Hamlet Act 2 and 3

Hamlet calls polonius a “fishmonger” how can this be interpreted?

It seems like a simple insult, suggesting Poloinius is a fish seller when he clearly is not which could serve to show how crazy Hamlet really is.

Hamlet says “words, words, words” how can this be interpreted.

When Polonius asks Hamlet what is he reading, Hamlet responds with this. This could reflect his current state of mind. Feeling that everything around him, his relationships, his mothers grief over his father, his dialogues, are meaningless, pointless, and empty. They have no real meaning behind them as everything is just a facade.

How can the term “madness be used?

Hamlet talks to Polonius, he often uses language that could be interpreted in multiple ways. Sometimes he speaks in riddles. Those moments could be seen as Hamlet playing the role of a madman, but also highlight the tension between his outward behavior and inner intelligence.

Hamlet says “The play’s the thing” how can it be interpreted?

This could be seen as a pun (it plays with multiple meaning of “thing”. Thing could be seen as a tool or method or even as an object or item. The cleverness, or the pun aspect, comes from how thing carry these different meanings at once. It’s a thing that can help reveal the truth.

Hamlet refers to Denmark to a prison how can this be interpreted and show his mental well-being?

This could show his mental and emotional confinement. Hamlet feels emotionally and mentally trapped in his current situation. His father’s murder by Claudius and his mother’s quick remarriage left him disillusioned.

• Hamlet is also physically confined in Denmark. He can't escape the royal court and the watchful eyes of Claudius and Gertrude. His every move is under scrutiny, and he has no freedom to act as he wishes.

What does Hamlet critique in this act?

Marriage:

• Hamlet is deeply critical of marriage, particularly the quick remarriage of his mother, Gertrude, to Claudius shortly after his father’s death. He sees it as morally corrupt and sees his mother's actions as a betrayal. He’s disgusted by the idea of remarriage so soon, and it fuels his sense of disillusionment with the world.

• In Act 2, Hamlet is very cynical about women. He’s grappling with the idea that women, especially his mother, lack the moral strength he believes they should have. His famous line “Frailty, thy name is woman!” shows how deeply he resents the idea of feminine weakness

• Hamlet may be pushing Ophelia away in part because he views her as another symbol of betrayal and manipulation. He may believe she is part of the larger courtly structure that has wronged him, and that, by association, she too is part of the betrayal.

Hamlet tells Ophelia to go to a nunnery and tells her not to have children? Why?

"Get thee to a nunnery! Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?”

• Hamlet tells Ophelia to go to a nunnery, which could mean he believes it’s better for her to become a nun, live a life of chastity, and avoid the corrupt world of men and marriage.

• Frustration with women: Hamlet’s frustration with women, especially Ophelia, is rooted in his disillusionment with his mother, Gertrude, who remarried so quickly after his father’s death. His bitterness toward his mother has generalized to women as a whole, and he seems to view them as deceitful and morally weak. By telling Ophelia to go to a nunnery, he may be suggesting that she avoid the corrupting influence of marriage and men, and perhaps that she would be better off living a life of isolation.

Why does Gertrude cry out when Hamlet enters her chamber?

In Act 3, Scene 4, Hamlet bursts into Gertrude’s private chamber in a state of heightened agitation. He is upset about her marriage to Claudius and begins accusing her of being morally corrupt. He is angry and forceful in his words and actions. When he storms in, Gertrude is confronted by his aggressive behavior, and she doesn’t know how far his anger will go.

Appearanc verses reality

Hamlet’s pretended madness:

• Appearance: Hamlet acts instance, using erratic speech, unpredictable behavior, and strange actions to convince others that he has lost his mind. This "madness" is a strategic tool he uses to gather information and to plan his revenge on Claudius.

  • In reality, Hamlet is pretending to be mad in order to hide his true intentions from the court especially Claudius.

