Hamlet: Act 3 Settings: The general setting for this act is the castle. The characters do move between rooms, but nothing significant. Rooms in the castle include Gertrude’s closet or personal chamber, a hallway, the area the play was held, the room the opening of scene 1 took place in, the area Hamlet walked in on Claudius’ prayer. As far as meaning these settings can show the wide range or corrupt acts and turmoil that occurs under one royal court. The setting of certain parts throughout the scenes could possibly add to the intensity of the character for example when Hamlet walks in on Claudius’ prayer the setting may take on a suspenseful feel as Hamlet decides whether or not to kill Claudius. As a reader the play setting created some drama because we know Hamlet knows Claudius’ secret and that the play is a reflection of that, but Claudius doesn’t know that anyone knows. This heightens Claudius’ temper possibly due to guilt? Style: simile-”Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow…” -Hamlet apostrophe-”Indeed the counselor is now most still, most secret and most grave..come, sir, to draw toward an end with you. Good night, mother.” -Hamlet allusion-” A brother’s murder…” -Claudius hyperbole-”O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven…” -Claudius metaphor-” The cess of majesty/Dies not alone...or it is a massy wheel.” -Rosencrantz couplet-”How in my words somever she be shent/To give them seals never, my soul, consent.”- Hamlet Hamlet Development: In the first scene of Act III Hamlet is introduced with his most famous “to be or not to be” soliloquy about life versus death and starts the Act in a very dark tone. In this first scene Hamlet also acts negatively towards Ophelia and tells her that he never loved her and other foul things. Then in Scene II there is a change in Hamlet with him acting in more of a cheerful and jokingly. When Hamlet sees Horatio he tells him how much he admires him which is a change for Hamlet because in the first scene he is only being negative. He also changes in his behavior towards Ophelia, by acting in a much more flirtatious manner than in the previous scene In this scene. This is also the scene where Hamlet finally takes a form of action against his Uncle for his Fathers murder. Even though this is only an act to test his Uncle’s guilt it is the first step towards the revenge that the ghost asked him to get. In Act 3 Hamlet kills Polonius and shows no remorse. This is a big change in Hamlet because earlier he was talking about being afraid to commit suicide because its a sin to kill yourself, and now he has gone and killed someone else. If there is a shift then scene 4 is definitely it, because he tells his mother everything she has been doing wrong and he kills Polonius. From the first soliloquy in this act until the end we see Hamlet go from a self loathing and depressed young man to a cold blooded murder. Significant Quotes: Disease and Poison- “Claudius- Oh, 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 cursèd 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? And what’s in prayer but this twofold force, To be forestallèd ere we come to fall Or pardoned being down? Then I’ll look up. My fault is past. But oh, what form of prayer Can serve my turn, “Forgive me my foul murder”?”(pg. 166-167) Claudius praying he is admitting to having sinned and is repenting for his sins, which is similar to a disease because it is crippling to the person’s soul. Appearance vs. Reality- “Hamlet- A king of shreds and patches- Enter Ghost Save me and hover o’er me with your gracious figure? Gerturde- Alas, he’s mad. Ghost- Do not forget. This visitation is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose. But look, amazement on they mother sits. O, step between her and her fighting soul. Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works. Speak to her, Hamlet.”(pg. 177) This moment in the play shows that the entity that Hamlet has based his whole mission on is only visible to him, suggesting that it might not be real at all. Fortune, Fate and Providence- “Hamlet- Look here, upon this picture, and on this, The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. See, what a grace was seated on this brow; Hyperion's curls; the front of Jove himself; An eye like Mars, to threaten and command; A station like the herald Mercury New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill; A combination and a form indeed, Where every god did seem to set his seal, To give the world assurance of a man: This was your husband. 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? Sense, sure, you have, Else could you not have motion; but sure, that sense Is apoplex'd; for madness would not err, Nor sense to ecstasy was ne'er so thrall'd But it reserved some quantity of choice, To serve in such a difference. What devil was't That thus hath cozen'd you at hoodman-blind? Eyes without feeling, feeling without sight, Ears without hands or eyes, smelling sans all, Or but a sickly part of one true sense Could not so mope. O shame! where is thy blush? Rebellious hell, If thou canst mutine in a matron's bones, To flaming youth let virtue be as wax, And melt in her own fire: proclaim no shame When the compulsive ardour gives the charge, Since frost itself as actively doth burn And reason panders will.” (pg. 175) In this moment Hamlet is telling his mother everything that is wrong with marrying Polonius and how much of a traitor this makes her seem, which is the same as telling her fate because he is making her realize what she did and how horrible it is. Revenge-“Hamlet- Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; And now I'll do't. And so he goes to heaven; And so am I revenged. That would be scann'd: A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven. O, this is hire and salary, not revenge. He took my father grossly, full of bread; With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May; And how his audit stands who knows save heaven? But in our circumstance and course of thought, 'Tis heavy with him: and am I then revenged, To take him in the purging of his soul, When he is fit and season'd for his passage? No! 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.”