Act III Hamlet Questions Christie

5.

a) The “To be, or not to be” soliloquy contributes to the audience’s perception of Hamlet’s
character as it shows again how Hamlet gets so easily wrapped up in his own thoughts and
distracted from the plan set out in front of him. In the midst of revenge and the planning of the
play, he suddenly starts to ponder death and human life. This speech reminds the audience of
the possible idea that Hamlet is indeed mad as he considers suicide instead of thinking of
greater matters to attend to.

b) Hamlet’s advice to the players shows the audience how Hamlet wants things to line up just
right to replay exactly previous events. He wants the players to get right to the point, instead of
drawing things out, which might suggest that Hamlet is anxious to get revenge but can’t.

c) Hamlet’s speech to Horatio reveals an almost manipulative quality as he “butters up”

Horatio in order for him to help watch Claudius when the play starts by stating how he has
come to accept his fate and gone through all these trials yet still come out on top, in order to
secure Hamlet’s loyalty with him.

d) The recorder episode shows really how attentive and aware he is of his friends behavior to
him. It shows the audience that Hamlet has a good sense of who to trust and who is leading
him astray. The recorder episode also shows how he is not afraid to call someone out for who
they are and what they are doing to him.

e) While Claudius is praying the audience sees Hamlet’s reluctance again to follow through with
the plan. A chance is given to Hamlet to get the job done, but he skirts over it because he
thinks that Claudius would have gone to heaven, which he would not have. Hamlet again over-
thinks things which allow opportunity to slip by.

f) The murder of Polonius would lead the audience to be slightly confused about Hamlet’s
behavior. He doesn’t exactly think through his actions and responds suddenly and swiftly
without going through the long drawn out thoughts. It shows the audience that Hamlet is in a
chaotic state, not exactly thinking straight leading him to rash decisions that are unlike his
normal self.

g) Hamlet’s deep feelings of anger and bitterness are revealed again to the audience as he is
downright cruel, showing his feelings of hatred towards his mother. It shows the fuel behind
his seek for revenge and the remaining feelings towards his mother that he hasn’t directly
spoken to her. It gives the audience a deeper understanding of what Hamlet is going through.
6. In the “Revenge Plot”, Hamlet has taken measures to call out Claudius for what he has done,
by organizing the play to know for sure that his uncle did kill his father. Receiving the
appropriate response from Claudius triggers Hamlet’s longing for revenge and taking action (as
shown with Polonius’ death). Hamlet starts to become increasingly rash with his decisions
taking him closer to his wanted goal. In the “Romantic Sub-plot” it is shown that the
relationship has taken its downturn. Hamlet no longer wants anything to do with her, as he
rudely talks to her telling her to get herself to a nunnery. Even while the play is occurring he
makes rude puns to make her uncomfortable and to manipulate her.

8. In scene I, the scheming side of Claudius is shown to reveal the cause of Hamlet’s behavior
while Hamlet reveals a lot of deep questions in his soliloquy. This scene shows Shakespeare’s
clever way of weaving a deeper idea into the play, provoking the reader to think beyond and
also ponder the question with the characters. In scene II, Shakespeare’s fine work is shown
again by Hamlet’s witty responses that successfully show the sarcasm and humor
accompanying the play. Shakespeare’s use of a play within the play again shows a bigger idea
about acting in real life and putting on a mask to disguise something. In scene III, the plot is
prolonged as Hamlet resists the chance to kill his uncle. Shakespeare successfully introduces the
idea of purgatory and also a deeper question of where those go with sin as the one that
Claudius had go. In scene IV, Shakespeare displays Hamlet’s deep grievances about his mother
in a way that makes the reader cringe yet want to continue reading because of the deep hurt
behind it. His anger and actions are something that we can all identify with as we don’t take
the time to examine both ends of a situation and act upon impulse. Due to the above, “Act III
is considered to be the finest, self-contained act that Shakespeare ever wrote”.