Act III Polonius Polonius is a character in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. He is chief counsellor of the king, and the father of Laertes and Ophelia. Generally regarded as wrong in every judgment he makes over the course of the play, Polonius is described by William Hazlitt as a "sincere" father, but also "a b… Claudius was Roman emperor from AD 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Roman Gaul, the first Roman emperor to be born outside Italy. Because he was afflicted with a limp and slight deafness due to si…Polonius
Claudius
What is the turning point in Act 3 in Hamlet?
One could argue that Hamlet murdering Polonius in act 3, scene 4, is a significant turning point in the play for several reasons. During the scene, Polonius spies behind an arras as Hamlet criticizes his mother's incestuous marriage to Claudius.
What does hamlet tell Gertrude to do in Act 3?
Overall, Hamlet tells Gertrude to refuse Claudius's future advances and refrain from sleeping with him. He also makes his mother promise not to tell Claudius that his madness is fake.
What does the ghost tell Hamlet in Act 3?
The ghost tells of how Claudius snuck into his garden while he was taking his accustomed afternoon nap and poured poison into his ear, killing him most painfully and sending his soul unpurified into the afterlife. The ghost demands vengeance, telling Hamlet not to plot against his mother, whom he describes as merely weak and lustful, but to ...
Why Act 3 is important?
Act III, Sc. iv (commonly known as the Banquet Scene) is important in two directions. Firstly it gives a clear picture of Macbeth’s psyche. Secondly it helps to create the supernatural ...
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What happens at the end of Act 3 in Hamlet?
Polonius hides behind Gertrude's curtain to eavesdrop, but calls out in fear after Gertrude does so. Hamlet hears him and stabs him through the curtain, killing him. The prince angrily confronts his mother, and, hearing Polonius's calls for help, mistakes him for Claudius and stabs him through the curtain.
What happened in Act 3 Scene 3 Hamlet?
In Act III, scene iii, Hamlet finally seems ready to put his desire for revenge into action. He is satisfied that the play has proven his uncle's guilt. When Claudius prays, the audience is given real certainty that Claudius murdered his brother: a full, spontaneous confession, even though nobody else hears it.
What happens between Hamlet and Ophelia in Act 3?
Working himself into a rage, Hamlet denounces Ophelia, women, and humankind in general, saying that he wishes to end all marriages. As he storms out, Ophelia mourns the “noble mind” that has now lapsed into apparent madness (III. i. 149).
What is the climax of Act 3 Hamlet?
In Hamlet, the climax occurs in Act III, Scene iv, as Hamlet kills Polonius, believing he has murdered Claudius in the midst of a sin.
What Happens in Hamlet Act 3 Scene 2?
The queen leaves the king to sleep, and while he is sleeping, a man murders him by pouring poison into his ear. The murderer tries to seduce the queen, who gradually accepts his advances. The players begin to enact the play in full, and we learn that the man who kills the king is the king's nephew.
What happened in Act 3 Scene 1 of Hamlet?
The king takes part in Polonius's scheme, spying on Hamlet while Ophelia speaks with him. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern deliver their report to the queen, who hopes that Ophelia is the cause of Hamlet's behavior. Ophelia's father decides to send her to speak with Hamlet while he and Claudius spy.
Why is Hamlet mean to Ophelia in Act 3?
Hamlet is cruel to Ophelia because he has transferred his anger at Gertrude's marriage to Claudius onto Ophelia. In fact, Hamlet's words suggest that he transfers his rage and disgust for his mother onto all women. He says to Ophelia, “God has given you one face and you make yourselves another.
Why did Ophelia and Hamlet break up?
1.3 Polonius and Laertes tell Ophelia that Hamlet just wants to sleep with her, and that she should break up with him. He's out of her league. 1.3 Ophelia agrees when her father orders her to stop seeing Hamlet. 2.1 Ophelia tells Polonius about Hamlet showing up all crazy-like in her room.
Who killed Hamlet's father?
Hamlet sees the ghost of his father. The ghost tells him that it was his brother Claudius, the new king, who killed him and commands Hamlet to get revenge.
Who kills Hamlet?
LaertesHamlet dies on-stage, stabbed by Laertes with a blade poisoned by Claudius (it seems to be the poison that kills him, since he takes a while to die).
What is the most important scene in Hamlet?
Act 5 Scene 2 - The tragic climax As they fight, Gertrude drinks the poisoned wine that Claudius had intended for Hamlet and dies.
