Wednesday, April 5 ~ Hamlet Act 3

Discuss Act 2

Journal 9: Hamlet Act 3 Questions
3.1. After Hamlet’s argument with Ophelia (3.1.96-162),
    a. What does Ophelia think the state of Hamlet’s sanity is? What does this say about her?
    b. What does Claudius think the state of Hamlet’s sanity is? What does this say about him?
    c. What does Polonius think the state of Hamlet’s sanity is?  What does this say about him

3.2.Hamlet and Guildenstern have a fierce argument about playing a recorder, which is a kind of flute. What does the recorder symbolize?  What is Hamlet doing at this point?

3.3 Why doesn’t Hamlet kill Claudius in this scene?  How do Claudius’s last lines in the scene make Hamlet’s decision painfully ironic?

3.4  Analyze Gertrude: What is she thinking when she says, "As kill a king?" and also, what do you think she is thinking, feeling, and planning immediately after this scene?

After reading Act 3: Gertrude never gets a soliloquy, but if she did, what do you think she would reveal?