Hamlet Act II and III Reading Questions and Reponses
- What is Polonius employing Reynaldo to do? What instructions does he give to him?
Polonius is employing Reynaldo to go to France to nose around and check up on the doings of Laertes to make sure he is not sullying the family name. Specifically whoring, drinking and gambling, simply by name dropping “Laertes” in public gaining a feel from people’s reactions.
- What report of Hamlet's behavior does Ophelia give to Polonius in 2.1? What specifically does she tell him about how he was acting? What other words are used to describe Hamlet's behavior (especially his actions) throughout these acts? When Hamlet appears at 2.2.169, how would you characterize his speech?
Ophelia recounts to her father, Polonius, of Hamlet’s physical actions towards her. She explains how he came in disheveled with his stockings around his ankles and took her by the wrist and just continually stared at her, before he walked out backwards. When Hamlet appears in 2.2 he is exhausted and reading a book, his demeanor in speaking towards Polonius is condescending and could be perceived as mad.
- What news does King Claudius receive from Norway in 2.2? What is the status of the impending invasion from act 1?
King Claudius receives word that there will be no war because Fortinbras II’s uncle paid him 3,000 crowns not to fight Denmark. Fortinbras II now needs Denmark to allow him passage in order to fight with Poland.
- What speech does Hamlet ask the Player to perform in 2.2? What event in history/literature is being recounted in this speech? Who is Pyrrhus? Here is an image of Pyrrhus performing the deed described in the actor's speech.
Hamlet asks the Player to perform a speech about Prryrus and Priam and then asks the player to move on in the story to the part pertaining to Hecuba. See the speech on Prryrus and Priam here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGXogOKLi6I . This speech is referring to the Tojan War a possible reference to Dido. (See footnote 1 in Norton page 1729). Prryrus is the Trojan King, father of Achilles, who is killed by Priam.
- In his second soliloquy ("O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I"), what is Hamlet's response to the player's speech? What aspect of the Player's speech does he specifically comment on?
Hamlet’s is truly fascinated by the player’s performance due to the level of emotion conveyed by the player. Hamlet knows that this individual has no real connection to this story yet he acts it out in a way that grasps his audience and makes them put real belief in his false feelings.
- Does Hamlet behave differently toward Ophelia than Polonius and Laertes? How does he treat her during the "Mousetrap" play that the players perform?
Hamlet places Ophelia, Polonius and Laertes on the same level showing no respect towards each. Hamlet treats Ophelia as if she was a strumpet (whore). He specifically tells her “Get thee to a nunnery” meaning a whore house. During the “Mousetrap” he is essentially flirting and teasing her clearly exercising his sexual power over her. * see women in Hamlet further down the page*
- At the end of 3.2, Hamlet "could drink hot blood" (360) as he goes off to visit his mother. On the way, he finds the King in prayer. Why does he not slay him in this moment (3.3.77 ff.)?
Hamlet chooses not to kill the King because he believes that the King is praying and therefore would go straight to heaven. Due to this belief Hamlet feels killing him now would be much like a favor to King; a good doing. In actuality though, the King is reflecting on the murder of his brother and plotting to kill Hamlet.
- What is the intended purpose of Hamlet's visit to his mother's chamber? How does he turn the tables on her? What instructions does he give to her?
Gertrude invites Hamlet to her chambers after being told to by Polonius. Polonius tells Gertrude to tell Hamlet off; to tell him he is getting out line with his thoughts and actions. Hamlet turns the table instantly through parallel structure in the lines:
Gertrude: Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.
Hamlet: “Mother, you have my father much offended. (3.4.9-10)
Hamlet by doing this puts himself in a position of control over his mother. He uses this time to basically accost her, thus forcing her to face the truth of her actions. He then instructs her to no longer sleep with his uncle and to not say anything to him.
- What happens to Polonius during the conversation between Hamlet and Gertrude? Who else barges in on their conversation?
