I have a question that I would like to ask the ghost. Why wouldn't you talk to Gertrude instead of Hamlet? Not only would that make her believe your son immediately, but you could use her to help get your revenge on Claudius. Wouldn't that be more simplicit?
I was really mad with Gertrude in this scene because she agreed to let Polonius spy on her with Hamlet. Talk about unmotherly! I felt really bad for Hamlet because it seems that everyone is conspiring against him. He really has only one person (Horatio) that he can trust. I know he yells at his mother, but in the same situation, I probably would too.
In this scene, Gertrude allows Polonius to spy on Hamlet while he comes to yell at her. Hamlet gets mad at his mother for marrying his uncle, and as she cries out for help, Polonius loses his cover. Hamlet, thinking it's Claudius stabs wildy, killing him. The ghost then appears, but does not make himself visable to Gertrude, causing her to think Hamlet's mad. He then tells her about the sketchy trip to England and his suspisions. He exits, dragging Polonius's corpes behind him.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Act 3 Scene 3
After Hamlets bizarre behavior during the play, Claudius orders Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to take Hamlet away to England. Meanwhile, Polonius offers to spy on Hamlet as he talks to Gertrude. Hamlet then later catches Claudius by himself, but restrains from killing him because he's in prayer, which would send him directly to Heaven. He descides to hold off until Claudius is in the middle of a sinful act, as to send him straight to hell.
At this stage, I believe Claudius is very fearful for his life. He's afraid of Hamlet now, and sees him as a threat. "I like him not, nor stands it safe with us to let his madness range." If I were in his shoes, I'd probably bussle down to the church too and try to repent my sins. I believe he's still too flushtered to be able to concentrate on his praying, which is why after Hamlet leaves he says:
"My words fly up, my thoughts remain below;
Words without thoughts never to heaven go."
During this scene, Hamlet passes up a golden opportunity by sparing Claudius's life.
"No. Up sword, and know thou a more horrid hench."
If Hamlet had killed Claudius right then and there, he wouldn't have had reason to kill anyone else. Many lives could have been spared if he'd killed the source right then and there.
At this stage, I believe Claudius is very fearful for his life. He's afraid of Hamlet now, and sees him as a threat. "I like him not, nor stands it safe with us to let his madness range." If I were in his shoes, I'd probably bussle down to the church too and try to repent my sins. I believe he's still too flushtered to be able to concentrate on his praying, which is why after Hamlet leaves he says:
"My words fly up, my thoughts remain below;
Words without thoughts never to heaven go."
During this scene, Hamlet passes up a golden opportunity by sparing Claudius's life.
"No. Up sword, and know thou a more horrid hench."
If Hamlet had killed Claudius right then and there, he wouldn't have had reason to kill anyone else. Many lives could have been spared if he'd killed the source right then and there.
Act 3 Scene 2
I got a kick out of when Gertrude said " Come hither, my dear Hamlet, sit by me." and Hamlet responded "No, good mother. Here's metal more attractive," and he sats next to Ophelia. It's immature of me to say this, but I was just like " Oh, BURN!" The reason for him sitting there was so he could study the Kings' face, but it was a nice side bit to smash the queen like that. By this stage of the play, I totally sympathize with Hamlet and don't care who he takes his rage out on.
When Ophelia says "The king rises." Hamlet gets his solid evidence that the King truely is his fathers murderer. If the king had not risen, Hamlet wouldn't have got his solid proof, leaving him to sulk around and not take further action, until the stress would become too much and he would commit suicide.
I found Hamlet to be quite annoying in this particular scene as he kept interupting and adding little bits of information here and there throughout the play. I wish he would just sit down and study the King instead of make a fool of himself, (which also makes him look more then a bit suspiceous.)
When Ophelia says "The king rises." Hamlet gets his solid evidence that the King truely is his fathers murderer. If the king had not risen, Hamlet wouldn't have got his solid proof, leaving him to sulk around and not take further action, until the stress would become too much and he would commit suicide.
I found Hamlet to be quite annoying in this particular scene as he kept interupting and adding little bits of information here and there throughout the play. I wish he would just sit down and study the King instead of make a fool of himself, (which also makes him look more then a bit suspiceous.)
Act 3 Scene 1
By this part of the play, Hamlet has a pretty dismal outlook on life, which he captures his his famous line: "To be, or not to be: that is the question." By now, the pressure is really getting to him, (with all the spies and the act of pretending to be mad.) Now he outright asks himself "Is it worth living like this?" He realizes that with suicide comes the uncertainty of passage into Heaven, but with things going the way they are, is it really worth it?
