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.