Hamlet Act 2 3 Characters Hamlet Claudius Gertrude

Hamlet Act 2 & 3

Characters • Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Polonius, Laertes, Horatio • Rosencrantz & Guildenstern – Friends of Hamlet, spying for Claudius. • Reynaldo - Messenger for Polonius to Laertes, also going to spy on Laertes and make up rumours about him. • Voltimand & Cornelius - Messengers sent by Claudius to Old Norway. They return with news.

Act 2 Summary Scene 1: Polonius sends Reynaldo to France to spy on Laertes. Ophelia tells Polonius that Hamlet has been acting crazy. Polonius is convinved that Hamlet is love sick. Scene 2: Messengers return from Norway. Claudius calls R&G to court to spy on Hamlet. Polonius tells Claudius that Hamlet is mad for Ophelia. Polonius makes a plan to spy on Hamlet and Ophelia talking together. Polonius talks to Hamlet to is speaking nonsense (but there is a little bit of truth in his crazy words). R&G find Hamlet, Hamlet realizes why they have been sent for, he says lately he has been depressed. R&G tell Hamlet about the actors.

and there put on him What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank As may dishonor him; take heed of that; But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips As are companions noted and most known To youth and liberty. Forgeries – lies, falsehoods Rank – horrible, outlandish Wanton – naughty, unrestrained, sexual Polonius speaking to Reynaldo • Polonius tells Reynaldo that he can make up lies (small slanders) about Laertes’ in order to get his friends to open up about his behavior. • Nothing too bad, just the usual stuff that a yong man might get up to. • Shows us that Polonius uses sly or devious means to get what he wants. He is not an honest or straight-forward guy.

Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced, No hat upon his head, his stockings foul’d, Ungarter’d, and down-gyved to his ancle: Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other, … Doublet – buttoned jacket Unbraced – loose, undone Foul’d – filthy, dirty Ungarter’d – not done up Down-gyved – falling down Ophelia speaking to Polonius • Ophelia is describing Hamlet’s appearance and behaviour when he comes to her room. • His shirt is undone, stockings are dirty and falling down, he is pale, his knees knocking. • Based on her description Polonius is convinced that Hamlet is love sick.

This is the very ecstasy of love; Whose violent property fordoes itself And leads the will to desperate undertakings As oft as any passion under heaven That does afflict our natures. Ecstasy – madness, lunacy, trance-like state Fordoes – exhausts, wears out Afflict – suffer, torment, cause pain Polonius speaking to Ophelia • Polonius is convinced that Hamlet’s madness is due to his love of Ophelia. • He says love can be a violent emotion that causes a person to self-destruct; the same as any strong emotion. • Next he asks Ophelia if she has fought with Hamlet or given him any harsh words lately (she has followed Polonius’ advice).

so by your companies To draw him on to pleasure, and to gather, So much as from occasion you may glean, Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus, That open’d lies within our remedy Glean – collect, scrape together, gather information Aught – anything at all Afflict – suffer, torment, cause pain Remedy – fix, make right Open’s – discover, reveal Claudius speaking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern • • • By spending time with Hamlet R & G can help him have some fun. The may be able to piece together what is wrong. Something that, unknown to Claudius and Gertrude, is tormenting him. It they can discover what it is they might be able to fix it. Claudius is asking R & G to spy on Hamlet but he seems to show genuine concern too.

For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god kissing carrion – Have you a daughter? … Let her not walk i’ the sun. Conception is a blessing, but not as your daughter may conceive – friend look to’t Carrion – carcass, rotting flesh Conception – the moment of becoming pregnant, an idea Conceive – Pregnancy, to have an idea Hamlet speaking to Polonius • The sun breeds maggots on a carcass. Even something pure, good, and god-like when it meets with something evil becomes corrupt. • Don’t give your daughter too much freedom, if you do she may get ideas (and not be so obedient to you). • Don’t let your daughter get touched by the son (Hamlet) or she may get pregnant. • Part of Hamlet’s discussion with Polonius where he acts crazy but has some truth in what he says.

I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king and queen moult no feather. I have of late – but wherefore I know not – lost all my mirth … Moult – to loose a feather, shed skin Wherefore – for what reason Mirth - happiness Hamlet speaking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern • Hamlet talking to R & G tells the he will tell them why they were sent for to save them having to tell him – that way they keep their secret to the king. • He says that lately, he doesn’t know why, he has been unhappy.