The loving relationship between Ophelia and Hamlet disintegrates in this scene as Hamlet says such things as "Get thee to a nunnery," and "I did love you once." He realizes Ophelia has become another tool to spy on him and says "I have heard of your paintings too, well enough. God hath give you one face, and you make yourself another." He now knows he can't trust her and behaves poorly to distance himself from those who use her to spy on him.
This scene opens up with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern giving the king their reports on Hamlet and his behavor. Leaving him without much of a lead as to Hamlets change of character, he descides to use Ophelia to test Polonius's theory to see whether he is mad with love. Hamlet meanwhile asks himself whether life is worth living, before confronting Ophelia, who trys to create a situation to see if he really is in love with her (gives him back letters.) Hamlet discovers she's being used and lashes out at her in an effort to keep away the spies surrounding them.
The loving relationship between Ophelia and Hamlet disintegrates in this scene as Hamlet says such things as "Get thee to a nunnery," and "I did love you once." He realizes Ophelia has become another tool to spy on him and says "I have heard of your paintings too, well enough. God hath give you one face, and you make yourself another." He now knows he can't trust her and behaves poorly to distance himself from those who use her to spy on him.
This scene opens up with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern giving the king their reports on Hamlet and his behavor. Leaving him without much of a lead as to Hamlets change of character, he descides to use Ophelia to test Polonius's theory to see whether he is mad with love. Hamlet meanwhile asks himself whether life is worth living, before confronting Ophelia, who trys to create a situation to see if he really is in love with her (gives him back letters.) Hamlet discovers she's being used and lashes out at her in an effort to keep away the spies surrounding them.
Act 2 Scene 2
One real turning point in this scene is when Hamlet says: "The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king." What Hamlet means is that he'll judge the kings' reaction to the play, and if he looks guilty, then his suspicions will be confirmed. Without this line, Hamlet would not have hatched a plan to confirm his doubts, leaving him without enough evidence to fully seek out his revenge.
I felt really bad for Hamlet when his friends finally admitted to being "sent for" by his step-father to spy on him. It's at this point that Hamlet realizes that he truely has almost no one in the world he can trust. I'm glad I'm not in the same position as him for I don't know what I'd do if I had no one to turn to.
I enjoyed the part where in Hamlet's soliloquy, he says "O, vengeance!" followed by "Why, what an ass am I!" I find it amusing that he goes from yelling at the top of his lungs, to calmly commenting on his own behavour. The shift in his mood in almost scary!
I felt really bad for Hamlet when his friends finally admitted to being "sent for" by his step-father to spy on him. It's at this point that Hamlet realizes that he truely has almost no one in the world he can trust. I'm glad I'm not in the same position as him for I don't know what I'd do if I had no one to turn to.
I enjoyed the part where in Hamlet's soliloquy, he says "O, vengeance!" followed by "Why, what an ass am I!" I find it amusing that he goes from yelling at the top of his lungs, to calmly commenting on his own behavour. The shift in his mood in almost scary!
Act 2 Scene 1
Act 2 takes place 2 months later, allowing Hamlet lots of time to build up his reputation as the mad prince. The scene starts with Polonius telling Reynaldo to spy on his son to test his values, but the significants of the scene doesn't unfold until Ophelia barges into the room with tears in her eyes. She then proceeds to tell her father of Hamlets increasingly odd behaviour. "He took me by the wrist and held me hard...." Her father then, believing "This is the very ecstsy of love" decides to go inform the king. What Polonius doesn't know, is that Hamlet wants him to go tell the king, so Hamlet looks less suspicious when trying to gather information on Claudius.
I have a question, what is the significants of showing Polonius sending Reynaldo to spy and test his son? What relevants does it have to the plot of the play? Is it just to highlight the sneakiness of Polonius, or is there another function?
When I read about Polonius sending Reynaldo to spy on his son, I was appaulled. I think it just adds to his character of being a horrible person (bullying your daughter and spying on your son.) After the way he acted, I felt no sympathy for him when he died!
I have a question, what is the significants of showing Polonius sending Reynaldo to spy and test his son? What relevants does it have to the plot of the play? Is it just to highlight the sneakiness of Polonius, or is there another function?
