Act 3 Scene 4

Question 1

How does this scene contrast with Act 1?

Answer 1

In Act 1, Hamlet referred to Gertrude as ‘madam’, it has now shifted to ‘mother’ - goes from respectful to hostile

Question 2

‘thy father much offended’ vs ‘my father much offended’

Answer 2

Stichomythia - 1.Gertrude is angry due to Hamlet upsetting Claudius
2. Hamlet angry at Gertrude for betraying Old Hamlet

Question 3

‘let me wring your heart’

Answer 3

Hamlet embodies the role of a priest - wants to purge the sin of incest

Question 4

‘These words like daggers enter my ears’

Answer 4

Simile suggesting Gertrude is feeling guilty? Shakespeare as underwriting women - Gertrude willingly follows Hamlets orders - repentant?

Question 5

‘Alas, he’s mad’

Answer 5

Hamlet is the only one who can see the ghost - is it that a spirit chooses who they appear to or evidence of his madness or has his guilt manifested a ghost

Question 6

‘This is the very coinage of your brain’

Answer 6

Gertrude suggesting that the ghost is an imaginary part of his madness