What does Hamlet say when he kills Claudius?
If Claudius goes to heaven, his punishment will be nought and Hamlet's revenge will be incomplete. “Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven/ And that his soul may be as damned and black/ As hell whereto he goes” ” – Hamlet soliloquy.
What does Hamlet's soliloquy in Act 3 Scene 3 mean?
Hamlet's Soliloquy Hamlet planned the play deliberately, so as to catch the consciousness of the King and to find out if he indeed killed his father and if the dead soul was right in his blame. Now, Hamlet has found the truth and intends to kill the villain who killed Prince Hamlet's father.
What is the significance of Claudius soliloquy in Act 3 Scene 3?
This is an allusion to Cain and Abel which references the first murder between brothers in the bible. Claudius is asking for forgiveness from God for the sin he committed but he knows he will not be forgiven as he is enjoying the benefits of kingship.
What does Polonius plan to do Act 3 Scene 3?
Act 3, Scene 3 Claudius wants to send Hamlet to England immediately, but Polonius tells him that he plans to spy on Hamlet's conversation with Gertrude.
What does Hamlet's soliloquy in Act 3 mean?
The “to be or not to be” soliloquy in Act 3 Scene 1 is significant in showing Hamlet's tragic flaw; his inability to decide and inability to take action. The main purpose of this soliloquy is to establish Hamlet as a characteristically reflective, analytic, and moral character which leads to his tragic fall.
What is the purpose of Act 3 Scene 2?
Act 3, Scene 2. Hamlet directs the actors in a play to depict his father’s murder, as he hopes to study Claudius’ reaction to the idea . Claudius and Gertrude leave during the performance. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern inform Hamlet that Gertrude wants to speak to him.
Why did Hamlet and Gertrude decide to go to England?
They decide that Hamlet will be sent to England to get over his troubles, but they suggest that perhaps Gert rude can get to the root of his “madness.”.
What does Hamlet think of Claudius?
Hamlet thinks it is Claudius and thrusts his sword through the arras, actually killing Polonius. The ghost reappears and Hamlet speaks to it. Gertrude, who cannot see the apparition, is now convinced of Hamlet’s madness.
Who is the man who listened to Hamlet's conversation with Gertrude?
Polonius arranges to secretly listen to the conversation between Hamlet and Gertrude. When alone, Claudius speaks of his conscience and guilt. Hamlet enters from behind and draws his sword to kill Claudius but decides that it would be wrong to kill a man while praying.
Who is Lee Jamieson?
Lee Jamieson, M.A., is a theater scholar and educator. He previously served as a theater studies lecturer at Stratford-upon Avon College in the United Kingdom. If you've never read Shakespeare, reading " Hamlet ," the bard's longest play, may be a daunting task, but this breakdown of the scenes in Act 3 can help.
What does Hamlet say about Ophelia?
Angrily, Hamlet denies having given her anything; he laments the dishonesty of beauty, and claims both to have loved Ophelia once and never to have loved her at all. Bitterly commenting on the wretchedness of humankind, he urges Ophelia to enter a nunnery rather than become a “breeder of sinners” (III.i.122–123).
What does Claudius say to Gertrude?
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern leave, and Claudius orders Gertrude to leave as well, saying that he and Polonius intend to spy on Hamlet’s confrontation with Ophelia. Gertrude exits, and Polonius directs Ophelia to walk around the lobby.
What do Claudius and Gertrude discuss with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
Claudius and Gertrude discuss Hamlet’s behavior with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who say they have been unable to learn the cause of his melancholy. They tell the king and queen about Hamlet’s enthusiasm for the players. Encouraged, Gertrude and Claudius agree that they will see the play that evening. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern leave, and Claudius orders Gertrude to leave as well, saying that he and Polonius intend to spy on Hamlet’s confrontation with Ophelia. Gertrude exits, and Polonius directs Ophelia to walk around the lobby. Polonius hears Hamlet coming, and he and the king hide.
What does Claudius say about Hamlet's strange behavior?
The king and Polonius emerge from behind the tapestry. Claudius says that Hamlet’s strange behavior has clearly not been caused by love for Ophelia and that his speech does not seem like the speech of insanity.
Why does Hamlet say the opposite of what he means?