When I read about Polonius sending Reynaldo to spy on his son, I was appaulled. I think it just adds to his character of being a horrible person (bullying your daughter and spying on your son.) After the way he acted, I felt no sympathy for him when he died!
Act 1, Scene 5
This is definitely one of the most significant scenes of the play. The King's ghosts utters the infamous line "So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear"
The direction of the play is now set in motion with this one sentence! If Hamlet had declined, he would never have found out about his father's murderer, pretended to go mad, and cause a chain reaction of death. Instead, he would have just continued to languish for the rest of his life.
I have a question for the late king Hamlet. Why would you not say anything encouraging to your son? I mean, he has been mourning for you for the past two months! You could show some affection. I think it's just conceited to tell how you died and then expect your son to get revenge. Seeking your revenge will destroy Hamlet's conscience! Why don't you go pester Claudius into confessing, or drive him mad, or get him to commit suicide! You're in the "waiting room" anyway, so why don't you make better use of your time.
I feel badly for Hamlet, hearing about his father's murder, and then having to live with the one who killed him. On top of that, he is expected to take revenge! It is especially difficult when the revenge is on the #1 person in the spotlight of the whole country. Pressure much?
The direction of the play is now set in motion with this one sentence! If Hamlet had declined, he would never have found out about his father's murderer, pretended to go mad, and cause a chain reaction of death. Instead, he would have just continued to languish for the rest of his life.
I have a question for the late king Hamlet. Why would you not say anything encouraging to your son? I mean, he has been mourning for you for the past two months! You could show some affection. I think it's just conceited to tell how you died and then expect your son to get revenge. Seeking your revenge will destroy Hamlet's conscience! Why don't you go pester Claudius into confessing, or drive him mad, or get him to commit suicide! You're in the "waiting room" anyway, so why don't you make better use of your time.
I feel badly for Hamlet, hearing about his father's murder, and then having to live with the one who killed him. On top of that, he is expected to take revenge! It is especially difficult when the revenge is on the #1 person in the spotlight of the whole country. Pressure much?
Act 1, Scene 4
I enjoyed when Hamlet said;
"The king doth wake tonight and takes his rouse,
Keeps wassail, and the swagg'ring upspring reels;
And as he drains his drafts of Rhenish down,
Rhe kettledrum and trumpet thus bray out
The truimph of his pledge."
I thought it was funny when the king had trumpets play and cannons fire after he drained his cup ( sounds a bit Canadian, eh?) It's interesting how Hamlet, (the younger generation,) is appalled by the reckless, ya-hoo behaviour of the King (the older generation.) It's the opposite of modern times, I guess.
Basically, in this scene Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus come out to the "ghost spot" to see if the ghost will come out again (which it does.) The ghost tries to lure Hamlet away from the others (which it successfully does,) ending the scene with Hamlet chasing after it into the forest.
If I was in Hamlets position, I probably would go after the ghost as well. From his first soliloquy we gather that he idolizes his father, (reference to calling him a "Hyperion.") After the kings dies and Hamlet's mother re-marries his uncle, he feels quite alone. When you think about it, if you had a loved one who died, and you had a chance to talk to them, would you pass it up? He feels no need to hold back, as shown when he said " how unprofitable seem all the uses of this world," he really has nothing left worth holding on to.
"The king doth wake tonight and takes his rouse,
Keeps wassail, and the swagg'ring upspring reels;
And as he drains his drafts of Rhenish down,
Rhe kettledrum and trumpet thus bray out
The truimph of his pledge."
I thought it was funny when the king had trumpets play and cannons fire after he drained his cup ( sounds a bit Canadian, eh?) It's interesting how Hamlet, (the younger generation,) is appalled by the reckless, ya-hoo behaviour of the King (the older generation.) It's the opposite of modern times, I guess.
Basically, in this scene Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus come out to the "ghost spot" to see if the ghost will come out again (which it does.) The ghost tries to lure Hamlet away from the others (which it successfully does,) ending the scene with Hamlet chasing after it into the forest.
If I was in Hamlets position, I probably would go after the ghost as well. From his first soliloquy we gather that he idolizes his father, (reference to calling him a "Hyperion.") After the kings dies and Hamlet's mother re-marries his uncle, he feels quite alone. When you think about it, if you had a loved one who died, and you had a chance to talk to them, would you pass it up? He feels no need to hold back, as shown when he said " how unprofitable seem all the uses of this world," he really has nothing left worth holding on to.
