Active Reading Journal: "Hamlet" Act III

In Act III Scene I Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Ophelia, Gertrude, Claudius and Polonius enter. Claudius and Gertrude ask Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of their time with Hamlet and ask for them to spark his interest more. After they exit, Claudius asks Gertrude to please give him a moment with Polonius and they have arranged for an "accidental" meeting of Ophelia and Hamlet and they are going to act as spies. Hamlet walks in and I believe is performing another soliloquy. He notices Ophelia who tries to give him his stuff back, Hamlet on the other hand is telling her that he gave her nothing and that he used to love her (past tense, he does not love her anymore). He tells her to go to a "nunnery" and says that if he were to ever marry her he would give her a curse as a wedding present. Throughout his pauses she is praying to God to please return him to normal. After Hamlet leaves, Polonius and Claudius come forward and Claudius points out that it does not seem to be love that is pointing him in these directions, as he was not acting crazy, but his speech was disorganized. Polonius stays with the fact that he believes the method to his madness is love. In the end of this scene Claudius says that they have to watch Hamlet closely.

Act III Scene II

In Act III Scene II the play is performed in hopes of getting Claudius to confess what he did. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern deliver the news that the King was not happy with the play and that the Queen would like his presence in her chambers. (This was a very long scene).

 Some of the characters adopt false persona, such as Hamlet acting mad. Claudius acting innocent while he struck with guilt. And Gertrude, trying to act as if she has not sinned by marrying her dead husband's brother.

In Act III Scene III Claudius is talking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about how it is not safe for him the way that Hamlet is acting. Guildenstern says that they will take care of it for him. They leave the room. Polonius enters to tell Claudius that Hamlet is headed to his mothers chambers and that he will hide behind the tapestry to listen to what is going to happen. Polonius leaves and Hamlet walks in  on Claudius praying. He is about to kill Claudius when he rethinks his actions and does not because he does not want Claudius to go to Heaven.

In Ac III Scene IV Polonius and Gertrude are in her chambers and Polonius hides behind the tapestry. Hamlet comes in and Gertrude then begins to scold Hamlet for hurting Claudius's feelings. Hamlet then turns on his mother, and she fears for her life and cries out for help. Polonius yells out help and Hamlet hears him. Hamlet ultimately stabs Polonius, killing him. Hamlet then begins to question why his mother married Claudius, surely it was not out of love. The ghost appears and Gertrude cannot see it, Hamlet is told to give his mother a bit of respect. Hamlet then tells his mother not to let Claudius sefuce her again, and tells her that he must go off to England. He exits with Polonius' body.