There are several problems with concluding that Hamlet says the opposite of what he means in order to appear crazy. For one thing, if he really does love her, this is unnecessarily self-destructive behavior. It’s unnecessary because it doesn’t accomplish very much; that is, it doesn’t make Claudius suspect him less.
Why is Hamlet so three dimensional?
One reason is that they are a stunning example of Shakespeare’s ability to make his characters seem three-dimensional. The audience senses that there is more to Hamlet’s words than meets the ear—that there is something behind his words that is never spoken. Or, to put it another way, the audience witnesses signs of something within Hamlet’s mind that even he isn’t aware of. Hamlet is a fictional character who seems to possess a subconscious mind. How does Shakespeare manage to accomplish this?
Why does Claudius tell Gertrude to leave?
Claudius tells Gertrude to leave so that he and Polonius can enact their plan of getting Hamlet to meet with Ophelia while Claudius and Polonius hide to observe the young lovers. Gertrude bids the rest of the group goodbye, telling Ophelia that she hopes the young woman can help Hamlet find his way back to sanity.
What is the theme of Hamlet's "I love you once"?
Active Themes. Ophelia retorts that beauty and purity are, in fact, intimately connected. Hamlet suggests that beauty can transform honesty into a “bawd,” but honesty cannot make a sinful woman pure once more. “I did love you once,” Hamlet tells Ophelia, and she retorts that Hamlet only made her believe that he did.
What does Claudius agree with Polonius?
Claudius agrees with Polonius’s advice, stating that Hamlet must be closely observed. Claudius and Polonius know they must be careful—if they upset Gertrude by taking Hamlet away, their plans could backfire on them. Tanner, Alexandra. "Hamlet Act 3, Scene 1.".
What does Ophelia tell Hamlet?
Ophelia greets Hamlet and asks how he’s been doing. He tells her he’s been well. Ophelia tells Hamlet she has some “remembrances” to give back to him. Hamlet doesn’t even see what it is she has to give to him before insisting he never gave Ophelia anything. Ophelia insists that Hamlet gave her many gifts and sweetly-composed letters—but says that the joy they once brought her is gone, and she doesn’t want them anymore. Hamlet asks Ophelia if she’s being “honest,” or pure. Ophelia is taken aback by the invasive question, but Hamlet continues asking Ophelia if she is “honest and fair.” She is beautiful, he says, but her beauty has no correlation to her “honesty.”
What does Hamlet fear in death?
He laments that his fear of all the unknowns of death has made a “coward” of him. Hamlet stops himself, however, when he sees Ophelia .
What does Polonius do to Ophelia?
Polonius hands Ophelia a prayer book and orders her to pretend to read it while he and Claudius hide. Polonius notes that pretending to do “pious action” is something of a sin, but should be okay just this once. In an aside, Claudius remarks that he is familiar with pretending to be something other than what he is—he is carrying a “heavy burden” of lies. Polonius pulls Claudius off to the side of the hall to hide.
What does Claudius say about Hamlet?
Claudius states that whatever is going on with Hamlet portends “some danger,” and resolves to send him away to England on a diplomatic mission—both to get him away from Elsinore for a while and to hopefully allow him to rest, recover, and see more of the world.
What does Claudius tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
He tells them that he is so disturbed by Hamlet’s madness that he is sending him—along with the two of them—on a mission to England. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern both state, in obsequious and florid terms, that they will do anything their king asks of them—they want to protect him ...
What is the opposite of Hamlet's revenge?
To send Claudius to heaven would be the opposite of the revenge Hamlet—and his father’s spirit—so desperately crave. Hamlet resolves to wait to kill his uncle until a riper moment, when the man is in the midst of a guilty act—revelry, perhaps, or asleep in his “incestuous” bed. Hamlet hurries off to meet his mother.
What is the theme of Hamlet's prayer?
Active Themes. Hamlet enters and sees Claudius praying. He is grateful to at last be alone with the man, believing now is the chance to kill him and take his revenge. Hamlet, however, finds himself in a conundrum—if he kills Claudius while the king is praying, Claudius’s soul will go to heaven.
What does Claudius say about his brother's death?
Overwhelmed and burdened by a “bosom black as death,” he kneels to pray. Claudius speaks of his own dastardly deeds in terms which invoke the stinking, putrefying rot of death. His murder of his brother, he knows, is like a corpse rotting in the ground—soon it will stink and become unbearable and impossible to ignore.
What is Hamlet's one opportunity to kill Claudius?
