Hamlet Video Summary - Act 3 - Schooling Online
Summary
TLDRIn this dramatic act, Claudius enlists Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to uncover Hamlet's erratic behavior, suspecting more than just love for Ophelia. Hamlet, in a fit of madness, harshly confronts Ophelia, leading Polonius and Claudius to devise further schemes to spy on him. As Hamlet's play-within-a-play exposes Claudius's guilt, leading to Polonius's tragic end, the stage is set for escalating conflict and revenge. The act concludes with the ghost's reappearance, urging Hamlet to temper his actions, while the royal court descends into chaos.
Takeaways
- 👑 Claudius is suspicious of Hamlet's behavior and enlists Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on him.
- 🎭 Hamlet is excited about the play 'The Murder of Gonzago,' which he believes will reveal Claudius's guilt.
- 🕵️♂️ Polonius and Claudius plan to eavesdrop on Hamlet and Ophelia to uncover the cause of Hamlet's madness.
- 💔 Hamlet harshly rejects Ophelia's love, causing her great distress and confusion.
- 🔍 Polonius and Claudius doubt that love is the cause of Hamlet's erratic behavior and plan further spying.
- 🎭 The play within the play is a strategic move by Hamlet to expose Claudius's guilt, which seems to work as Claudius reacts strongly.
- 🗣️ Hamlet instructs the players to act naturally, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in performance.
- 🙏 Claudius, feeling threatened, tries to pray but is unable to repent for his sins, revealing his lack of remorse.
- ⚔️ Hamlet hesitates to kill Claudius while he is praying, fearing it would send him to heaven.
- 🔪 In a tragic misunderstanding, Hamlet kills Polonius, thinking it's Claudius, further complicating the plot.
Q & A
What is the main concern of Claudius regarding Hamlet at the beginning of the act?
-Claudius is concerned about Hamlet's sanity and wants to find out the true cause of his behavior, as he doesn't believe it's just love for Ophelia.
Why are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern excited about the play 'The Murder of Gonzago'?
-They are excited because they believe the play might reveal Hamlet's true thoughts and expose his feelings towards Claudius.
What is Polonius's role in the plan to spy on Hamlet?
-Polonius is to hide with Claudius to observe Hamlet's interaction with Ophelia and to determine the cause of Hamlet's odd behavior.
How does Hamlet react when he encounters Ophelia?
-Hamlet becomes harsh and tells Ophelia to keep the gifts she is trying to return, claiming he never gave them to her and that he never loved her.
What is Claudius's reaction to the play 'The Murder of Gonzago'?
-Claudius looks horrified during the play and rushes out of the room, indicating that the play has hit too close to home regarding his guilt over the murder of Hamlet's father.
What does Hamlet instruct the players to do in their performance?
-Hamlet instructs the players to act as naturally and realistically as possible, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in their performance.
Why does Hamlet not kill Claudius when he has the chance during Claudius's prayer?
-Hamlet decides against killing Claudius while he is praying because he believes that Claudius would go straight to heaven, and Hamlet does not want him to enjoy an eternity in paradise.
What is Polonius's fate during his attempt to spy on Hamlet and Gertrude?
-Polonius is accidentally killed by Hamlet, who stabs him while he is hiding behind the Arras, thinking it is Claudius.
How does the ghost of Hamlet's father react to the events unfolding in the act?
-The ghost appears again to Hamlet, urging him to be kinder to his mother, Gertrude, and indicating that the situation is escalating.
What is the overall tone and expectation set by the end of the act as described in the script?
-The tone is dramatic and tense, with an expectation that the situation will not end well for any of the characters involved.
Outlines
🎭 'Hamlet' Act Analysis
This paragraph introduces a complex and dramatic scene from Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'. Claudius seeks information about Hamlet's state of mind from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who report that Hamlet is distracted but conceals his true thoughts. Hamlet's excitement for the play 'The Murder of Gonzago' is noted. Claudius, unconvinced by the idea that Hamlet's behavior stems from love, plans to spy on him and Ophelia. Polonius and Claudius hide to observe Hamlet's interaction with Ophelia, which turns out to be a dramatic confrontation where Hamlet denies ever loving her. This leads to further confusion and distress for Ophelia. Polonius and Claudius continue to doubt that love is the cause of Hamlet's behavior and plan more spying. Hamlet, in a more composed state, instructs actors on their performance, aiming for realism. The play's performance at the royal court is a pivotal moment where Claudius's reaction confirms Hamlet's suspicions about his uncle's guilt. Hamlet's decision to not kill Claudius during prayer is explained, and the paragraph ends with Polonius's failed spying attempt, leading to his death by Hamlet's hand.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Concentration
💡Distraction
💡Spying
💡Love
💡Craziness
💡Acting
💡Trap
💡Anger
💡Prayer
💡Atonement
💡Ghost
Highlights
Claudius inquires about Hamlet's state of mind from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Hamlet's cleverness in concealing his true thoughts is noted.