• Appearance: Polonius presents himself as a wise and trusted advisor to the king. He believes his actions are motivated by loyalty and concern for the royal family

  • Polonius is actually manipulative and self-serving figure who uses his daughter, Ophelia, and his son, Laertes, for his own gain. He sends Reynaldo to spy on Laertes in France (Act 2, Scene 1), showing his willingness to deceive and control even his own family. Polonius also spies on Hamlet’s interactions with Ophelia, believing that Hamlet’s madness is due to his love for her, but in reality, Hamlet is pretending to be mad for his own purposes.

• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are sent by Claudius and Gertrude to spy on Hamlet, under the guise of being concerned friends

  • The reality is that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are more loyal to the crown than to their old friend Hamlet. They are willing to deceive Hamlet and use their friendship for political gain, which Hamlet quickly realizes.

In act 3

• The play-within-a-play is a theatrical production meant to entertain the court

  • The play is a trap designed to reveal the truth about Claudius’s role in the murder of Hamlet’s father. When Claudius reacts with guilt and panic, it confirms to Hamlet that Claudius is indeed guilty. This shows how appearances can be manipulated (the play appears to be innocent fun), but the reality is that it serves as a tool for exposing hidden truths.

• Claudius appears to be a legitimate and confident king who cares for the welfare of Denmark

  • In contrast, Claudius is deeply tormented by his own guilt, and this internal conflict becomes apparent during his soliloquy in Act 3, Scene 3. He tries to pray for forgiveness but cannot genuinely repent because he still clings to the rewards of his crime

• Hamlet behaves cruelly toward Ophelia in Act 3, Scene 1, as he tells her to go to a nunnery. To the others, Hamlet’s behavior seems to confirm his madness, as he is clearly rejecting Ophelia and behaving erratically

  • In reality, Hamlet is deliberately pushing Ophelia away, either because he believes she has betrayed him (by being complicit in her father’s and Claudius’s spying) or because he feels that relationships and love are corrupt and futile.

Who is Fortinbras?

a character in Hamlet who is the Prince of Norway. He plays a crucial but somewhat background role in the play, serving as a foil to Hamlet.

How are Hamlet and Fortinbras alike?

• Fortinbras seeks revenge for his father, King Fortinbras, who was killed by King Hamlet (Hamlet's father). Fortinbras's revenge is not as personal or as deeply emotional as Hamlet's, but it still centers on reclaiming the honor and land lost by his father.

• Both experience delays in taking action

  • Hamlet: Even though he is deeply committed to avenging his father’s death, he is unable to take decisive action for much of the play.

  • Fortinbras: He does not immediately seek revenge after his father’s death. Instead, he spends much of the play preparing to reclaim the land lost by his father.

• Both have a strong sense of duty and honor

  • Like Hamlet, Fortinbras has a strong sense of honor. He is determined to avenge his father’s death and restore his family’s honor.

  • Hamlet is deeply concerned with matters of honor. His quest for revenge is not just for personal satisfaction but also to restore the honor of his family, particularly his father.

Based on Act 2 and 3, here are two words to describe each other main characters.

Hamlet:

• Indecisive

• Reflective

• Philosophical

Ophelia:

• Confused

• Vulnerable

• Innocent

Polonius:

• Manipulative

• Self-serving

• Deceptive

• Foolish

  • Polonius often gives these long-winded speeches about wisdom and knowing how to act however, Polonius is often blind to the deeper issues around him. He can’t even see the nature of his own wrongdoings. For instance, he fails to recognize the true nature of Hamlet’s madness, thinking that it’s caused solely by his unrequited love for Ophelia. This leads him to a series of misguided actions, like spying on Hamlet and using Ophelia to gather information. His inability to understand Hamlet's complex psychological state makes him seem foolish.

Gertrude:

• Loyal (While Gertrude might not understand Hamlet's actions or motives, she does remain loyal to Claudius as her new husband. Her loyalty to him, even if misguided, is evident throughout Acts 2 and 3)

• Passive (She doesn't challenge Claudius's rule or question his actions, despite Hamlet's suspicions about him. Similarly, she doesn't intervene much in the conflict between Hamlet and Claudius, often allowing others to make decisions for her.)

