Act 3 Summary

KingRosencrantz and GuildensternQueenHamletOpheliaPolonius

Act 3.1 Character List

R & G report that Hamlet gives no reason for his mental state, reports he speaks with a “crafty madness”

King is invited to play, seems encouraged and tells R & G to keep talking to Hamlet

Gertrude is sent away as King and Polonius plot to watch Ophelia and Hamlet encounter

Gertrude hopes Ophelia is the reason for Hamlet’s “wildness” and that she can cure him

Polonius instructs Ophelia on what to do

Claudius makes remark about his “heavy burden”

Claudius and Polonius hide as Hamlet enters the room

Hamlet delivers his famous “to be or not to be” soliloquy: contemplating death and uncertainty

He sees Ophelia and a few things happen: He warmly welcomes Ophelia

She tries to give back “remembrances” (love notes, gifts)

He denies ever giving her anything and begins to mess with her head: “I did love you once…I loved you not”

Puts her and all women and marriage down: “Get thee to a nunnery”

Asks about her father; she says he is at home (in the film…he clearly knows he is being watched…the text doesn’t support this either way)

After verbally abusing her, he leaves, she is upset.

Claudius doesn’t believe in Polonius’s theory

Believes Hamlet is dangerous and will send him away to England

Polonius still believes in his love theory and creates another plan: after the plan he will eavesdrop on Gertrude and Hamlet; if she can’t figure out what is wrong then send him to England

Claudius: “Madness in great ones must not unwatched go” (3.1.193).

PlayersKingQueenHamletPoloniusOpheliaHoratioRosencrantz and Guildenstern

Act 3.2 Character List

Hamlet instructs actors how to say lines

Hamlet asks Horatio to watch Claudius’s reaction to play and they will both judge if he is guilty

Enter Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius, Ophelia: Hamlet is rude and abusive to all

A “dumb” show is presented that gives a “preview” of the bigger play

Hamlet continues to be abusive of Ophelia

Play begins: Player King is dying, Player Queen says she will never remarry; Player King says she will

The main event in the play takes place: the poisoning of the Player King

The King rises; things are a little chaotic as everyone leaves

Horatio and Hamlet confirm the ghost’ word: Claudius is guilty

R & G tell Hamlet his mother wants to see him in her room

Hamlet accuses R & G of trying to play him

He goes to see mother: wants to be “cruel, not unnatural” (3.2.398).

KingHamletPoloniusRosencrantz and Guildenstern

Act 3.3 Character List

Scene 3 DetailsClaud tells R & G they will take Hamlet to England; he

is worried about his position

Polonius will spy on Hamlet and his mother behind a curtain (“arras”).

Claudius has a soliloquy where he admits his “offense is rank” and he can’t pray and ask for forgiveness because he is not willing to give up: “my crown, mine own ambition, and my queen” (3.3.55).

Hamlet has another soliloquy: he could kill the king right then, but thinks he is confessing (which wouldn’t be revenge)

He will wait until Claudius is sinning so he will go straight to hell

GertrudeHamletPoloniusGhost

Act 3.4 Character List

Scene 4 DetailsPolonius hides behind a curtain to spy on Gertrude and

Hamlet

Hamlet comes in and says harsh things to his mom which scares her

Polonius screams for help and is stabbed by Hamlet

Hamlet is only disappointed that it ISN’T Claudius

Hamlet compares vices of Claudius to virtues of his dad; Gertrude can’t take what he is saying

Hamlet hints at Claudius killing his dad

Scene 4 details Ghost appears to Hamlet, it reminds Hamlet of his purpose and to

help his mother

Queen is worried about Hamlet’s state of mind because she doesn’t see anything

Hamlet tries to convince her that he is not crazy and that she should repent and stop being with Claudius

He looks at Polonius’s body and feels only a bit bad about it; he will answer for it

He then tells Gertrude to go ahead and tell Claudius…see what happens (sarcastically…and a threat)

Tells mom he is going to England with R & G whom he trusts “as [he] will adders fanged” (3.4.209); he will beat them at their own game.

Drags Polonius’s body away and bids his mother goodnight