Hamlet's excitement for the play 'The Murder of Gonzago' is mentioned.
Claudius dismisses the court to prepare for spying on Hamlet and Ophelia.
Polonius and Claudius plan to observe Hamlet's interaction with Ophelia.
Ophelia agrees to her father's plan, trusting his judgment.
Hamlet's existential contemplation 'To be or not to be' is highlighted.
Hamlet confronts Ophelia, rejecting her returned gifts and professing no love.
Ophelia's confusion and distress in response to Hamlet's harsh words.
Claudius and Polonius doubt love as the cause of Hamlet's behavior.
A new spying plan is devised, with Polonius hiding in Gertrude's room.
Hamlet's direction to the players emphasizes naturalism in acting.
Claudius's horrified reaction during the play 'The Murder of Gonzago'.
Hamlet's confirmation of the ghost's words after Claudius's reaction.
Claudius orders Hamlet's exile to England via Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Claudius's soliloquy reveals his guilt and lack of remorse.
Hamlet's decision to postpone killing Claudius to avoid sending him to heaven.
Polonius's death by Hamlet's sword behind the arras.
The ghost's reappearance, advising Hamlet to be kinder to Gertrude.
Gertrude's inability to see the ghost and her belief in Hamlet's madness.
The foreboding conclusion that the situation will not end well.
Transcripts
this act is pretty complicated and dramatic so make sure you're concentrating it begins
with Claudius asking Rosencrantz and gildenstern what they've managed to find out about Hamlet they
tell the court that Hamlet is distracted but they can't tell why because he's so clever at hiding
his true thoughts however they do know that he is super excited for this play the murder of gonzago
Claudius asks everyone except for Polonius to leave as he is secretly getting ready to spy
on Hamlet and Ophelia Claudius doesn't buy the excuse that Hamlet is just lovesick so
he is Keen to see what is really going on in his nephew's mind Polonius tells Ophelia that
Hamlet is about to arrive and that he and Claudius will be hiding to see what happens
Ophelia believes that her dad knows best so she agrees to go along with the plan
Hamlet enters wondering to be or not to be when he sees Ophelia the drama begins he tells her to
keep all the gifts she is trying to return to him because well he never gave her any
Ophelia is super confused and becomes distraught when Hamlet goes even further and tells her that
he never loved her at all harsh he starts to say some pretty terrible things to her and demands
to know where Polonius is when Ophelia lies and says her father is at home Hamlet flips out and
yells at her then storms out poorophelia is distraught Polonius and Claudius don't think
that love is the cause of Hamlet's craziness and plan another round of spying to figure it out
this time Polonius will hide in Gertrude's room and see what she can draw out of her son
later on Hamlet seems to have recovered his senses and instructs the players on how they should act
he tells them that he wants them to be as real and natural as possible
while the Royal Court assembles to watch the play Hamlet talks to Horatio and reveals his
plan to trap Claudius when the players begin to act out the scene that Hamlet invented for them
Claudius looks horrified and rushes out of the room Hamlet tells Horatio that he is now convinced
that everything the ghost said is true Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tell Hamlet that Claudius and
Gertrude are very angry with him and that he is to go and see his mother in her Chambers immediately
Claudius is feeling very threatened by Hamlet
so he tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to take Hamlet away to England
when he is alone Claudius tries to pray and admits to killing his brother he also reveals
that he does not feel sorry for the terrible things that he has done while Claudius is deep
in prayer Hamlet creeps up behind him hoping to kill him and avenge his father however he
realizes that someone killed while praying will go straight to heaven and he certainly doesn't
want Claudius to enjoy an eternity in Paradise he decides to wait and deal with Claudius later
elsewhere Polonius is hidden behind a huge tapestry called an Aris in Gertrude's room
ready to spy on Hamlet when Hamlet arrives he and Gertrude get into a huge argument and
Hamlet suspects Claudius is spying on him from behind the Arris he draws his sword
stabs and is frustrated to find that he has killed Polonius not Claudius as he suspected
the ghost appears again to Hamlet and tells him to be kinder to his mother Gertrude can't see
The Ghost and thinks that Hamlet is definitely mad now Hamlet leaves to find somewhere to hide
polonius's Body by now we know for certain that none of this can end well for anyone [Music]
we hope you enjoyed this schooling online production
foreign for more easy lessons on Hamlet check out our summary of act 4.
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