Hamlet Act III Questions

Hamlet Act 3 Questions for Study
Act 3
Scene 1:

1. What do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report to Polonius?

-They tell of Hamlet’s general wellbeing, but have different reports on his responses and manner. R says that he answered everything while G says that Hamlet avoided the questions craftily. Plus, they reported his joy at the actors coming into town.

2. How does Claudius react when Polonius says, "…with devotion's visage, And pious action we do sugar o'er/ The devil himself"?

-Claudius agrees with Polonius while thinking about how guilty he feels for murdering the old King Hamlet.

3. What plan do Polonius, Claudius and Ophelia now put into action?

-They plan to lure Hamlet into talking with Ophelia while Polonius and Claudius are listening behind a tapestry. They wish to determine if Hamlet truly loves Ophelia, or at least if it is partially the cause of his newfound madness.

4. What is the nature of Hamlet's soliloquy, lines 57-91?

-This super famous soliloquy is all about whether acting against a wrong immediately, patiently biding time for the right opportunity, or commiting suicide to avoid it all is best. Hamlet is arguing with himself and trying to weigh the pros and cons of both sides. He ends his thoughts by declaring revenge is often overweighed with moral considerations and that prevents people (himself) from taking action, despite good intentions.

5. What is Hamlet's main argument against suicide?

-Hamlet is unsure of what comes after death and believes it could be worse than life or better. The uncertainty prevents him from acting.

6. Why does Hamlet treat Ophelia as cruelly as he does? What has changed him?

-Hamlet believes that Ophelia, like all women, will eventually betray him. He believes his mother betrayed his father by marrying Claudius and thus has lost all faith in women.

7. What thinly veiled threat to Claudius does Hamlet voice, after he becomes of his hidden presence? (lines 148-150)

-Those men that are married – all but one- shall remain so. He pretty much says his aim is to kill one married man, Claudius.

8. At the end of this scene, what does the King decide to do with Hamlet?

-The King decides to get rid of Hamlet by sending him to England. This will get Hamlet out of the King’s hair and make the Prince less of a threat.

Scene 2:

9. What qualities in Horatio cause Hamlet to enlist his assistance?

            -Hortaio is well settled emotionally, does not allow his anger or passions to sway himself, and bears life’s ups and downs with an equal disposition.

10. What does Hamlet ask Horatio to do?

-Hamlet wants Horatio to observe Claudius during the play and the compare notes on his reactions with Hamlet later. This will ensure that Hamlet has a relatively unbiased third party opinion.

11. Summarize what happens in the play-within-a-play.

-A King and Queen are happily together, but then a jealous man poisons the King and takes his place. The Queen, hesitant at first, comes to believe the new King is good and is fooled.

12. Why, in line 233, does Hamlet refer to the play-within-a-play as "The Mouse-trap"?

-It is a trap for Claudius because Hamlet aims to reveal Claudius’s inner feelings. This is possible because the play reinacts essentially what Claudius did to get on the throne.

13. What is the King's reaction to the play?

            -He is visibly shaken, yells at people, and leaves the theatre.

14. In lines 354-363, to what object does Hamlet compare himself? Why?

-A stringed instrument, maybe a guitar of some sort. Hamlet compares himself to an instrument because an instrument can be manipulated, but only by those who know how. Hamlet tells Guildenstern and Rosencrantz that none of them can outwit himself.

15. As Hamlet goes to his mother at the end of this scene, what does he say he'll do?

-Hamlet says to the audience that he will be cruel to his mother to get revenge on her for marrying Claudius.

Scene III

1) What does Claudius plan to do with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and Hamlet?

-Send them all to England with R&G as escorts to spy upon Hamlet.

2) What is Polonius going to do while Hamlet speaks with his mother?

-He plans to hide behind a tapestry and listen to Hamlet and Gertrude in her private chambers.

3) List three important things about Claudius’ soliloquy.

            -The guilt of killing the old King is beginning to weigh on Claudius’ mind.

-He can’t be forgiven by prayer or God because he is still committing wrong by holding the position of King and husband to Gertrude.

-Claudius feels trapped because there is no way for forgiveness until he relinquishes the crown, which he doesn’t want to do.

4) Why is it odd that Hamlet sees the king praying?

-Hamlet didn’t believe that Claudius could/would pray because he has done so much wrong that Hamlet assumed he was all bad, with no holy part left or possible.

5) Why doesn’t Hamlet take this opportunity for revenge?

-Hamlet believes that if Claudius is praying, then his soul will go to heaven, not hell or purgatory which is where he deserves. Heaven would be no punishment for a King-killer.

Scene IV

1) Describe Polonius’ advice to Gertrude.

-Polonius tells Gertrude that she must be firm with Hamlet and tell the Prince he has done much wrong.

2) What is the significance of the following quote: “How now, a rat? Dead! For a ducat, dead!

-Polonius is a rat, noisy and useless. Hamlet considers him less than nothing and kills without remorse.

3) What is odd about the following quote: A bloody deed; almost as bad, good mother, as kill a king and marry with his brother.

-Hamlet is admitting to being almost as corrupt as Claudius, the one person he hates most in the world.

4) Why might Gertrude say, “What have I done, that thou dar’st wag thy tongue in noise so rude against me.”

-Gertrude could be trying to pretend innocence or sincerely innocent in her lack of knowledge. She could mean to simply escape Hamlet by pretending because he, in her eyes, has clearly gone off the deep end.

5) What descriptions does Hamlet use to compare his father and his uncle?
            -His father is described as Hyperion and all things light and good. Claudius is 

compared with a moldy ear of corn.

6) What point does Hamlet make by comparing the men?

-Hamlet hopes to shame Gertrude into admitting her guilt, which she does not. Plus it serves to show just how little he regards Claudius.

7) What is disturbing about the following: Nay, but to live in the rank sweat of an enseamed bed; stewed in corruption; honeying, and making love over the nasty sty.”

-Hamlet is picturing his own mother and step father in bed together. Most sons and daughters, regardless of age, do not enjoy or try to picture their parents/step parents in bed together. His fixation on this does not bode well for his mental state.

8) What stops Hamlet’s ranting and raving at Gertrude? What does this figure tell Hamlet?

-The Ghost comes in and tells Hamlet to remember his purpose for coming to Gertrude. It stops his relentless berating of her new relationship.

9) By the end of the act, Hamlet has made many statements about humanity, in general. Explain a few of his points. Do his opinions reflect his madness.

-Women (and love) will only cause harm to men. Hamlet believes that he and his father have been betrayed by the women they love. This is fairly logical as it is easy to see why Hamlet would see his mother remarrying a less guy as bad.

10) Explain the differences between the ghost in Act I with the ghost in Act III. Why might these differences reflect Hamlet’s insanity?

-The Ghost in Act I is visible to all of the people, Act III’s is only visible to Hamlet. In the beginning Hamlet is dissatisfied with Claudius and has a logical plan to get rid of him. In the third act, Hamlet is so obsessed with offing Claudius and the wrongs he has committed that he hasn’t a perception of restraint. The ghost may be Hamlet’s inner conscience telling him to regain his control. Before the ghost as a reflection of Hamlet’s conscience was urging to action against Claudius.