1. Hamlet
Act III

2. Act III Scene i Claudius’ Suspicions
“And you can by no drift of conference
Get from him why he puts on this confusion,
Grating so harshly all his days of quiet
With turbulent and dangerous lunacy?” (III.i.1-4)
Increasingly suspicious of Hamlet’s behavior
Is he safe?
Seemed happy about the actors (acting)

3. Act III Scene i Appearance verses Reality
“For we have closely sent for Hamlet hither,
That he, as ‘twere be accident, may here
Affront Ophelia.
Her father and myself, (lawful espials,)
Will so bestow ourselves that, seeing unseen
We may of their encounter frankly judge
And gather by him, as he is behaved,
If’t be th’ affliction of his love or no
That thus he suffers for” (I.i ).
Real reason Claudius wants to know?
Suspicions growing?

4. Act III Scene i Hamlet and Ophelia Tone
“My lord, I have remembrances of yours
That I have longed to redeliver.
I pray you now receive them” (III.i.97-99).
Changes Hamlet’s tone from welcoming/humble to mean and sarcastic
Take back gifts because they do not hold the “sweetness” they once did
Rich gifts are poor if the giver is insincere
She rebukes Hamlet and his gifts
Insult to their relationship

5. Act III Scene i Irony “And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish
That your good beauties be the happy cause
Of Hamlet’s wildness” (I.i ).
Why don’t they tell Hamlet it is ok to be with her?
More important to spy and find out for Claudius?
Gertrude passive obedience

6. Act III Scene i “Get Thee to a Nunnery” (III.i.131) Double meaning
Nunnery is a place where nuns reside—a place of chastity
Also brothel
Sexuality Imagery
Hamlet is telling Ophelia to reside in a place of chastity
Similar message from Laertes and Polonius
Is this another comment on the intimate nature of their relationship?

7. “Get Thee to a Nunnery” (III.i.131-141)
Pregnancy Imagery
“Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?”
Pregnancy results, according to Hamlet, in the creation of a sinner
Commentary on the fundamental nature of humanity?

8. Act III Scene i Hamlet and Ophelia Tone
“Where’s your father… Let the doors be shut upon him that he may/ play the fool nowhere but in’s own house” (III.i ).
Knows Polonius is listening?
Hamlet is very perceptive
If knows Polonius is listening, betrayed again by Ophelia
“Frailty, thy name is woman.”
“God hath given you one face, and you
Make yourselves another” (III.i ).
you are two-faced

9. Act III Scene i Claudius “His affections do not that way tend;
Nor what he spake, though it lacked form a little,
Was not like madness. There’s something in his soul
O’er which his melancholy sits on brood,
And I do doubt the hatch and disclose
Will be some danger; which for to prevent,
I have in quick determination
Thus set it down: he shall with speed to England…” (III.i )
Is Hamlet acting?
Begins to fear Hamlet
Send Hamlet away to save himself
Says the trip will rid Hamlet of his disturbance

10. Hamlet and the Actors
“O, reform it altogether. And let those that play your clowns speak no more than is set down for them; for there be of them that will themselves laugh, to set on some quantity of barren spectators to laugh too; though, in the mean time, some necessary question of the play be then to be considered: that's villainous, and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it. Go, make you ready.” (III.ii.40-47)

11. Hamlet and the Actors The theme of acting
Hamlet offers advice on acting to the actors
Ironic
Is Hamlet the best actor in this play?
What are Hamlet’s roles
Dutiful son?
Insane?
Courageous?

12. Act III Scene ii Hamlet’s “Madness” Tone
“Here’s metal more attractive” (III.ii.116)
Proclaims feelings for Ophelia
With sarcasm
“I mean, my head upon your lap…Do you think I mean country matters…That’s a fair thought to lie between maids’ legs” (III.i )
Sexual references to Ophelia
Same as seen earlier
Degrade her? Intimate relationship?

