ACT 2
2.1
Ophelia is being torn between her father and her love. She's not allowed to see Hamlet anymore, and Hamlet has tried telling her that he does not love her anyhow. -E.B.
This scene helps us understand how badly Hamlet has gone crazy. Or at least how badly he is acting crazy. -J.D.
2.2
Hamlet says, "Get thee to a nunnery." He's calling Ophelia a whore here. But deep inside him he doesn't mean it. -R.H.
Polonius is very gullible. He acts like he's the perfect father. Hamlet is smarter than Polonius and he thinks Hamlet is nuts (crazy). -J.D.
Hamlet's speech at the end of this scene is important. He's by himself and he reveals to us his plan to get proof that Cladius killed the king. He's finally going to do something about what happened. -E.B.
ACT 3
3.1
The scene starts off with Cladius talking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Cladius wants to know if they got any information out of Hamlet for him. Like why he's acting the way he is. They know nothing. Hamlet would only answer their questions, but wouldn't give any details or say anything more. Then Polonius and Cladius hid while Hamlet and Ophelia talk. Hamlet is not stupid though, he knows they are somewhere listening. -E.B.
The relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia would be good if he didn't slap her around and talk crap to her. She shouldn't take it. She should try to change him. -R.H.
Ophelia and her father seem to be very close. Even Laertes and his father and sister are close. -J.D.
3.2
Hamlet tells the acting group to perform his play. The play that takes place is important because the king gets to watch it. This is Hamlet's way of seeing how guilty Cladius is. -J.D.
This scene is where Hamlet has people act out the killing of his father. He wants to make Cladius feel guilty and see if he'll show his guilt. -E.B.
During the play Cladius isn't feeling too good. His guilt (from killing the previous king, his brother) is really getting to him. And it would for anyone. It's not helping that Hamlet know what happened. -R.H.
3.3
The king tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to take Hamlet to England and be safe. The king tries to pray but can't. He wants to ask for forgiveness, but for some reason he just can't do it. Hamlet pulls a sword ready to kill the king while in prayer but the fact that he's praying makes Hamlet think that if he kills him then he will go to heaven.
-J.D.
3.4
Polonius informs the queen that Hamlet is coming and that he is going to hide while Hamlet and the queen talk. Hamlet goes in to talk to his mother. Polonius is afraid that Hamlet is going to hurt the queen (Hamlet is going off on her pretty badly). So Polonius does a grunt and distracts Hamlet. Hamlet thought it was the king, but really didn't care and just started to stab whoever was behind the curtain. -R.H.
This scene is a little weird, Hamlet starts going off on him mom (the queen) then he kills Polonius. After he tells his mom that the current king killed the previous king. Then the ghost shows up and tells Hamlet is be nice to his mother. And Hamlet is all loving to her. -J.D.
Hamlet says, "a bloody deed almost as bad, good mother, as kill a king and marry with his brother." I love this quote. It's like bang in your face. It also tells the queen that Hamlet knows about the killing. -E.B.
AUTHOR INFO.
QUSETIONS
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
INTERVIEW
OTHER WORK
QUOTES
SCENE SUMMARYS
THEME
VOCABULARY
PERSONAL IMPRESSIONS
ACT TWO AND THREE
ACT FOUR
ACT FIVE