Act 1, Scene 3
I felt very annoyed at how obedient Ophelia was to Laertes and Polonius, saying such things as "I do not know, my lord, what I should think" and " I shall obey my lord." She loves Hamlet, yet she lets her brother and father walk all over him, saying such things as "Do not believe his vows; for they are brokers" and "His greatness weigh'd, his will is not his own." She hardly even stands up for him! I think Ophelia represents a horrible stereotype of women.
The whole point of this scene is for Laertes and Polonius to bully Ophelia into ending her relationship with Hamlet, saying such things as "he is untrustworthy" and "he doesn't really love you." The men can sense the tension in Hamlet's family and don't wish to get themselves involved ( afraid it will hurt their reputation/image.)
The relationship between Ophelia and Polonius is almost like a master- servant relationship. Ophelia says " I do not know, my Lord, how I should think" and Polonius answers "Marry, I'll teach you: think yourself a baby." It is clear he has complete control of his daughter, and whatever he says goes.
The whole point of this scene is for Laertes and Polonius to bully Ophelia into ending her relationship with Hamlet, saying such things as "he is untrustworthy" and "he doesn't really love you." The men can sense the tension in Hamlet's family and don't wish to get themselves involved ( afraid it will hurt their reputation/image.)
The relationship between Ophelia and Polonius is almost like a master- servant relationship. Ophelia says " I do not know, my Lord, how I should think" and Polonius answers "Marry, I'll teach you: think yourself a baby." It is clear he has complete control of his daughter, and whatever he says goes.
Act 1 Scene 2
The relationship between Hamlet and his uncle is very stressed. Hamlet refers to him as a "satyr" in his first major soliloquy, and compares him to his father by saying "but no more like my father than I to Hercules." He feels that his uncle is weak and average in comparison to his father. King Claudius does not make this easier for Hamlet either, saying " 'Tis unmanly grief" in reference to Hamlet's mourning of the late king.
One of my favourite lines in this scene is:
Hamlet: "How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable seem to me all the uses of this world,"
This line from his soliloquy strikes a tone with me, as I have often looked upon the world with the same view. In comparison though, I've got nothing to be upset about as my troubles are so insignificant compared to those of Hamlet.
I believe if I was the mother, (Queen Gertrude,) I would conduct myself in much the same way as she does. To cope with the situation, I think I would spend a lot of time overlooking things so as not to bring up any pain (as appearances are oh so important.) I believe she has the right idea when she puts the past behind her and moves on with her life (regardless of who she marries.)
One of my favourite lines in this scene is:
Hamlet: "How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable seem to me all the uses of this world,"
This line from his soliloquy strikes a tone with me, as I have often looked upon the world with the same view. In comparison though, I've got nothing to be upset about as my troubles are so insignificant compared to those of Hamlet.
I believe if I was the mother, (Queen Gertrude,) I would conduct myself in much the same way as she does. To cope with the situation, I think I would spend a lot of time overlooking things so as not to bring up any pain (as appearances are oh so important.) I believe she has the right idea when she puts the past behind her and moves on with her life (regardless of who she marries.)
Act 1, Scene 1
The play kicks off with two guards by the names of Francisco and Barnardo meeting to switch off shifts around midnight. There is much tension in the air because sightings of a ghost that is said to resemble the late king Hamlet have been spotted around this time of night. Upon the arrival of Claudius and Marcellus, along with the departure of Francisco, the ghost makes its presence known. When the ghost refuses to speak, Claudius decides to find young Hamlet to tell him about the sightings, believing that Hamlet will be able to communicate with the ghost.
I have a question about the dialogue. When Barnardo asks if Horatio is there, Horatio responds "a piece of him." What does this refer to? Does it mean he is there in body but not in mind? I'm not quite sure and the book did not help.
Horatio: "Let us impart what we have seen tonight unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life, this spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him."
This is a very significant line in the play because if young Hamlet had not been informed of the ghost sighting, he would never have met his fathers ghost, learn of his death, and seek revenge. Instead, he probably would have just sulked around for the rest of his life.
I have a question about the dialogue. When Barnardo asks if Horatio is there, Horatio responds "a piece of him." What does this refer to? Does it mean he is there in body but not in mind? I'm not quite sure and the book did not help.
Horatio: "Let us impart what we have seen tonight unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life, this spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him."
This is a very significant line in the play because if young Hamlet had not been informed of the ghost sighting, he would never have met his fathers ghost, learn of his death, and seek revenge. Instead, he probably would have just sulked around for the rest of his life.
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