Mahmood Rehan Qureshi

Roll no. 17
HAMLET Act 3, Scene 3
SYNOPSIS
Fearing that Hamlet is a threat to his life and throne, the King summons Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and
instructs them to hurry and take Hamlet to England. The men agree, acknowledging that any threat to Claudius
is a threat to the people of Denmark, so they will keep Denmark safe by removing Hamlet from its shores. They
leave, and Polonius enters to inform the King that Hamlet is on his way to Gertrude and that Polonius plans to
hide there and eavesdrop on the conversation. Promising to report back to Claudius before Claudius retires to
bed, Polonius leaves.
Claudius then prays at his private altar, although he says his sin is so great that it renders him incapable of
praying. He admits before God that he has committed the "primal eldest curse" by carrying out his "brother's
murder." He admits that his contrition is unforgivable since he is unwilling to give up the spoils of his ill-won
battles. He begs instead that some divine assistance might bow his knees and soften his heart so that he can ask
for forgiveness.
Hamlet enters and sees Claudius in prayer. He recognizes his perfect opportunity to kill Claudius, but stops
himself. He remembers that Claudius killed King Hamlet without allowing him any opportunity to make
amends for his sins, and that King Hamlet now languishes in purgatory awaiting entry to heaven. Believing that
Claudius is praying for forgiveness, Hamlet knows that by killing Claudius now, he would send the King
straight to heaven. Claudius would escape the eternal punishment that is his due.
ANALYSIS
From the top of the scene, any ambiguity concerning Claudius' character disappears. He identifies Hamlet as his enemy and
plots to have him dispatched to England. He conspires with Polonius to spy on Hamlet yet again. Then, kneeling in prayer
before sleeping, the King confesses the depth and severity of his crime. He likens himself to Cain, the primal or first murderer,
and admits that he cannot bring himself to ask for God's mercy. "But oh, what form of prayer / can serve my turn?" Claudius
knows that he will never abdicate the throne, nor will he give up Gertrude and all "those effects for which I did murder," such
as his power and position. He expects to spend eternity in hell.
Hamlet enters as the King kneels with his back toward Hamlet. Hamlet reaches for his sword, and the ambiguity shifts to
Hamlet. His Christian morality informs him that because the King appears to pray, he is probably confessing. By ending his
life in mid-confession, Hamlet would allow the King to go straight to heaven by virtue of his cleansed soul. Hamlet would
prefer to send the King to hell. He has no problem with the immorality of robbing a man of his salvation. Hamlet is capable of
imitating King Claudius' cruelty.
Some critics believe that Hamlet vacillates yet again in yet another self-deception of word play. In fact, this moment
represents the pivotal point in the play — the moment of truth. Had Hamlet taken charge and acted rather than retreating into
his words, he would have prevented the six deaths that follow. Most importantly, the tragic hero might not have met his
inevitable end. Then, of course, the play would have been cut short, and no tragedy would exist. Had Hamlet killed Claudius
here, he would have more closely resembled Macbeth who murdered innocence — in Macbeth's own words, "Macbeth hath
murdered sleep" — by taking the life of an unprotected, unaware King. The action would label Hamlet a villain, not a hero.
Claudius survives in order to preserve Hamlet's character.
THEMES
Appearance vs Reality
Action and Inaction
Women
Poison, Corruption and Death
Religion, Honor, Revenge
Literary Devices
TONE
The tone is serious.
Claudius seems to be pleading for his sins to be forgiven but yet
at the same time his pleas are in conflict with his ego.
Hamlet’s tone has an internal conflict where he seems to be
debating/convincing himself whether or not to kill Claudius.
CHARACTERIZATION
CLAUDIUS:
As readers we can sense that Claudius is guilty of killing his brother. He knows his
actions are bad but sees his good soul trapped within his darkness. (He is trying to
relieve himself of the blame.)
“O bosom black as death! O limited soul, that struggling to be free.” 71-71
HAMLET:
Hamlet’s character develops more into a coward in this scene. He had the perfect
opportunity to kill Claudius but finds an irrational reason not to.
“Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heave, and that his soul may be as damned
and black as hell whereto it goes.” 98-100
POLONIUS:
He was suspicious about Hamlet’s madness and forms a plan to eavesdrop on
Gertrude and Hamlet behind the curtains. His this eavesdropping gets him killed
later.
ROSENCRANTZ:
Hamlet’s friend from Wittenberg university. Claudius appointed him to take Hamlet
to England.
GUILDENSTERN:
Minor character in this scene.
STRUCTURE
The minor characters are pretty quick.
They exit right after they have said their lines.
Long lines are for major characters. (Claudius and Hamlet self-thoughts)
STAGING
Staging includes visual effects, entrances and exits and groupings and movements.
Hamlet was trying to kill Claudius using a sword with his expression being
terrified.
The frequent exits of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern signifies how their only job is
to obtain some information about Hamlet and spread them to Claudius. This gives
the effect of desperate, speediness by the characters in a rare to combat, cover up
their wrong doing- the suspense of a wartime atmosphere.