Hamlet Act III Scene IV, Act IV Scenes I-IV

Last night's reading was a series of unfortunate events. Our reading begins with a conversation between Hamlet and Gertrude in her room. They do not talk for long before he gives his mother fright, and exposes a hidden Polonius and immediately murders him, believing it to be the King. Yikes. After the corpse is revealed, Hamlet proceeds to scold his mother on her present husband, compare his father and uncle, and speak to Gertrude's untamed sexual desires. This scene is significant because we finally see Hamlet and Gertrude's interact one-on-one without influence from Claudius. Hamlet continues to express his disgust in his mother's sexuality, and his remarks reflect his beliefs of all females.

The Ghost of King Hamlet joins the pair and reminds Hamlet of his mission. Though the Ghost is invisible to Gertrude, it commands Hamlet to comfort her, showing his continued love for her. Hamlet begs his mother to repent and to not sleep with Claudius tonight, or any night afterwards for that matter. Hamlet claims to be disgusted by sex, but because he brings it up so often, it seems to form into an obsession. Before Hamlet departs, he asks Gertrude to not reveal his act of madness to Claudius, and then reveals his plan to kill Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as he knows they plotted against him with Claudius.

In the following scene, Gertrude reveals to Claudius that Hamlet murdered Polonius. Claudius speaks out of both sides of his mouth, as he always does, discussing both his “love” for Hamlet and his plan to send him to England ASAP. Claudius seems to be more preoccupied with his own reputation following the death of Polonius rather than the sadness of a lost friend. He calls for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to aid him in sending Hamlet to England. Hamlet sarcastically toys with his school friends about the whereabouts of Polonius’s corpse.

Claudius tells Hamlet of a ship and attendants that will take him to England. Hamlet says “good” and bids farewell to his “dear mother”. Hamlet exits and Claudius reveals his plan for Hamlet’s execution upon his arrival to England.

After a conversation with a ship captain, Hamlet criticizes his failure of not killing Claudius yet. He questions his courage and eventually decides to move quickly in his revenge. He ends the scene saying “Oh from this time forth/My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth” (4.4.65-66).

So obviously, we have a lot to talk about. I find the interaction between Hamlet and Gertrude very interesting, and I would like to discuss it further in class, as well as Hamlet’s interesting farewell to Claudius and his final monologue.  

Hamlet Act 3 Scene 1

Act 3 begins with Claudius and Gertrude discussing Hamlet’s insanity with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. They report that Hamlet is unwilling to discuss the reasons for his madness as well as his interest in the actors in the play. Claudius and Polonius then hide to observe Ophelia and Hamlet’s interaction to try and see if Hamlet’s love for Ophelia caused his madness. 

Hamlet then enters and begins his famous soliloquy with, “To be, or not to be, that is the question” (3.1.56). He talks about whether is it better to live or die and fears what comes after death. He debates whether to endure suffering or to fight against it, “Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer / The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, / Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, / And by opposing end them” (3.1.57-59). Ophelia then enters and wants to return Hamlet’s love-tokens. Angrily, Hamlet replies that he both loved and never loved Ophelia and orders her to go to a nunnery.

After watching Hamlet interact with Ophelia, Claudius believes that Hamlet is not mad and believes that if he sends him to England he will get better. “Was not like madness. There’s something in his soul / … / … which for to prevent, / I have in quick determination / Thus set it down: he shall with speed to England” (3.1.58-63).

In class I would like to analyze Hamlet’s soliloquy. I wonder if Hamlet would have committed suicide if he had lived in a different time period. I would also like to discuss Hamlet’s conversation with Ophelia, specifically when he talks about his love for Ophelia.

Hamlet Act 2 Scenes 1-2

Act 2 begins with a conversation between Polonius and Reynaldo, Polonius's servant. Polonius asks that Reynaldo spy on Laertes by asking Laertes' friends casual and innocent questions that could reveal more about him. Ophelia enters as Reynaldo exists, and she explains to her father what has been going on between her and Hamlet. She explains that she took her father's advice about distancing herself from Hamlet and tells of how disheveled Hamlet looked one night, "As if he had been loosed out of hell To speak of horrors - he comes before me" (2.81-82). Polonius replies that the reason why Hamlet has been acting differently is because of his love sickness for Ophelia. This theory will become clearer in the next few scenes of the play.

The second scene of act 2 takes place in The Great Hall of Elsinore Castle. Because they are worried about Hamlet and do not know why he is still gloomy, Claudius and Gertrude hope that Hamlet's friends from school, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, can cheer him up. Polonius then enters and states that Hamlet is crazy with love for Ophelia. After more discussion about Hamlet and their plan to prove Polonius's theory, Gertrude and Claudius exit leaving Polonius and Hamlet alone.

Polonius tries to make conversation with Hamlet, but Hamlet's responses make is look more insane. However, some of Hamlet's "insane" responses have really a deeper and harsh meaning behind them (such as calling him a fishmonger).

