Dramatic Purpose of a Scene, Act 1 scene 3

1. Dramatic Purpose of a Scene, Act 1 scene 3 By: Katie, Jenn and Nicole

2. Reveals the nature of important characters • Point: In this scene, the nature of Laertes, an important character in the play is revealed, which heightens the reader’s understanding of his personality and his motivations to act the way that he does. Laertes is a passionate character who sincerely looks out for his sister and does whatever he can to protect her by having her best interests at heart, but in some cases he may act too quickly. In this scene of Hamlet, Laertes’ relationship with his sister Ophelia is exposed. Ophelia makes Laertes seem like a hypocrite when he gives her brotherly advice, but then acts in contradiction to what he tells her. • Proof: • Advice Laertes gives to Ophelia:“For nature, crescent, does not grow alone/ In thews and bulk, but, as this temple waxes,/ The inward service of the mind and soul/ Grows wide withal.” (I. iii. 11-14) • Ophelia’s response:“But, good my brother,/ Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,/ Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven/ Whiles, like a puffed and reckless libertine,/ Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads/ And recks not his own rede.” (I. iii. 45-50)

3. Reveals the nature of important characters • Analysis:This is the first scene in which the reader is truly introduced to the character Laertes, allowing the reader to form an opinion about his character based on what he says to his beloved sister. Laertes is advising Ophelia to not give in to Hamlet’s demands and wishes, because they are merely affections at the moment and will not turn into anything greater than that. The first quotation describes Laertes’ view on a young man and how he grows, saying that a youth does not only grow bigger in size, but the size of his responsibilities also grow with age. Laertes does not approve of his sister’s association with Hamlet, and this quotation proves why. Hamlet, being part of the royal family has much larger obligations to his country than to Ophelia. Laertes believes that Hamlet is like any typical young man, which is quick, hasty and not meaning what they say. On one hand, the reader understands what Laertes is saying, and agrees that his advice is accurate, but on the other hand, Ophelia lets us know that perhaps Laertes is one of these “young men” that he, himself is describing. This quotation proves that for the most part Laertes is caring for his sister in the best way that he can. In the second quotation, Ophelia tells her brother that she will remember what he has told her, but that he should make sure to follow the advice he gives and not act in a hypocritical manner. So far the reader has no evidence that Laertes is a man who offers women things that are not real, or that he takes advantage of young women in the way that Laertes suggests Hamlet does. However, Ophelia’s remarks to her brother reveal that perhaps Laertes is looking out for his sister, but his true character is one that puts on a false appearance to get what he wants. Since the reader has not seen Laertes act rudely and superior to women at this point in the play, the words that Ophelia says to him could be foreshadowing the real nature of Laertes that is to be revealed later on in the play.

4. Reveals Opposition or Loyalty to an Important Character • Point: Opposition is the action of a group of people or one person opposing or protesting against someone else or another group of people. In Act 1, Scene 3 the characters that are opposing one another are Laretes and Polonius towards Hamlet. These two characters both have negative opinions of Hamlet. • Proof: Their opposing opinions of Hamlet are negative because they are both afraid that Hamlet will hurt Ophelia, loving daughter and sister of the two characters. Prehaps he loves you now, and now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch the virtue of his will, but you must fear. His greatness weighed, his will is not his own, for he himself is subject to his birth.” (I.iii.14-18) • Analysis: This quotation is Laretes talking to his sister Ophelia, he is telling her that she must keep her eye out when loving Hamlet and that he cannot be completely trusted because he is a part of the royal family. This quotation is showing the audience that Laretes does not trust Hamlet himself. Hamlet is seen as an untrustworthy person in the eyes of Laretes and Polonius however, it is implied that Ophelia loves him. The fact that her family does not approve of her lover teaches her that he cannot be completely trusted.

5. Advances the Plot • Point: In this scene, Polonius and Laertes try to convince Ophelia to cut all ties between her and Hamlet. By doing this, Polonius believes that Hamlet will become sane again and that Ophelia is the only reason for his behavior. This advances the plot because the audience knows that, the real reason for Hamlet’s behavior is because of the revenge he is planning on Claudius. • Proof: “From this time, daughter/ be somewhat scanter of your presence;/ set your entreatments at a higher rate/ than a command to parley. For lord Hamlet/ believe so much in him, that he is young/ and with a larger tether/ than may be given to you.”(I. iii. 120-126) • Analysis: Polonius convinces Ophelia that Hamlet is just using her, and only thinks of her as a trophy. By convincing Ophelia that Hamlet does not really love her, and that she should return all of his gifts and to stop talking to her, Polonius believes that Hamlet will become himself again. This is also a benefit to Polonius because he does not want his daughter seeing Hamlet anyways because he wants Ophelia to remain chaste.

