Hamlet Act Three, Scene Three

Act Three so far In his ‘To be, or not to be’ soliloquy, Hamlet considers life’s sufferings, suicide and our fear of the afterlife. Polonius and Claudius spy on Hamlet and Ophelia’s conversation. Hamlet reacts to her in a furious manner. Claudius plans to have Hamlet sent to England.

Hamlet tells Horatio what he learned form the Ghost. He asks Horatio to carefully watch Claudius during the play. The play mirrors the murder of Old Hamlet as described by the Ghost. Claudius reacts furiously to the enactment of the murder. Hamlet continues to act in an unusual manner.

Act Three, Scene Three Claudius asks R and G to escort Hamlet to England and to depart immediately. Polonius plans to listen in on Hamlet’s conversation with Gertrude. When he is alone, Claudius reveals his guilt to the audience. Hamlet enters, preparing to kill Claudius. However, Hamlet feels he can not kill Claudius during prayer, as his soul would go to Heaven. He resolves to kill Claudius when he is engaged in sinful activity.

Act Three, Scene Four Hamlet confronts his mother over her marriage to Claudius Hamlet mistakenly stabs Polonius, believing him to be Claudius. He continues to scold his mother, accusing her of gross sexual misconduct. He forces Gertrude to admit the guilty feelings she has suppressed. The Ghost reappears to remind Hamlet that he has not yet killed Claudius. Hamlet reveals to his mother that he is ‘only mad in craft’.