Hamlet+3.1+and+3.2

Hamlet 3.1 and 3.2

3. This is a very important scene in the play. It is definitely leading up to the climax of the story. Hamlet now believes he has proof that his uncle was his father's murderer after watching his reaction to the play. It is difficult to tell whether Hamlet is still "acting" crazy, or whether this task he has been given has actually made him crazy. It seems like he is alone and always really nervous and anxious. I think he is starting to actually become a little crazy in reality, trying to get proof while also trying to get over his fears and emotions in order to finish the deed. This scene is very important in both Shakespeare's character development and plot line development.

6. I feel badly for Ophelia so far throughout the whole play. She is constantly being reprimanded or being given advice and she has to just sit there and take it. She has no opinion of her own and accepts the way in which she is treated. I was reminded of my pity for Ophelia during act 3 when Hamlet talks to her and again when he sits next to her at the play. When he is speaking to her, he is acting crazy, again playing her. He tells her he never loved her saying, "You should not have believed me, for virtue / cannot so (inoculate) our old stock but we shall / relish of it. I loved you not" (127-129). Ophelia simply replies, "I was the more deceived" (130). She allows Hamlet to play her during the entire play and the conversation continues while he tells her to go to a nunnery and never marry. In Scene 2, he is extremely rude to her in my opinion. I think Ophelia is slightly innocent, maybe a little ditzy. When Hamlet sits next to her at the play, he is again playing everyone, making them think he sat there due to his love sickness. The entire time he is making sexual innuendos towards Ophelia. She has no choice but to sit there and she either actually does not understand them or she just has to take it and try to ignore it. His manner towards her is extremely rude and almost objectifies her, only as something for sex. For example, Hamlet says, "Lady, shall I lie in your lap?" (19). This is a double entendre, actually refereeing to putting his head in her lap but then he goes on to say, "That's a fair thought to lie between maids' / legs" (125-126). He completely switches meanings of his words and Ophelia is discretely objectified.

5. / 8. I was really surprised with the outcome of the play. First of all, I think Hamlet made it WAY too obvious as to what was happening. The plot line of the play had a lot to do with his mother's situation. I think he could have written it a little bit more subtly instead of his blatantly obvious attempt. I thought it was really harsh when the player Queen says, "//none wed the second but who killed the first//" (203). Even though Hamlet is trying to uncover the mystery, this entire part of the play disses the Queen for having a second marriage. It is extremely disrespectful. What I was most surprised about though was the King's reaction. He immediately gets up and walks away in anger. This is ambiguous because we are not sure why he does that. Hamlet assumes he has walked away because it reminded him of how he murdered his own brother, however, I think that this could also be taken in different ways. I think with the way Hamlet wrote this play, the king could have walked away in plain embarrassment. A lot of the play was offensive just in general and the king may have taken a lot of offense. I was surprised that he just left the room. After this, it was also very surprising to me that it seemed Gertrude was completely taking her husbands side. She goes to comfort him and sends word to Hamlet that she needs to have a word with him later that night. I am excited to find out what happens after reading this scene!