6. Hamlet Act 1, Scene 3

7. Develops Pathos • Point:Pathos, a Greek term which is used to describe a situation that elicits pity from the audience, is effectively developed in this scene. After Laertes has left, his father Polonius talks to Ophelia, his daughter, in a cruel and ruthless way by harping on her involvement with Hamlet. The conversation that Polonius has with his daughter appeals to the reader’s emotions and allows the reader to feel the same kind of pain that Ophelia feels at that moment. • Proof:“Affection! Pooh, you speak like a green girl,/ Unsifted in such perilous circumstance./ Do you believe his “tenders,” as you call them?” (I. iii. 101-103)

8. Develops Pathos • Analysis:In this quotation, Polonius is brutally attacking his daughter and accusing her of being an innocent girl who does not understand how the world works. Ophelia tells her father that lately Hamlet has been offering her a lot of affection and love, but Polonius does not believe a word she says because of the way he feels about Hamlet. Ophelia comes to her father simply to receive any sort of advice or wise words that he may be able to offer, and at the end of Polonius’ ranting and scolding, Ophelia leaves with nothing but a shattered heart, feeling hurt and as though she is worthless. Polonius insults his daughter, and it seem as though he enjoys doing it and acting like he is a powerful, insightful and honest man. The verbal abuse that Polonius delivers towards his daughter is what develops pathos in this scene of Hamlet. When Polonius yells loudly at his own daughter, Ophelia beings to cry and wince at the terrible things that her father says about her lack of intelligence and foolish actions. The reader immediately sides with Ophelia because she is the victim in this scene, evoking a wide range of emotional responses from the reader or audience member. The scene has an emotional impact on the reader causing him or her to sympathize with Ophelia and feel the deep sadness that she is experiencing. When viewing the scene as an audience member, pathos is developed in a more effective way than when reading the scene. This is because the audience has the advantage of seeing the body language, emotions, and hearing how the actors deliver their lines in the way that they were intended to sound. Since pathos is successfully developed by Shakespeare, from now on the reader will dislike Polonius’ character due to the way he treated his daughter in this scene.

9. Demonstrates Contrast • Point: Contrast can be demonstrated by one character towards one or more characters. In Act 1, Scene 3 Polonius demonstrates contrast by treating his children with different attitudes towards them. • Proof: “Give thy thoughts no tounge, nor any unproportioned thought his ac. Be thou familiar but by no means vulgur.” (I.iii.59-61) • “Marry, I’ll teach you. Think yourself a baby that you have ta’en these tenders for true pay, which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly, or – not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, running it thus – you’ll tender me a fool.” (I.iii.105-109) • Analysis: For instance, Polonius is talking to Laretes about leaving and he seems to be more insightful and loving towards him. He seems to favourLaretes and treat him with more care and respect. When talking to Ophelia, Polonius seems to not care about her feelings and tends to be more stick with her. He does not take her feelings into consideration at all and tells her to end anything going on with herself and Hamlet. Anyone reading the play or viewing it can tell that Polonius favours his son over his daughter. When comparing the way he speaks with one child compared to the other he is more up front with Ophelia but with Laretes he chooses to make his words sound almost poetic.

10. Develops Irony • Point: Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows a secret but the characters in the play do not. Irony is used in this scene when Polonius and Laertes are lecturing Ophelia on how to remain a virgin, and how important chastity is. This is ironic because it is implied throughout the audience that Ophelia and Hamlet have already had sex. • Proof: “’Tis told me hath very oft late/Given private time to you, and you yourself/Have of your audience been most free and bounteous/ If it be as so ‘tis put on me-/ And that in way of caution- I must tell you/You do not understand yourself so clearly/As it behooves my daughter and your honor.” (I. iii. 91-97) • Analysis: In this quotation Polonius tells Ophelia how important it is to act proper and to stay a virgin. Polonius confronts Ophelia that he has heard that she has been spending a lot of time with him, and has made herself quite available to Hamlet. In other words, her father suspects that she and Hamlet have already have had sex. Ophelia responds to him with very short answers that have very little detail, this implies that her and Hamlet have already had sex and her father does not know. This is Dramatic irony because the audience knows something that some of the characters do not.

11. The End