Act 3 Scene 4 Flashcards
Queen and Hamlet Scene, Polonius' Death
How does Polonius think Gertrude should deal with his son?
“Look you lay home to him, Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with”
How does Hamlet create a pun when Gertrude tells him what’s wrong? What does the subtle difference between what she says and what Hamlet repeats?
G: “Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.”
H: “Mother, you have my father much offended”
- Hamlet demonstrates signs that he is a little bit insane
How does Hamlet keep throwing back to her face what she has done?
“You are the Queen, your husband’s brother’s wife”
How can we tell Gertrude is slightly afraid at the beginning of the scene?
“What wilt thou do, thou wilt not murder me?
What does Hamlet ask for that symbolises reflecting back on oneself?
“You go not till I set you up a glass where you may see the inmost part of you”
What does Hamlet that contrasts his previous behaviour?
“[drawing] How now! A rat? Dead for a ducat, dead.” [makes a pass through the arras]”
He stabs Polonius not knowing who’s there, what they’re intentions are. It’s very irrational on Hamlet’s part.
What makes Polonius a fool?
“[behind] what ho, help help help!”
He shouts for help like an idiot.
What could it be considered?
What do directors need to be careful of when depicting this scene?
It could be seen as very comedic, the way they interact and especially seeing Polonius die in such a way.
How do we know that Hamlet assumed it was Claudius behind the arras?
“Is it the king?”
How do we know Hamlet didn’t think the stabbing through?
“What hast thou done?” “Nay I know not,”
How can we tell Hamlet doesn’t really care about killing Polonius? Furthermore, how can we tell he think that Gertrude is involved with Claudius’ crime?
He immediately changes the subject back to Old Hamlet and Claudius and Gertrude.
G: “O what a rash and bloody deed is this!”
H: “A bloody deed, almost as bad, good mother, as kill a king, and marry with his brother”
He believes she assisted the crime and then married the perpetrator.
What shows initially that Gertrude is innocent?
“As kill a king?” She repeats the question back to him as if she has no idea what he’s on about.
What does Hamlet say as he discovers it is actually Polonius he has killed?
“Thou wretched rash, intruding fool, farewell.” It shows he thinks Polonius is nosy and ‘everywhere like a rash’
“Thou find’st to be too busy is some danger” - to be a busybody is dangerous.
Is the queen confused at Hamlet?
“What have I done, that thou dar’st way thy tongue?”
Yes
How does Hamlet view the ‘trading’ Gertrude has done?
“Such an act that blurss the grace and blush of modesty, calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose from the fair forehead of an innocent love, and sets a blister there”
How does Hamlet describe Old Hamlet and what does he use to depict this to Gertrude?
“Look here upon this picture, and on this, the counterfeit presentment of two brothers. See what a grace was seated on this brow, Hyperion’s curls… An eye like Mars, to threaten and command… where ever god did seem to set his seal to give the world assurance of a man. This was your husband.”
How does Hamlet describe Claudius to Gertrude and using what?
“Look you now what follows:
Here is your husband like a mildewed ear, Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes?”
How does Hamlet criticise the marriage and sexuality, especially Gertrude’s?
“You cannot call it love, for at your age They hey-day in the blood is tame”
“Rebellious hell, If thou canst mutine in a matron’s bones, to flaming youth let virtue be wax” - if older people can’t control their sexual urges, there is no hope for the youth.
How does Hamlet insult Claudius?
“for madness would not err, nor sense to ecstasy was ne’er so thralled but it reserved some quanitity of choice to serve in such a difference” - Mad people that hallucinate would have seen he’s ugly inside and out.
How can we tell Hamlet has caused Gertrude to reflect on what’s happened?
“Thou turn’st mine eyes into my very soul”
How does Hamlet view the sexual relationship Gertrude and Claudius?
“In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed stewed in corruption, honeying, and making love over the nasty sty”
- brothel connotations
What would Freud argue about these scene?
The cause of Hamlet’s insanity and his actions is of his repressed and unconscious desires for his mother.
How does Hamlet, for the third time, contrast Old Hamlet and Claudius?
“A slave that is not twentieth part of the tithe of your precedent lord”
How can we see Gertrude is inching to take control?
“No more.”