A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak, Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause, And can say nothing; no, not for a king, Upon whose property and most dear life A damn’d defeat was made. Am I a coward? Muddy-mettled – sluggish, dull-spirited Rascal – mischievous, scoundrel, dishonest person John-a-Dreams – dreamer Unpregnant – not stirred to action, not filled with purpose Hamlet speaking a soliloquy • Hamlet scolds himself for being sluggish, moping around, not taking action against Claudius. • He says he mopes around like a dreamer, he is not filled with passion for his cause. He says nothing to defend the King whose life was stolen. • He considers himself a servant rather than a son.

I’ll have these players Play something like the murder of my father Before mine uncle: I’ll observe his looks; I’ll tent him to the quick; if he but blench I know my course. Tent – probe, explore, investigate Quick – Sensitive Hamlet speaking a soliloquy • Hamlet tells the audience of his plan. • He has grown suspicious of the ghost. He needs to know for certain that Claudius is guilty. • He will have the players perform a scene like the death of his father. • He will watch Claudius closely – if he flinches Hamlet will know what to do.

Act 3 Summary Scene 1: R&G say they don't know why Hamlet is upset. Polonius and Claudius set up their plan to spy on Ophelia and Hamlet. Ophelia gives back Hamlet's tokens. Hamlet gets mad, insult Ophelia. Claudius does not think Hamlet is in love with Ophelia but he thinks he is dangerous, he makes a plan to send Hamlet to England. Polonius has another plan to spy on Hamlet and Gertrude. Scene 2: Hamlet gives the actors advice. Hamlet asks Horatio to watch Claudius' reaction. The play begins. Claudius storms out when the King is murdered. Horatio confirms that Claudius looks guilty. Polonius tells Hamlet that Gertrude wants to talk to him.

Act 3 Summary Scene 3: Claudius makes plans to send Hamlet to England. Claudius struggles with his conscience and tries to pray. Hamlet comes in but decides not to kill Claudius because he doesn't want to send him to heaven. Scene 4: Polonius hides behind a tapestry in Gertrude's room. Hamlet stabs Polonius thinking that it is Claudius. Hamlet convinces Gertrude that what she did was wrong. Hamlet tells Gertrude to stop sleeping with Claudius and asks her to lie to the king and pretend that Hamlet is crazy.

How have each of these characters betrayed Hamlet? • Claudius - Kills his father, marries his mother, twice he spies on Hamlet. • Gertrude - Marries Claudius (chooses Claudius over Hamlet), she knows about the plans to spy.

How have each of these characters betrayed Hamlet? • Polonius - Spies on him several times, make Ophelia stop talking to him. • Ophelia - Lies to Hamlet and says that her dad is at home (part of the plan), Ophelia spurns Hamlet and obeys her father. • Rosencrantz & Guildenstern - they spy on Hamlet and try to tell him what to do.

Describe each of the plots to spy • Claudius and Gertrude uses R&G to spy on Hamlet. • Polonius and Claudius use Ophelia to spy on Hamlet. • Polonius spies on Hamlet and Gertrude by hiding behind the tapestry. • Polonius uses Reynaldo to spy on Laertes.

Describe each of the plots to spy • Polonius sends Reynaldo to spy on Laertes. • Claudius ask R&G to spy on Hamlet. • Polonius and Claudius spy on Hamlet and Ophelia. • Polonius spies on Hamlet and Gertrude.

Times when Hamlet’s antic disposition is obvious • Any time he talks to Polonius • When he calls Polonius a fishmonger. • When he talks to Ophelia but realizes that Polonius is listening. • The whole scene before and during the performance. • After the play when he tells Polonius that the clouds look like a camel, weasel, whales.

To be or not to be • To be, or not to be, that is the question: 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. To die—to sleep, No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to: 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep; To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there's the rub: For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause—there's the respect That makes calamity of so long life. For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, Th'oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of dispriz'd love, the law's delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of th'unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear, To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But that the dread of something after death, The undiscovere'd country, from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will, And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all , And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pitch and moment With this regard their currents turn awry And lose the name of action. ” • What is Hamlet thinking about? Living or dying, what is better? Is it better to suffer with the pain that you know or to exchange it for an unknown pain that might be worse. • What are the “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune”? All the struggles, obstacles, indignities that you must face in life. The things that fate dishes out to you. • What is the undiscover’d country? Death – because no one comes back from death. • Why does “conscience make cowards of us all”? Because when you stop and think about what might happen after you die then you loose your nerve and can’t do it.

Act 3 Quote My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go. Speaker: Claudius To Whom: Aside Significance: Claudius is struggling with his guilt but isn’t fully sorry for what he has done. It is ironic because if Hamlet killed Claudius in this moment he wouldn’t go to heaven because although he is saying the words (praying forgiveness) his heart isn’t really in it.