Hamlet- Act III

Scene 1: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern return to Claudius and tell him that they do not know why Hamlet has gone crazy. Hamlet also won't answer their questions.They also say that Hamlet wants Gertrude and Claudius to come see his play. They and Gertrude then leave, and Claudius and Polonius listen to Ophelia and Hamlet talk. When Gertrude leaves, she says how she really hopes Hamlet will return to his old self. Polonius and Claudius hid while Ophelia is reading a prayer book, waiting for Hamlet. Claudius also says he feels a little guilt. When Hamlet comes in, he is wondering if it is better to be dead or alive, or if he should just kill himself. He says how fear of death makes you a coward. Ophelia wants to give Hamlet back the gifts he has given her, but he says he hasn't. Hamlet then declares that he is no longer in love with Ophelia, and she should become a nun. He curses her if she marries anyone else, and he also says that women disguise the face that God gave them. He leaves, and Ophelia says that he has gone crazy even though he used to be sane. Claudius says that love is not the reason Hamlet has gone mad. He will send Hamlet to England to demand for their country's money back. The trip will return him to normalcy. Polonius agrees with Claudius' plan, but he still believes that Hamlet is crazy because over his love for Ophelia. He also thinks that Gertrude should talk to Hamlet before he leaves, and Claudius agrees.

Scene 2: The play is performed, but with new lines written by Hamlet. Hamlet also instructs them on how to act. Horatio then enter, and Hamlet tells him that he has been a good friend. He asks Horatio to watch the king with him because one of the scenes depicts his father's death. Horatio says he will. When Hamlet talks to Claudius and Polonius next, he sounds more crazy. Hamlet sits by Ophelia, even though his mother asked him to sit by her, and he asks Ophelia if he may lay his head in her lap. He also remarks on how his mother and others have forgotten his father's death. The play is performed like King Hamlet's murder in the way that Hamlet thinks it is before and after. Claudius then asks the name of the play, and Hamlet says, "The Mousetrap." When King Hamlet is murdered in the play, Claudius leaves and so does everyone else but Horatio and Hamlet. This reinforces the ghost story for Hamlet. Guildenstern then informs Hamlet that the King and Queen are upset. The Queen is astonished and wants to speak to Hamlet. Hamlet says that he will speak sharp with her, but he won't harm her.

Scene 3: Claudius says he does not like how Hamlet has been acting. He wants him sent to England. Polonius then enters and says he plans on spying on Hamlet and Gertrude's conversation. He will tell Claudius what he has heard. Claudius then talks about the guilt he has over his brother's death, and he prays. He wants forgiveness, but don't think he will be given it because he is still reaping the rewards of his actions. Hamlet then comes upon him. Hamlet is going to kill him, but doesn't because then Claudius will die with his sins off of his chest and instead will kill him when he is committing a sin.

Scene 4: Polonius and Gertrude are talking. Polonius wants Gertrude to tell Hamlet that his actions have caused harm, and she is being blamed. He then hides, and Hamlet enters. When Gertrude and Hamlet are talking, she thinks he is going to kill her, so she screams. Polonius comes out to help her, and Hamlet stabs and kills him thinking he was Claudius. Hamlet then tells his mother she is horrible for marrying Claudius because it was incestuous. The ghost then enters and reminds Hamlet to kill Claudius. Gertrude thinks Hamlet is crazy because she can not see the ghost. Hamlet says that it is his father's ghost, but she still doesn't see. Hamlet tells her to leave Claudius, and Claudius is also sending him to England. He feels they are plotting against him. He leaves dragging Polonius' body.

Response: When Hamlet tells Ophelia to go to a nunnery and then he bashes women, it makes me think that Hamlet is just saying bad things about women because he dislikes how his mother reacted to his father's death. He says that no one should get married again, and the ones that are married are to live- all but one (his father). He is angry at Ophelia it seems for the actions that his mother did. It seems like he thinks that all women will act like his mother did if their husband died, and he does not like that,so that could be why he is saying he does not love Ophelia. He could also be planning for later times, and he does not want her to be hurt. He could also be doing it as a defense mechanism because he does not want to be hurt like he feels his father was by his mother Gertrude when she married Claudius so soon after King Hamlet died. Hamlet's choice for the title of the play was also quiet comical because he was trying to trap Claudius. Hamlet's hate of Claudius is still evident when he is crazy. He tells his mother to go to the bloated king's bed, and he also says that his mother is wanton. He also says that Claudius' kisses are dirty. Hamlet also seems to not even caret that he killed Polonius because he is like, " I'll lug the guts into the neighbor room" (219). He is acting like Polonius is nothing and garbage, and Polonius is the father of his girlfriend. Either Hamlet is really good at acting or crazy, or he has probably driven himself mad.