(pg. 167) At this moment Hamlet contemplates what he should do, as far as seeking his revenge on Claudius and ultimately decides on not seeking his revenge at this moment. Weeds and Flowers- “Hamlet- Ay, lady, 'twas my word. Lifts up the array and discovers POLONIUS Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell! I took thee for thy better: take thy fortune; Thou find'st to be too busy is some danger. Leave wringing of your hands: peace! sit you down, And let me wring your heart; for so I shall, If it be made of penetrable stuff, If damned custom have not brass'd it so That it is proof and bulwark against sense.”(pg. 173) When Hamlet is commenting on what he did, as if Polonius was not important and it didn’t matter what happened to him, because he felt that he took him out of his misery, it is the same as weeding out a garden and getting rid of everything that tarnishes the garden. Fraility- “Hamlet- Nay, I know not: Is it the king? Gertrude- O, what a rash and bloody deed is this! Hamlet- A bloody deed! almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king, and marry with his brother. Gertrude- As kill a king!” (pg. 171) In this moment Hamlet mentions how Claudius killed his brother and since Gertrude is acting as if she didn’t even realize how her late husband died, it makes her look weak. Characters: Claudius: in act three Claudius is forced to face the realization that Hamlet possibly knows of the murder he committed on Hamlet's father, Claudius also hopes that there is some sort of forgiveness by God. With Claudius new knowledge that Hamlet knows of his murder, he wants to hasten the execution of Hamlet by sending him on a fake “trip” to England where he will be escorted by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Gertrude: in act three Gertrude has to listen to Hamlet say the worst but truest of things about her flaws, she is shocked that Hamlet would say the things he said about her. Also Gertrude has to deal with the murder of Polonius before her eyes. There is a sense that Gertrude is given an ultimatum : End things with Claudius and regain her respect or stay with Claudius and never have Hamlets approval Polonius: in act three Polonius is accidentally killed by Hamlet who thought he was stabbing Claudius; after Polonius decided to spy behind the curtain and listen to Gertrude and Hamlets conversation he is just in the wrong place at the wrong time. However it was Polonius who doubted Gertrude and felt the need to eavesdrop on their conversation. Ophelia: in act three Ophelia has a conversation with Hamlet that was set up by Claudius and Polonius to find the cause of Hamlet's madness. Ophelia is told to “get thee to a nunnery” (which I find to be comical) ultimately Ophelia gets embarrassed by Hamlet's words and accusing her of being mad ….the conversation did not go the way she intended it to. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: in act three these two men persuade Claudius to attend the play that is put on by Hamlet to reveal the truth about his fathers death, also they betray Hamlet by delivering a letter to England to execute Hamlet upon his visit because Claudius believes his madness is now dangerous and the two men go along with anything Claudius says to stay in his good graces. Players: in act three the players in Hamlets play are told to put on a really good performance and make it believable, they are also the reason that Claudius realizes that Hamlet knows that he killed his brother. Horatio: in act three Horatio serves as the eye witness to the reaction of Claudius after he sees Hamlets play acting out the murder that Claudius committed himself. Horatio is told how good and loyal of a friend he is by Hamlet. Plot development Polonius and Claudius plan to find the source of Hamlet's madness by spying on him and Ophelia. Hamlet give the famous “to be or not to be” soliloquy. Ophelia and Hamlet have a conversation and Hamlet denies ever loving her and questions her honesty. Eventually he says she would be better off in a nunnery. Hamlet encourages the Players to be very convincing while portraying the murder of the king Horatio is told by Hamlet to keep watch on Claudius’ reaction to the murder scene which really upsets Claudius because he feels like his crime has been revealed. Hamlet is summoned to Gertrudes chamber Claudius is speaking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about Hamlets madness. Claudius tells them to escort Hamlet to England. Hamlet walks in and listens to Claudius’ praying about what he has done. Hamlet has the opportunity to kill Claudius right there however decides to wait to kill him until he is sinning. In Gertrudes chamber, Polonius plans to eavesdrop on Hamlet and Gertrudes conversation. During the conversation, Hamlet starts really telling Gertrude about her sins and how she has offended her husband (dead). With Hamlets violent words Gertrude cries out for help Polonius (hiding behind the curtain/ tapestry) calls out for help, Hamlet draws his sword and stabs Polonius because he thought it was Claudius. Gertrude asks what he has done and says that it was a rash and bloody move, Hamlet continues to tell her that its almost as bad as what she has done (marriage) Hamlet realizes that he has killed Polonius and not Claudius, bids Polonius farewell and calls him and intruding fool. Hamlet continues to try to make Gertrude realize what she has done by marrying her dead husband's brother and how rotten her new husband really is. Gertrude is saddened by Hamlet. The ghost reminds Hamlet what his purpose is, while Gertrude is unable to see the ghost Hamlet convinces her that it is real, he is in fact not mad but has been putting on an act all along and also tells her to regain her dignity and stop being with Claudius. After all of this he asks her to promise to keep his madness act a secret and to not inform Claudius about their conversation. Hamlet leaves Gertrudes chamber dragging Polonius’ dead body behind him. -climaxes that affect the end of the plotthe expression of Claudius after he sees the play is a huge climax because he is now aware that Hamlet probably knows of the murder, this makes Claudius to want to hasten Hamlets England trip (execution). Also the moment when Claudius is praying and Hamlet has the chance to kill him but decides not to is a huge moment for Hamlet. Hamlet has once again avoided his revenge on Claudius because of his problems with knowledge. Now that he knows that Claudius for sure killed his father he questions if killing him as punishment would be sufficient.