Here, Hamlet’s one opportunity to kill Claudius, take the throne, and put an end to the corruption at the heart of Denmark makes itself clear—but Hamlet squanders the chance to secure vengeance, paralyzed by the complex social, moral, and religious codes that define his society. Active Themes.
Who are Hamlet's friends?
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern claim to be Hamlet’s friends—but like Polonius, all they want is the favor and approval of the crown. They do not know loyalty, though they affect it. After Rosencrantz and Guildenstern leave, Polonius enters and tells Claudius that Hamlet is on his way to Gertrude ’s room. Polonius plans to hide himself ...
Who killed King Hamlet?
Polonius hurries off to put his plan into action. Polonius, again, devises a scheme that preys upon Hamlet in an attempt to stay in Claudius’s good graces—but Polonius doesn’t know that his luck is running out. Active Themes. Alone, Claudius at last admits to having murdered King Hamlet in a lengthy monologue.
What are the two entrapments in Hamlet?
The characters enact two more premeditated entrapments. First, Claudius sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to continue their spying. Second, Polonius and Claudius hatch their plot to have Ophelia stage a confrontation in which Hamlet will reveal himself to Ophelia while Claudius and Polonius spy.
What does Guildenstern say about Hamlet?
Guildenstern says that Hamlet has been crafty in disguising his motivations. The two report that Hamlet is very excited about the play to be presented, and Claudius asks them to encourage him in this regard. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern leave.
Why does Claudius want Gertrude to leave?
Claudius orders Gertrude to leave so that he and Polonius can spy on Hamlet, who has an imminent meeting with Ophelia. Ophelia enters, and the Queen, in a moment of maternal affection, tells Ophelia that she hopes that Hamlet and Ophelia will patch up their broken romance so that Hamlet can get on with his life.
What is the contrast between Hamlet and Claudius?
He provides a stark contrast to Hamlet, who becomes entirely incapacitated by the very idea of action. The more Claudius knows, the more he calculates and acts; the more Hamlet knows, the more he thinks and bandies words. Hamlet's "turbulent lunacy" places them both in danger.
What does Ophelia think of Hamlet?
Left alone, Ophelia bemoans what she considers to be Hamlet's descent into complete insanity. Claudius and Polonius join her and assess what they have overheard and seen. The King doubts that love has ruined Hamlet's mind; he tells Polonius that he will send Hamlet to England.
What is the scene in Act 3?
Act III: Scene 1. The King and Queen enter with Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Polonius, Ophelia, and members of the court. Claudius questions Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about Hamlet 's madness, asking if they have found a reason for Hamlet's behavior. Rosencrantz answers that the Prince has admitted to being distracted but will not say from what.
What is Claudius' entrance speech?
Claudius' entrance speech reveals two very significant aspects of his character: (1) that he is aware of the growing threat Hamlet poses for him, and (2) that he is absolutely in control and capable of decisive action. He provides a stark contrast to Hamlet, who becomes entirely incapacitated by the very idea of action.
What does Hamlet say about the ghost?
Hamlet speaks to the apparition, but Gertrude is unable to see it and believes him to be mad. The ghost intones that it has come to remind Hamlet of his purpose, that Hamlet has not yet killed Claudius and must achieve his revenge. Noting that Gertrude is amazed and unable to see him, the ghost asks Hamlet to intercede with her. Hamlet describes the ghost, but Gertrude sees nothing, and in a moment the ghost disappears. Hamlet tries desperately to convince Gertrude that he is not mad but has merely feigned madness all along, and he urges her to forsake Claudius and regain her good conscience. He urges her as well not to reveal to Claudius that his madness has been an act. Gertrude, still shaken from Hamlet’s furious condemnation of her, agrees to keep his secret. He bids her goodnight, but, before he leaves, he points to Polonius’s corpse and declares that heaven has “punished me with this, and this with me” (III.iv.158). Hamlet reminds his mother that he must sail to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, whom he says he will regard with suspicion, as though they were poisonous snakes, since he assumes that their loyalties are with Claudius, not with him. Dragging Polonius’s body behind him, Hamlet leaves his mother’s room.
What does Polonius say to Hamlet when he arrives?
Polonius urges the queen to be harsh with Hamlet when he arrives, saying that she should chastise him for his recent behavior. Gertrude agrees, and Polonius hides behind an arras, or tapestry. Hamlet storms into the room and asks his mother why she has sent for him.
