Hamlet: Act 3

Act 3 Scene 1

Guildenstern confirms hamlet's craziness. First of another character to confirm besides King Claudius.

Claudius just announced himself to the audience, Ophelia, Guildenstern rosencrantz, Polonius have to spy on hamlet and hamlet states his to be or not to be soliloquy.

Hamlet questions Ophelia's sincerity and motives. States that everyone is acting like a fool including himself. 

King Claudius and Lord Polonius listened to Hamlet and Ophelia's conversation. King Claudius is questioning if Hamlet is actually insane. Debating whether to send Hamlet to England.

Polonius agrees with the king but suggests he has Queen Gertrude spend time with Hamlet while he listens (Polonius).

Act 3 Scene 2

Hamlet states to act naturally to the players and don't underplay it either, make it genuine and real, use own conscience as a guide.

Hamlet gives a lot of instruction shows he's not a mad man.

Hamlet asks Horatio to watch Claudius closely during the play to see his reaction to see if he looks guilty or not.

All attend the play. Hamlet sits, lays on Ophelia's lap?, next to Ophelia.

The play begins with the ghost's accusation of Claudius pouring poison in his ear. The play also pokes at the queen for quickly going against her word of remarrying as a sin.

Hamlet asks Queen Gertrude how she likes the play and she comments about the lady (the Queen actor) protesting too much. Claudius asks if there's anything offensive in the play and Hamlet replies that it is just a jest. When asking about the title, Hamlet replies that people with unguitly consciences like the king and himself could watch it as it is a story of a murder in Vienna.

When the nephew of the king actor pours poison in the king, Claudius stands and stops the play.

Horatio and Hamlet agree that the ghost's claim is true. Guildenstern tells Hamlet that the king is very upset and that his mother is in "amazement and admiration"??

 Rosencrantz expresses his worries for Hamlet but Hamlet shuts him down.

Polonius enters to tell Hamlet that his mother wishes to see him.

Act 3 Scene 3

Claudius tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that they will be going to England with Hamlet.

Polonius tells Claudius that he would spy on Hamlet's and his mom's conversation.

Claudius expresses his guilty sins through prayers.

Hamlet sees an opportunity to kill Claudius but he is praying and therefore withdraws.

Act 3 Scene 4 

Queen Gertrude questions Hamlets intentions and he replies that his mother in a cruel sinner. She yells help and Hamlet pierces a sword through the curtain and Polonius who he thinks is Claudius. Hamlet expresses his disgust towards his mother for killing his noble father and remarrying Claudius for power. 

The Ghost enters to calm Hamlet who the Queen cannot see.

The Queen thinks that Hamlet is seriously mad.