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Act 3 Scene 4 Hamlet Analysis

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Hamlet is a play of mystery. Characters uses masks in Hamlet to hide their true self. Hamlet is at conflict the whole play not being able to see through the masks. In Act 3 Scene 4 Hamlet is trying to act upon his goal of revenging his father’s death. This scene shows the themes of masks and Hamlets inability to act. Hamlet resorts to rashness due to his frustration by not being able to see past the mask of polonius when he 's trying to act. As the scene begins Polonius and Gertrude are discussing how they will be spying on Hamlet: “I’ll warrant you. Fear me not. Withdraw, I hear him coming” (3.4.9-10). Polonius goes to hide behind the arras as Hamlet comes in. Both Gertrude and Polonius are conspiring against Hamlet together. Gertrude is behind her own mask as Polonius is spying behind the curtain; Hamlet cannot get behind these barriers resulting in his frustration. This frustation is what plays a major role …show more content…

I took thee for thy better”( 3.4.38). Hamlet is satisfied with the murdering of Polonious, even though he wanted to kill Claudius. At this point, Hamlet realizes he has the ability to act and kill. Hamlet adapts this rash mentality causing him no longer think, but just act. Hamlet believes the killing of Polonius was “for thy better” proving that he is not phased that he just mudered someone cold blooded. This reaction shows how rash Hamlet was when he killed Polonius. Previously, Hamlet was afraid to kill himself and then changes to this rash mentality and takes the life of someone and is not even affected by it. This scene shows how masks affect Hamlet’s thoughts, but more importantly his action. He his inability to find the truth causes him to act in an extreme manner. His mentality change completely no longer thinking before action, compared to his lack of action due this overthinking. The overthinking is shown in Hamlet’s soliloquy: “ To die, to

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Although Hamlet is plotting to murder a king which is the highest form of treason any person could commit in his time, is made to seem like an honorable and justified action. Through the ghost of his father demanding that Hamlet avenge his untimely death by the hand of his brother, the audience disposes of this idea that plotting against and killing a king is treason. The audience understands Hamlets rage and desire for revenge and is encourages it although Claudius is the new king of Denmark and father to Hamlet. This betrayal Hamlet commits against his former uncle now his adoptive father would disgust the audience had it not been that Claudius was guilty of murdering Hamlets father and plotting to murder Hamlet. By having this double crossing it establishes how not even the bonds of family can quench the thirst for power and

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In the Elizabethan life, this act by Hamlet who is supposed to become the new king as he is next in line since his father had been murdered, would pass over and no one would believe that he did it without any physical proof of him doing it. It could just be sign of jealousy from king Claudius and would backfire on him if he were to try and presume legal action for the death of Polonius. The motivation of King Claudius is to try and get Hamlet sent away so he can cover up the fact that he had murdered his own brother so he could marry his wife. The motivation of Hamlet is to get revenge on King Claudius for his father, but if he was sent away then thee would be no one to get revenge on him for his sins. I think Shakespeare portrayed King

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His one goal of avenging his father causes him to lose his rationale, as his only thought is to murder his father's killer, Claudius. This mindset clouds his vision and he murders Polinus whom he mistakes for Claudius behind the curtain. Furthermore, Hamlet shows no sympathy or regret for his mistake and instead says, “Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell. I took thee for thy better.” (Shakespeare, 3.4. 32-33).

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A constant struggle Hamlet faces in the play is whether or not to act out his vengeance. At this point in the play, Hamlet decides to overcome his internal struggles and seek revenge. This point in this scene is central to the theme represented in this play which is revenge, followed by the underlying theme of decay and

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Tragically, this arrogance leads to unintended consequences when he unintentionally kills Polonius, hidden behind a curtain. As Hamlet makes a pass through the arras and kills Polonius, he says, "How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead!" (3.4. 27-28). Hamlet shows no remorse for this act, justifying it as necessary to avenge his father's death.