13. Act III Scene ii Hamlet and Ophelia Gertrude? Ophelia?
Chose Polonius over Hamlet
Father over lover
Oedipal/Electra Complex
Gertrude?
Chose Claudius over Hamlet
Chose another lover—not Hamlet
Oedipal Complex

14. Act III Scene ii The promise of marriage?
Did Ophelia justify their sexual relationship with the notion of an inevitable marriage?
If so, what happens if a marriage never occurs?
Ophelia would be dishonored
Ophelia would have, as Laertes said, lost her “chaste treasure”

15. Act III Scene ii Claudius’ Guilt (the play) reaction
Interpretations of the King’s
According to Hamlet, Claudius’ reaction proves his guilt
main purpose of the play
The King sees the play as a threat by Hamlet
Remember the characters in the play
Lucianus is the nephew of the king

16. Act III Scene ii Tone and Diction
“Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out Contagion to this world: now could I drink hot blood, And do such bitter business as the day Would quake to look on. Soft! now to my mother. O heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom: Let me be cruel, not unnatural: I will speak daggers to her, but use none; My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites; How in my words soever she be shent, To give them seals never, my soul, consent!”(III.ii )
Character development
Hamlet has become harsh and vengeful
Will be cruel to Gertrude
Too late? Should he have acted earlier?

17. Act III Scene iii Claudius’ Guilt
“O, my offence is rank it smells to heaven; It hath the primal eldest curse upon't, A brother's murder. Pray can I not, Though inclination be as sharp as will: My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent; And, like a man to double business bound, I stand in pause where I shall first begin, And both neglect. What if this cursed hand Were thicker than itself with brother's blood, Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy But to confront the visage of offence?” (III.iii.40-60)
Wants to pray but cannot because he wanted the crown and wants to keep it
Realizes the sin he has committed
Can he be forgiven?

18. Act III Scene iii Hamlet’s Revenge
“…Up, sword; and know thou a more horrid hent: When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed; At gaming, swearing, or about some act That has no relish of salvation in't; Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven, And that his soul may be as damn'd and black As hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays: This physic but prolongs thy sickly days” (III.iii )

19. Act III Scene iii Hamlet’s Revenge
Thinks he is praying for forgiveness
If I kill him now, he will go to heaven
Achieve revenge by sending him to heaven?
My father did not receive absolution
Kill him when he is sinning so he will go to hell
Delays his revenge
Doesn’t Hamlet realize he will have to give up queen, crown and life if truly comes clean?
Good decision?
Purposefully delaying action?

20. Act III Scene iv Hamlet and Gertrude
“You are the queen, your husband's brother's wife; And--would it were not so!--you are my mother” (III.iv.20-21).
Hamlet confronts her
Hostility
Immediately tells her why he is upset

21. Act III Scene iv Hamlet and Gertrude
“Look you now, what follows: Here is your husband; like a mildew'd ear, Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes? Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed, And batten on this moor? Ha! have you eyes? You cannot call it love; for at your age The hey-day in the blood is tame, it's humble, And waits upon the judgment: and what judgment Would step from this to this?” (III.iv )

22. Act III Scene iv Hamlet and Gertrude Compares Claudius with his father
How could you marry someone so horrible
You are older and should have sense
Oedipal Complex?
Is he jealous of her hasty remarriage?

23. Hamlet and Gertrude
“ Repent what’s past, avoid what is to come…Refrain to-night, And that shall lend a kind of easiness To the next abstinence: the next more easy; For use almost can change the stamp of nature, And either [ ] the devil, or throw him out With wondrous potency. Once more, good night: And when you are desirous to be bless'd, I'll blessing beg of you. For this same lord,…” (III.iv )

24. Act III Scene iv Hamlet and Gertrude Oedipal Complex
Refrain from sleeping with Claudius
Role reversal
Hamlet instructs mother
Tells his mom he is not crazy
Is this true?
Look at actions?

25. Act III Scene iv Hamlet’s Perception
“There's letters seal'd: and my two schoolfellows, Whom I will trust as I will adders fang'd, They bear the mandate; they must sweep my way, And marshal me to knavery. Let it work; For 'tis the sport to have the engineer Hoist with his own petard: and 't shall go hard But I will delve one yard below their mines, And blow them at the moon: O, 'tis most sweet, When in one line two crafts directly meet. This man shall set me packing: I'll lug the guts into the neighbour room” (III.iv ).
Hamlet knows about the plot to send him away
Fate that he knows? Perception of Hamlet
He has his own plans - foreshadowing