Then Hamlet's friends enter, and Hamlet is pleased to see them. They converse but then Hamlet asks why they have come to see him - were they ordered, or did they come on their own? - but he knows that Claudius and his mother sent them. Hamlet confesses to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that he lost has lost his sense of fun and interest in things, and he feels like the world feels sterile and worthless. He tells his friends they are welcome to stay and that his “uncle-father and aunt-mother” do not know what is really going on.

Polonius enters again announcing the arrival of the actors. Hamlet greets them and asks one to recite lines from a play. He is impressed and requests that they preform “The Murder of Gonzago” the next night (with a few new lines written by Hamlet).

Hamlet is now alone and thinking about how well the actor was able to show such emotion to something he had not connection with. He is frustrated that he shows no more emotion about his father’s death. He knows that he was asked to seek revenge by a ghost. In his soliloquy, he says he knows that if people are guilty to a crime, and are watching a scene that mimics the crime they have committed, then they would confess out loud. The new lines that he will write to be performed in the play will resemble his uncle murdering his father. Hamlet will be watching to see how Claudius reacts to the play.

 In class, I think it would be beneficial to analyze the interaction and conversation between Polonius & Ophelia and Hamlet & Polonius, and Hamlet’s soliloquy.

Hamlet Act I Scene 3-5

Act I scenes 3-5 addresses many issues and topics that are still prevalent and relatable today, regarding romantic relationships, virginity, youth, sibling and father relationships, and issues regarding faith and religion. Act 1 Scene 3 follows Laertes and his sister Ophelia, the children of Polonius, before Laertes leaves for France. Laertes gives advice to Ophelia regarding her romantic relationship to Hamlet. Laertes is around the same age as Hamlet, so he is able to understand the intentions of a young man - which he warns Ophelia are usually immature and lustful. He says, "Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain / If with too credent ear you list his songs, / Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open / To his unmastered importunity (1.3.29-31). Although Ophelia believes that Hamlet truly loves her, Laertes knows better and warns her not to give away her innocence thoughtlessly. I found this advice interesting because it addresses issues that girls today deal with. A timeless struggle is the immaturity of young men and how they care about sex above all else, leading to girls getting their hearts broken. Laertes' advice therefore can still be useful regarding relationships.
Act 3 also brings up another important theme - father-son vs. father-daughter relationships. Polonius has just finished giving advice to Laertes, regarding his move to France, including to not speak without thinking, avoid judgement, be careful with whom he chooses to be friends with, and take caution regarding how much he spends and what he wears, as "the apparel oft proclaims the man" (1.3.72). In comparison, the advice Polonius gives to Ophelia solely revolves around her relationship with Hamlet. Polonius tells Ophelia, "I do know / When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul / Lends the tongue vows... Be something scanter of your maiden presence" (1.3.114-117, 121). Like Laertes, Polonius urges Ophelia not to believe Hamlet and be careful with her virginity because his intentions are most likely more lustful and political than anything. In comparison to the advice given to Laertes, Polonius' advice to Ophelia is more condescending and is only about her relationship. This is symbolic of the difference between the way men and women were seen at the time. Laertes has so much potential and so many options for his future regarding his education, friendships, and money, whereas Ophelia's only importance is her virtue and her only future revolves around who she will marry.
In Act 5, Hamlet finally speaks to the ghost of his father. We learn that King Hamlet was poisoned by Claudius, and King Hamlet had not confessed his sins at the time he was murdered, so he now sits in the torture of purgatory. He asks his son to get revenge on Claudius, and we see the loyalty of Hamlet. He is so willing to obey his father and is determined to take revenge. He makes a plan to act crazy, and commands Horatio and Marcellus to swear not to tell anyone about seeing the ghost of King Hamlet, nor about how he will pretend to be crazy.
I am confused if Hamlet is really going crazy or why he is going to pretend to be? Also, are Horatio and Marcellus avoiding swearing not to tell?

Hamlet Act 1 Scene 1 and 2

In these first two scenes we got to meet many of the main characters, Horatio, Hamlet, Claudius, and Gertrude, and saw the appearance of Hamlet’s father’s ghost for the first time. We also got a glimpse of what hamlet is thinking during this confusing time and how his uncle Claudius is treating the situation. Throughout the events of these two scenes I was shocked at how quickly the action was happening. It felt like every page a new event took place. I think that this I both a reflection of how Hamlet feels about what is happening in his home as well as the fact that this was written as a play. While this is not the first play that we have read this year, I am still taken aback at how different it is than reading a novel.

During the action of the play I was wondering about how others in the kingdom were feeling. In the first few scenes it is clear that thee guards are still grieving their former king even though they are not really allowed to. It also seems like others would be suspicious of how the king died because of how quickly Claudius takes over and that the king’s ghost is appearing. However, it seems like most of the court, especially Polonius and his son Laertes, have already moved past this and have accepted Claudius as their new king. In class I would like to discuss what we think of this and if we think people (other than Hamlet) will get more suspicious of Claudius as the play goes on.