‘Hamlet’ Act III Tasks

Task 1 Hamlet and Ophelia Examine Hamlet and Ophelia’s relationship in Act III Scene 1. Consider the following: What they say to each other. The fact that Hamlet works out that the convo is a set up. How he reacts when he sees her after his soliloquy.

Task 2 Act III Scene 2 King and Queen’s reaction to the play: What does it reveal about their character? What does it reveal about their conscience?

Task 3(a) Act III Scene 3 Claudius’ soliloquy Summarise and Analyse. How does it contribute to our understanding of Claudius?

O, my offence is rank it smells to heaven; It hath the primal eldest curse upon't, A brother's murder. Pray can I not, Though inclination be as sharp as will:

My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent; 40 And, like a man to double business bound, I stand in pause where I shall first begin, And both neglect. What if this cursed hand

Were thicker than itself with brother's blood, Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy But to confront the visage of offence?

And what's in prayer but this two-fold force, To be forestalled ere we come to fall, Or pardon'd being down? Then I'll look up; 50 My fault is past. But, O, what form of prayer

Can serve my turn. 'Forgive me my foul murder' Can serve my turn? 'Forgive me my foul murder'? That cannot be; since I am still possess'd Of those effects for which I did the murder, My crown, mine own ambition and my queen. May one be pardon'd and retain the offence?

In the corrupted currents of this world Offence's gilded hand may shove by justice, And oft 'tis seen the wicked prize itself Buys out the law: but 'tis not so above; 60

There is no shuffling, there the action lies In his true nature; and we ourselves compell'd, Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults, To give in evidence. What then? what rests?

Try what repentance can: what can it not Try what repentance can: what can it not? Yet what can it when one can not repent? O wretched state! O bosom black as death! O limed soul, that, struggling to be free,

Art more engaged. Help, angels. Make assay Art more engaged! Help, angels! Make assay! Bow, stubborn knees; and, heart with strings of steel, Be soft as sinews of the newborn babe! All may be well.

Act III Scene 3 Soliloquy within a soliloquy (ish) Soliloquy-ception! Demonstrates the difference in characters. Both considering crime and punishment, heaven and damnation, old Hamlet and Gertrude – but differently.

Task 3b In what way could you argue that this scene between Hamlet and Claudius is a key incident?

Task 4 Act III, Scene 4 a) Discuss this scene, considering the role of Gertrude and how her character is developed. b) In what way is this scene a turning point?

Act III Review Themes? Consider how each scene of Act III relates to as many themes as possible, and in what way.

Act IV Summarise Act IV

Act IV Which act is Act IV most similar to? Why?

Ophelia Now is a good time to stop and look at the presentation of Ophelia as a character. What is she like and how should the audience feel about her? Why is she even in the play, what is her dramatic purpose?

Act IV: KEY ELEMENTS Hamlet’s soliloquy (IV.4.32-66) ‘How all occasions do inform against me’ Ophelia’s madness and death Laertes’ revenge plot