Polonius is hiding in the curtain within Gertrude’s chamber. Once Hamlet sees that there is someone behind the curtain he stabs this person killing him through the curtain. The ghost barges to tell Hamlet to ease up a little on his mother and to stay focused on his real priorities aka killing Claudius.
Summary of Acts II and III
- Polonius sends Reynaldo find out was Laertes has been up to
- Ophelia reveals to Polonius how Hamlet has been treating her
- Everyone now knows that Hamlet has been behaving oddly
- Claudius brings Rosencrantz and Guildenstein to basically off Hamlet
- Valtemand brings new that Fortibus II has received money and been talked to by his uncle and is no longer attacking Denmark, but seeks passage in order to attack Poland
- Polonius figures that Hamlet is crazed due to that fact that he is in love with his daughter, but says he has her spying on him
- Hamlet overhears all that Polonius says
- The players arrive
- Polonius along with everyone else uses Ophelia to spy on Hamlet. Hamlet knows this and calls Opehlia a slut and tells her to go to a whore house
- Hamlet brillantly decides to plut on a play using the player thus setting up the "Mouse Trap" scene
- The "Mouse Trap" scene is set up to see the kings reaction so that Hamlet can know for certain if he had killed his father
- Claudius indeed has the reaction Hamlet expected
- Claudius commisions for Hamlet to be sent away to England
- Hamlet sees Claudius but chooses not to kill him because Hamlet believes he him to be praying and therefore would ascend straight to heaven
- Polonius tells Gertrude to call Hamlet to her chambers to set him straight, Polonius sayd he will hide in the curtain so all will be fine
- Hamlet goes, flips the table on Gertrude calling his mother out for what she had done to his father
- While in the chamber he hears something in the curtain and thinking it to be the king stabs through the curtain killing Polonius
- The ghost then comes in to tell Hamlet to remain on task of avenging his death and to leave his mother alone
- Hamlet believes himself to have persuaded Gertrude to his side and tells her not sleep with or talk to Claudius
Some Other Stuff Discussed in Class
Issues with Time: Hamlet is still mourning for his father
The order for who sits in the throne is out of wack for Hamlet was supposed to get it not Claudius
Gertrude marries Claudius rather quickly after the death of her husband
* Hamlet mourns for too long; while Gertrude marries quickly wasting little time for mourning
*In general time in the play and the chronological order of events is odd.
The Ghost: The ghost is generally silent and creepy, in til he sees Hamlet and becomes far more outspoken
The ghost is first appears dressed in armor due to the fear of the Danes of the possible invasion and war; then in Gertrude's chamber it appears in a nightgown, reminding Hamlet of the relationship of his parents.
*There are three main families in Hamlet. These families have both parallels and differences between them.
The first family unit is made up of Hamlet I who is married to Gertrude who give birth to Hamlet II. Upon the death of Hamlet I, Gertrude marries his brother Claudius.
The second family unit is Fortinbras I, Fartinbras's brother, and Fortinbras's son, Fortinbras II.
The thrid family unit is Polonius, Laertes, and Ophelia. Polonius is the father of Laertes and Polonius.
The obvious parallel is between the Hamlet family and the Fortinbras family is that each father dies and thier brother becomes the king over thier sons. Laertes later joins this parallel when his father is killed.
Another parallel is the both the Fortinbus family along with Polonius' family are each missing a female, mother figure.
Hamlet Act IV Reading Questions and Answers
- At the end of act 3, Hamlet reminds his mother that he has been sent on a foreign mission by the King (this resolution comes at 3.1.161 ff.). Where is he going? For what stated reason has Claudius sent him there? What is the real reason, as revealed at the end of 4.3?
Hamlet is going to England under the false pretense that he is collecting a debt. In actuality he sent there with own death warrant; he is going there to be killed.
- What has Hamlet done with the body of Polonius? What kind of a funeral did Polonius receive, according to the King (4.5.79)?
Hamlet dragged the body of Polonius and hid it under the stairs going up to lobby. He did not receive one really. It was very “hush hush” and not a proper burial whatsoever.
- On his way out of Denmark, Hamlet encounters a captain from the army of Fortinbras (4.4). Where are they headed? What are they fighting for?