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In William Shakespeare’s, “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark”, a young prince named Hamlet is depressed and misguided. His father, the King has died and his mother Gertrude has already remarried his uncle Claudius. Hamlet is absolutely torn until his father’s ghost visits the castle and entreats Hamlet to avenge his death and kill his uncle King Claudius. Hamlet begins to test Claudius with plays and when Claudius finds out, all he has by his side is his councilor Polonius. Polonius tries to entrap Hamlet in every way possible, even by using his daughter Ophelia.

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Polonius fuels Hamlet’s paranoia by pitting his friends against him through deception to make them garner information on Hamlet’s woes in his

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This shows how instinctive he is because he doesn't even check to see who it is behind the curtain. Resulting in him stabbing Polonius rashly. Even though this murder was more of an accident Hamlet did not show any real type of sympathy towards the situation. Hamlet owned up to what had happened with little to no shame. All his anger and hostility came rushing out and he couldn't control himself.

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Like many things, Hamlet is intelligent and honorable, but his indecisiveness is the cause of his tragic downfall. In the play Hamlet, William Shakespeare portrays that Hamlet is very incapable of finishing the task at hand. Throughout the drama Hamlet faces many trials and tribulations due to his late father Hamlet, who was murderously killed by Claudius. His inability to kill Claudius and himself is one grand flaw of an epic hero. After King Hamlets passing, Hamlet entered an unknown state of mind that not only feared others for his wellbeing, but also feared himself.

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His suicidal thought and his erratic behavior cause for the king, queen, Ophelia and his friends to begin to spy on him just pushes him over the edge. His action cause concern for King Claudius who shows in ways that he is not trusting of Hamlet because of this the King begins to plot with Laertes to kill hamlet in fencing dual. During this dual Hamlet is stabbed and dies from the poison that was on the blade. Gertrude is seems to be a shallow woman in some ways yet King Hamlet, Hamlet and King Claudius are all devoted to her.

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Claudius, as seen in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, is both intelligent and clever, two traits that, put together, complement his manipulative and dangerous nature. Due to his cunning nature he portrays the role of a very complex villain. The death of King Hamlet by Claudius results in Prince Hamlet to act out of character, which thus resulted in the tragic death of Polonius and Ophelia. While Hamlet and Gertrude were having conversation, Polonius was hiding behind the huge carpet that was hanging on the wall. Unknowingly, Hamlet stabs Polonius.

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He becomes more elaborate and his thirst for vengeance isn’t so holy anymore. Hamlet’s self-confidence has been discussed before but it should be repeated. The deception of Hamlet shows that the madness seeping into him starts to drive him to do evil deeds. He is no longer doing things for the greater good anymore, and this does show that the meaning of the play is shifting. It isn't about a strapping young lad on a holy quest to avenge his father any more.

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Hamlet’s hesitant nature is well presented in the play. For one, Hamlet cannot bring forth the strength to end his own life; his indecision of whether or not to commit suicide plagues him for more than half the play.

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In the play, Shakespeare portrays Hamlet as a dynamic character to cause a mental state conundrum among the audience and explore the themes of suicide, spying, friendship, madness, providence, love, hate and humour. Furthermore, by utilising literary devices such as soliloquy, characterisation, dialogue, personification, metaphor, dramatic and situational irony Shakespeare exploits these themes and questions Hamlet’s sanity. In the beginning, Hamlet is portrayed as an overthinking person, claiming to act an antic disposition. However, as the play advances his manic rage and irrational acts such as Polonius’s murder and

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However, Hamlet soon discovers that Claudius has been lying to him, and Claudius’ real motive is to kill Hamlet in order to exterminate all possible threats to his reign. Claudius’ role play affects the entire country of Denmark, and he convinces the people that he is the rightful king, when he is not, and has murdered his brother for the throne. Gertrude, too, takes on a role; throughout the play, she seems oblivious to her wrongdoings. She claims that she loves Claudius, and did not just marry him for political reasons.

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