Act 3 Scene 1 continued

Question 1

What happens in this part of Act 3 Scene 1?

Answer 1

-Hamlet attacks Ophelia for being deceptive and impure whilst Polonius and Claudius are watching
-They make plans to send Hamlet to England

Question 2

What does Hamlet suggest about the nature of Ophelia’s ‘beauty’, which he says ‘will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd’?

Answer 2

He suggesta that her beauty has corrupted her. Hamlet implies she is now a ‘sinner’ not a ‘maiden saint’

Question 3

Why does Hamlet repeatedly instruct Ophelia, ‘Get thee to a nunnery’?

Answer 3

-Again accusing Ophelia of being a prostitute and unholy

Question 4

What does Shakespeare suggest about how Hamlet views Ophelia when he metaphorically says, ‘I have heard of your paintings’?

Answer 4

Metaphor used to present Ophelia as decietful

Question 5

How does Hamlet suggest Ophelia presents herself, when he says, ‘you jig and amble, and you lisp, you nickname God’s creatures’?

Answer 5

Images of innocence used to emphasise the duplicitous nature of Ophelia

Question 6

How does Ophelia respond to Hamlet’s attack?

Answer 6

-‘heavenly powers restore him’

Question 7

What critics can be connected to this part?

Answer 7

-‘We can imagine Hamlet’s story without Ophelia, but Ophelia literally has no story without Hamlet’ (Edwards)
-‘Hamlet’s disgust at the feminine passivity in himself is translated into violent revulsion against women’ (Swinbourne)