Act 3 Scene 1 Flashcards
Act 3 scene 1 plot summary
Claudius Gertrude Ophelia Rosencrantz and Guildenstern gather to discuss Hamlet
Hamlet admits he’s distracted but won’t tell them why
Polonius tells Ophelia it’s ironic and sometimes beauty and devotion cover up evil
Claudius suss in an aside that he feels truth of that himself
Polonius and Claudius Jude behind curtain, Ophelia waits for Hamlet
She gives him back “rememberances” he sent her
He denies giving them - argument
He denies ever loving her and tells her to go to a nunnery
He denounces her and all marriages decreeing that one half of every married couple should die
Claudius and Polonius agree he’s not in love but mad for something else
Claudius decides to send him to England to get him out of the way as his madness threatens the country
Polonius agrees but asks Claudius to wait until after the play and give Gertrude an opportunity to talk to him first - Polonius Will spy on them and see what they talk of
Key themes in Act 3 scene 1
Deception -
Ophelia lying to Hamlet and directed by her father.
Claudius comments that he feels the guilt of maintaining a facade against everyone. Polonius arranges spying first on Ophelia and Hamlet, and then on Hamlet and Gertrude
Love
Hamlet denies ever living Ophelia - is this true?
Way it’s delivered makes difference
If he loved her, does he know he’s being watched and betrayed?
Does the audience blame him for Ophelia swift decline?
Form, structure and language
Claudius aside
“How smart a lash that speech doth give me conscience!
-Polonius says devotion covers devils actions,
-Claudius seems to be feeling the truth of it- a moment of confession to the audience that implies he genuinely feels guilty over his actions
Hamlets accusation against women
Vicious and violent - misogynistic attitude - his rage at his mother spilling over into his relationship with Ophelia
Rhyming couplet at end
‘It shall be so: madness in great ones must not unwanted go’
Planning to send Hamlet away - claiming protect nation but dramatic irony - protecting self
Act 3 scene 1
Context
Treatment of Ophelia by Hamlet
Key quotes Act 3 scene 1
‘With turbulent and dangerous lunacy’
‘that your good beauties be the happy cause’
‘I did love you once’
‘Paintings’
‘You jig, you amble, and you lisp’
‘Wantonness’
Explain ‘that your good beauties be the happy cause’
Reference to beauty and virtue show what is prized in relationships and marriage
Fairy tale - women can tame men
One of few times Ophelia is addressed by someone else
As a woman speaking to her future daughter in law
Explain ‘I did love you once’
Shouting? Angry? Deception? Heartbroken? Touching her for last time?
She’s already rejected him but does he really know why?
There are so many missing scenes in Hamlet, that we can only speculate - and show it through the actions of the actor playing him
Explain
‘Paintings’
‘You jig, you amble, and you lisp’
‘Wantonness’
Hamlet describes women as practising common deception, painting faces to hide what is underneath
Verbs ‘jig, amble, lisp) makes women seem weak, childish and simpering - but really facade to entrap men
Hamlet seems torn; he doesn’t believe women are honest anymore, and can only see them as hiding something
‘Wantonness’ - obsession with sexual misdeeds of Gertrude and linking Ophelia to same behaviour he suspects of his mother
Hamlet and Ophelia conversation
Ophelia performed role as a rejected lover
‘I never gave you aught’ - H
‘Unkind’ - O
Hamlet and Ophelia conversation
Sudden realisation of betrayal of feelings
Are you honest - knows
Are you fair
I did love you once
Hamlet and Ophelia conversation
Hamlets use of imperatives
Get thee to a nunnery
Go to
Hamlet and Ophelia conversation
Hamlets description of himself
I am very proud, revengeful ambitious
Hamlet and Ophelia conversation
Hamlets view of marriage/women
‘You jig, you amble, and you lisp’
YOU= all women
Hamlet and Ophelia conversation
Threats to Claudius
‘Those who are married already, all but one shall live’
Hamlet and Ophelia conversation
Dramatic effects
Irony ‘where’s your father’
‘I lover you not’ - monosyllabic and bitter tone