They are headed to Poland by cutting through Denmark. They are going to fight for a small amount of land that does not really mean anything.
- How is Ophelia described in the stage direction that marks her entrance to 4.5? What does she sing about in her songs? What does she hand out to the court?
Ophelia is described as distracted upon her entrance in 4.5. She sings of unrequited love, loss of innocence, and death. She is also handing out flowers to the court, which each have different meaning and reveal the truth of all the recent happens.
- What news does the Messenger bring of Laertes in 4.5? Has he returned to Denmark alone? Compare his state to Hamlet's report at 4.7.41-45.
The messenger says that Laertes is coming back with the intent of revenge with a throng of supporters. Laertes comes back like a man on fire with support while Hamlet comes back naked and alone, they come back essentially as opposites of one another.
- Note how Laertes describes his motivation for revenge at 4.5.114-117. What is driving him?
He describes this as a masculine act and that he is not a man and a bastard to his father if he does not avenge him. He is driven because he has lost everything, but particularly by the death of his father.
- What turn of events does Hamlet report to Horatio in his letter in 4.6?
Hamlet reports to Horatio of how he was sent to deliver his own death sentence, how he was attacked by pirates and how he has flipped the tables on everyone and was aware of everything.
- Claudius comes up with a very complicated plan for Laertes to execute his revenge in 4.7. What is it? Notice what Laertes wants to do (4.7.98)!
Claudius comes up with the plan for Laertes to challenge him to a duel, but to fix it. Laetes is to dip the point of his sword in poison so no matter what is to happen he will win. Laertes wants to cut his throat while in church.
- How do we learn of Ophelia's death? What are its odd circumstances?
Gertrude comes in and tells everyone that she had committed suicide. She was up in a willow tree singing while making rings of flowers. She feel from the tree into the brook and rather than try to get out, she decides to just let herself die.
Summary of Act IV
- Gertrude does everything Hamlet tells her not do.
- Hamlet creates a wild goose chase for Polonious's body and finally tell them where it is hidden ( under the stairwell going to the lobby).
-Claudius sends Hamlet to England and sends Rosencrantz and Gulidenstern to make sure that he delievers his own death warrant to the court of England.
- Hamlet encounters the captain of Fortinbras's ship that is on its way to attack Poloand.
-Ophelia goes off the deep end.
- Laretes returns and gets super ticked off that his father has been killed and his sister is ready for the looney bin.
-Claudius manages to convince him to be on his side.
-Horatio finds out that Hamlet on his way back from England, was atatacked by pirates. But the pirates were really nice, so he managed to escape with his life.
-A letter is sent to Claudius from Hamlet "apologizing"
- Clauidus and Laretes plot to kill Hamlet.
- Ophelia drowns herself.
-Graveyard diggers and Hamlet chat it up.
-Hamlet and Laretes duke it out over Ophelia's body in her grave ( cause that's not weird at all).
Some Other Stuff About Act IV
What do women represent in Hamlet?
1. Legitimacy and power - Gertrude - she is referred to as the "imperial jointress"
Hamlet tries to possess a sexual control over Gertrude
He invades her chamber and claims into bed with her; berating her.
Icon: Hecuba (Queen of Troy) - mother of the Trojan Army by giving birth to 50+ sons
2. Virginity and Purity - Ophelia - "Rose of May"
She is a victim of the world of men -the men in her live are all tring to control which eventually leads to her downfall
Her father and brother both fear that she a reproductive danger (essentially a whore)
* Shakespeare clearly shows this in the nunery seen*
Icon: Jephitah's daughter- Shakespeare compares Ophelia to Jephitah's daughter because she is likely to die a virgin
Time is out a remains off:
No proper burial for Polonius
Issue of inheritence
* The tragedy of the play lies in the overturning of certain social customs*
The world around Hamlet goes mad:
No one finds it strange how quickly Gertrude marries Claudius after the death of Hamlet I
written by: Ryan Williams, Andrew Marcinak, and Gianna Cioffi
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