What is Gertrude's reaction to Hamlet?
As the scene progresses, Gertrude goes through several states of feeling: she is haughty and accusatory at the beginning, then afraid that Hamlet will hurt her, shocked and upset when Hamlet kills Polonius, overwhelmed by fear and panic as Hamlet accosts her, and disbelieving when Hamlet sees the ghost. Finally, she is contrite toward her son and apparently willing to take his part and help him. For Gertrude, then, the scene progresses as a sequence of great shocks, each of which weakens her resistance to Hamlet’s condemnation of her behavior. Of course, Gertrude is convinced mainly by Hamlet’s insistence and power of feeling, illustrating what many readers have felt to be her central characteristic: her tendency to be dominated by powerful men and her need for men to show her what to think and how to feel.
Why does Polonius hide in Gertrude's chamber?
In Gertrude’s chamber, the queen and Polonius wait for Hamlet’s arrival. Polonius plans to hide in order to eavesdrop on Gertrude’s confrontation with her son, in the hope that doing so will enable him to determine the cause of Hamlet’s bizarre and threatening behavior. Polonius urges the queen to be harsh with Hamlet when he arrives, ...
What does Hamlet say about Polonius?
Hamlet lifts the arras and discovers Polonius’s body: he has not killed the king and achieved his revenge but has murdered the relatively innocent Polonius. He bids the old man farewell, calling him an “intruding fool” (III.iv.30). He turns to his mother, declaring that he will wring her heart. He shows her a picture of the dead king and a picture of the current king, bitterly comments on the superiority of his father to his uncle, and asks her furiously what has driven her to marry a rotten man such as Claudius. She pleads with him to stop, saying that he has turned her eyes onto her soul and that she does not like what she sees there. Hamlet continues to denounce her and rail against Claudius, until, suddenly, the ghost of his father again appears before him.
What is Hamlet trying to do in his confrontation with his mother?
What is Hamlet trying to do in his confrontation with his mother? It is possible that he wants her to confirm her knowledge of Claudius’s crime, to provide further proof of his guilt. Or it may be that Hamlet wants to know whether she was complicit in the crime. Or he may feel that he needs her on his side if he is to achieve justice. While all of these are possibilities, what Hamlet actually does is urge his mother to repent choosing Claudius over his own father. More specifically, he repeatedly demands that she avoid Claudius’s bed. Actually, he’s much more specific: he tells her not to let Claudius arouse her by fondling her neck, not to stay within his semen-infested sheets, and other shockingly graphic details.
What is Hamlet's rash murderous action in stabbing Polonius?
Hamlet’s rash, murderous action in stabbing Polonius is an important illustration of his inability to coordinate his thoughts and actions, which might be considered his tragic flaw. In his passive, thoughtful mode, Hamlet is too beset by moral considerations and uncertainties to avenge his father’s death by killing Claudius, even when the opportunity is before him. But when he does choose to act, he does so blindly, stabbing his anonymous “enemy” through a curtain. It is as if Hamlet is so distrustful of the possibility of acting rationally that he believes his revenge is more likely to come about as an accident than as a premeditated act.
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Act 3, Scene 1
Act 3, Scene 2
- Hamlet directs the actors in a play to depict his father’s murder, as he hopes to study Claudius’ reaction to the idea. Claudius and Gertrude leave during the performance. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern inform Hamlet that Gertrude wants to speak to him.
Act 3, Scene 3
- Polonius arranges to secretly listen to the conversation between Hamlet and Gertrude. When alone, Claudius speaks of his conscience and guilt. Hamlet enters from behind and draws his sword to kill Claudiusbut decides that it would be wrong to kill a man while praying.
Act 3, Scene 4
- While meeting with Gertrude, Hamlet is about to reveal Claudius’ villainy when he hears someone behind the curtain. Hamlet thinks it is Claudius and thrusts his sword through the arras, actually killing Polonius. The ghost reappears and Hamlet speaks to it. Gertrude, who cannot see the apparition, is now convinced of Hamlet’s madness.
Further Understanding
- Now that you've read the guide, review the plot points and ask questions to help you understand what has happened. What did you learn about the characters? What are Hamlet's intentions? Did his plan for Claudius work? What does Gertrude now think of Hamlet? Is she right or wrong to have these views? Why does Hamlet's relationship with Ophelia appear to be so complicated? A…