• Naive

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern:

• Deceptive

• Unloyal

"Give thy thoughts no tongue,
Nor any unproportioned thought his act."

Polonius gives Laertes (and later Reynaldo) advice about how to conduct oneself. This line shows his belief in controlling one's actions and appearances

"What a piece of work is man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god!

Hamlet reflects on the greatness of humanity, but he is deeply disillusioned by the corrupt nature of the world, showing his inner conflict and growing cynicism.

• Hamlet says this line to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern when they are trying to cheer him up and engage him in conversation.

  • Hamlet is speaking ironically. While he lists all the great qualities of humans—reason, faculties, form, action, etc.—he is disillusioned with mankind because of the corrupt and unjust world he finds himself in.

"Your noble son is mad:
Mad call I it: to define true madness,
What is’t but to be nothings else but mad?

Polonius to Gertrude

• Polonius is convinced that Hamlet’s madness is real, though he doesn’t understand its cause. This line demonstrates his ignorance of Hamlet's deeper intentions.

"Frailty, thy name is woman!"

Hamlet to Gertrude

Hamlet accuses Gertrude of weakness for remarrying so quickly after King Hamlet’s death. He is deeply disappointed in her, expressing his anger and frustration with women in general.

"The play’s the thing
Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king."

Hamlet decides to use the play-within-a-play to expose Claudius’s guilt, hoping that the king will react to the reenactment of his own crime. Said by Hamlet

"Get thee to a nunnery!"

Hamlet tells Ophelia to go to a nunnery, which can be interpreted as advice to avoid the corruptions of marriage. This moment is often seen as a reflection of Hamlet’s anger and disillusionment with women, especially with his mother.

"I will speak daggers to her, but use none."

Hamlet is speaking about his intention to confront Gertrude. While he plans to verbally attack her, he resolves not to physically harm her. This line reveals his intense emotional conflict with his mother and his sense of justice.

"What’s Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,

That he should weep for her?

Hamlet is reflecting on the behavior of the actor in the play. The actor is able to cry and display deep emotion over the fictional suffering of Hecuba (a character from Greek mythology) in a way that Hamlet cannot summon the same emotional response to his own real-life tragedy—the murder of his father.

• He is upset with himself for not having already taken action against Claudius. Hamlet is envious of the actor’s ability to feel deeply for a fictional character, while he himself is paralyzed by indecision and the overwhelming moral questions surrounding his revenge.

"Give me some light. Away!"

he wants the play to stop, he is secretly feeling guilty for murdering King Hamlet

“Madness in great ones must not unwatched go."

Claudius to Hamlet: great minds are dangerous when they go mad

"Give me that man that is not passion's slave, and I will wear him in my heart's core, ay in my heart of heart, as I do thee."

Hamlet to Horatio: Hamlet cares about Horatio so much because he is not the kind of person that is controlled by emotions

"I'll take the ghosts' word for a thousand pound."

Hamlet to Horatio: Hamlet trusts the ghosts' word now because of Claudius' reaction

"...While the grass grows, (the starving horse dies.)"

Hamlet to R&G: Hamlet says he is wasting his time waiting for his chance to be King

"My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go."

Claudius (praying): he wants to be forgiven, but knows he will not be since he is not sincere in his prayers. He feels guilty for his actions, but he enjoy his life.

"I must be cruel only to be kind; Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind."

Hamlet to Gertrude: he has to do bad things to end the bad things currently going on

"Indeed, this counselor is now most still, most secret, and most grave who was in life a foolish prating knave."

Hamlet to Gertrude: it is ironic how Polonius used to talk so much and now he is completely silent

"I would be bound in a nut shell, and count myself a king of the infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams."

Hamlet to R&G: he could have no possessions and feel like he had everything if he wasn't having bad dreams

"The undiscovered country, from whose bourn no travelers return."

death is like a country that no one returns from