1. Hamlet
Act 3

2. Scene 1
R & G report to King Claudius about Hamlet’s lunacy—Hamlet received them well, but gives them little information
-Guildenstern suggests that Hamlet’s madness might be fake
Claudius asks R&G to keep watching Hamlet
Claudius and Polonius plan to spy on Hamlet as he speaks with Ophelia

3. “To be or Not to Be Speech”
-Speech is reflective of Hamlet’s thoughts about life and death
-He questions the meaning of life and what it might mean to die
-Hamlet feels despair—but not a violent despair
This speech is almost impersonal
-line 83 “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all” Reflecting on his lack of action and berating himself for stalling further in avenging his father.

4. Ophelia enters and Hamlet treats her very badly
Reveals that Hamlet has the ability to be cruel—demonstrates his mistrust of everyone
Ophelia attempts to return Hamlet’s love letters
Hamlet suspects that he is being spied upon
“Get thee to a nunnery” line 121 Suggests that Ophelia is a sinner
Insults her further, saying that she should marry a fool.
Ophelia makes a short speech about Hamlet which is meant to show the audience that Hamlet was of a noble nature and treated Ophelia well in the past. Laments his current behaviour

5. -King enters and talks to Ophelia, telling Polonius and Ophelia that he suspects that Hamlet is putting on his madness (faking it)
-King wants to send Hamlet to England to help him get over his problem
-Polonius suggests that Gertrude speak with Hamlet to find out what’s going on—if she can’t, then he’s definitely going to England.

6. Scene 2 Hamlet begins the scene by speaking with the players
This scene is meant to appear spectacular and wonderful—gives the appearance that the court of Claudius is a mask/deception
Hamlet demonstrates his knowledge of acting, and asks the player not to overact
Horatio enters and Hamlet acts normally to him and asks him to watch Claudius’ reaction—then they are going to talk after the play about it

7. Hamlet then puts on the “antic disposition” and treats Ophelia with disrespect
Play appears on stage—starts with dumb show (no words) and then the Prologue appears and the speaking play takes the stage
Player king talks about how long they’ve been married—he says that he won’t live for much longer and that the queen will have to take a second husband
Player Queen protests the king’s assertions
Hamlet asks Gertrude if she’s enjoying the play “the lady doth protest too much methinks” line 243

8. The name of the play is The Mousetrap
Hamlet is making pointed comments about the play and Claudius is getting more and more uncomfortable until, finally, he asks for lights and the whole audience exits except for Hamlet and Horatio.
Horatio and Hamlet confirm with each other that Claudius must be guilty—then R&G enter and ask Hamlet what’s happening and that his mother has called him to her chamber
Hamlet shows his distrust of R&G
Key metaphor—recorder
Hamlet tells Guildenstern that R&G are playing upon Hamlet as though he were a recorder trying to extract his mysteries and innermost “music”

9. Hamlet’s brief soliloquy at the end the scene
Haunting mood
Vengeful tone
He will go to see his mother as she requests
Get the sense that Gertrude has good intentions
Hamlet plans to “speak daggers” his mother.

10. Scene 3
Claudius is not comfortable with Hamlet’s indirect accusation, so he plans to send R&G along with Hamlet to England ASAP
Tells R&G to arm themselves against him
Polonius informs Claudius that Hamlet has gone to see his mother

11. Page 59 line 37-73 *** Important soliloquy
Claudius, for the first time in the play, reflects upon his guilt (image of decay)
Simile “like a man to double business bound” line 42
Claudius has gained from his murder in many ways: Kingship, wife, son/nephew
ASKS FOR DIVINE FORGIVENESS WITHOUT PENANCE, but he does not gain it—so he is damned
He kneels in prayer
Problem is that he does not really repent

12. Hamlet sees Claudius kneeling in prayer
Hamlet decides not to kill Claudius because he’s in prayer—he argues that he should kill him when he’s doing something sinful
Questionable intentions—is Hamlet being cowardly, or does he really believe it??
Hamlet thinks too much without taking action

13. Act 3 Scene 4
Polonius hiding behind an arras (curtain) in Gertrude’s bedroom
Hamlet and Gertrude discuss Hamlet’s recent behaviour
Gertrude—pulling a mother position
Hamlet behaves rudely to his mother
Hamlet mistakes Polonius for Claudius hiding behind arras and kills him
Hamlet lifts the arras and discovers that he has killed Polonius
Ghost enters—protects Gertrude
Gertrude does not see the ghost and so sees Hamlet talking to the air
Hamlet is upset that he has killed Polonius and repents but will answer to his own guilt
Hamlet knows that he is being sent to England by Claudius