watch the encounter. Hamlet comes in the room, talking to himself and using the famous line “to be or not to be: that is the question.” He is speaking about how sorrowful people are in life, but that they also fear what is after life. Ophelia approaches him and does as her father told her to do; return any tokens of affection that he has given her. This angers Hamlet and he denies ever having given her anything. He tells Ophelia to become a nun. He claims that women bring out the worst in men, and he wishes an end to all marriages. Ophelia is very disheartened by this speech. Claudius says that Hamlet’s madness is obviously not derived from love for Ophelia but in something possibly dangerous that he fears will be very bad once it erupts from within Hamlet. He decides it would be best for Hamlet if he sends him to England, away from Elsinore, to possibly distract him or be rid of his “mad” state of mind. Polonius, however, is still convinced Hamlet’s madness comes out of love for Ophelia and wants to set up a meeting between Queen Gertrude and Hamlet on which he can hide away again and spy to know for sure about Hamlet’s apparent madness. Claudius agrees to this.
The actors prepare to put on the play, and Hamlet speaks to Horatio about Claudius. Since Hamlet had told Horatio about the ghost and Claudius murdering his father (King Hamlet) he asks Horatio to watch Claudius’ expression during the play to detect any signs of guilt. Hamlet warns Horatio that he may begin to act “mad” once the performance begins, and sure enough, he does. He acts strangely/insanely toward Claudius and rude and harsh toward Ophelia whom he is sitting by. The actors act out the “dumb show” or rather, the silent “summary” of what the play will be about. The actors perform almost exactly what happened concerning Claudius and his brother; how Claudius poisoned his brother and seduced Gertrude. Claudius gets deeply uncomfortable with the play and walks out. (This displays his evident guilt in the matter.) Everyone then leaves the performance. Hamlet’s mother calls him to speak with her. Hamlet says he will go in a moment. He resolves to be stern with her, but not harm her in any way.
Claudius speaks to Hamlet’s school friends and asks them to escort him to England on account that his behavior may be dangerous. Polonius reminds Claudius of the plan to spy on Queen Gertrude whilst she speaks to Hamlet, and he says he will tell Claudius everything that he finds out. Claudius, alone, tries to pray under the extreme gilt he feels for having murdered his own brother. Hamlet enters, intent on killing Claudius, only, he observes Claudius is in prayer and doesn’t want to send him to heaven on account that his father never got to repent before his death. So, he must kill Claudius when he is sinning. Hamlet leaves and Claudius gives up trying to pray.
When Hamlet goes to speak with Gertrude, he frightens her and by frightening her, also frightens Polonius who is hidden in the room, spying. Hamlet thinks that it is Claudius and stabs his dagger at the person. This kills Polonius. Hamlet then speaks “daggers” at his mother for being seduced by Claudius and marrying him so quickly and forgetting her late husband so fast. She begs him to stop; he is making her examine her soul, and she doesn’t like what she sees. The ghost appears to remind Hamlet that he is only supposed to seek revenge for his murder, nothing more. Gertrude cannot hear or see the ghost, and so she thinks that Hamlet’s madness is now confirmed to be real. Hamlet tries to convince his mother that his madness has only been an act, but to not tell Claudius of this. Gertrude agrees not to tell. Hamlet leaves the room, dragging Polonius’ body behind him.
The actors prepare to put on the play, and Hamlet speaks to Horatio about Claudius. Since Hamlet had told Horatio about the ghost and Claudius murdering his father (King Hamlet) he asks Horatio to watch Claudius’ expression during the play to detect any signs of guilt. Hamlet warns Horatio that he may begin to act “mad” once the performance begins, and sure enough, he does. He acts strangely/insanely toward Claudius and rude and harsh toward Ophelia whom he is sitting by. The actors act out the “dumb show” or rather, the silent “summary” of what the play will be about. The actors perform almost exactly what happened concerning Claudius and his brother; how Claudius poisoned his brother and seduced Gertrude. Claudius gets deeply uncomfortable with the play and walks out. (This displays his evident guilt in the matter.) Everyone then leaves the performance. Hamlet’s mother calls him to speak with her. Hamlet says he will go in a moment. He resolves to be stern with her, but not harm her in any way.
Claudius speaks to Hamlet’s school friends and asks them to escort him to England on account that his behavior may be dangerous. Polonius reminds Claudius of the plan to spy on Queen Gertrude whilst she speaks to Hamlet, and he says he will tell Claudius everything that he finds out. Claudius, alone, tries to pray under the extreme gilt he feels for having murdered his own brother. Hamlet enters, intent on killing Claudius, only, he observes Claudius is in prayer and doesn’t want to send him to heaven on account that his father never got to repent before his death. So, he must kill Claudius when he is sinning. Hamlet leaves and Claudius gives up trying to pray.
When Hamlet goes to speak with Gertrude, he frightens her and by frightening her, also frightens Polonius who is hidden in the room, spying. Hamlet thinks that it is Claudius and stabs his dagger at the person. This kills Polonius. Hamlet then speaks “daggers” at his mother for being seduced by Claudius and marrying him so quickly and forgetting her late husband so fast. She begs him to stop; he is making her examine her soul, and she doesn’t like what she sees. The ghost appears to remind Hamlet that he is only supposed to seek revenge for his murder, nothing more. Gertrude cannot hear or see the ghost, and so she thinks that Hamlet’s madness is now confirmed to be real. Hamlet tries to convince his mother that his madness has only been an act, but to not tell Claudius of this. Gertrude agrees not to tell. Hamlet leaves the room, dragging Polonius’ body behind him.
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