'Hamlet'

1. Act 3 Scene 4 'Hamlet' Following the play within the play and Hamlet’s attempts to extract the guilt of his mother and his uncle, his mother Gertrude requests his presence in her private chamber. This is the first time that the audience have seen Hamlet and his mother share the stage alone and is indeed the first time that they have addressed each other since Act I Scene II. The scene opens with Polonius once again meddling in the affairs of the Danish court. He instructs Gertrude of what she must say to her wayward son and informs her that he will observe the exchange from behind a tapestry. Hamlet arrives and immediately shows little respect to his mother. He reveals his anger towards her which results in her calling out for help. This action leads Hamlet to take the life of Polonius believing it to be the King. Despite the significance of this crime, Hamlet shows little remorse and instead turns the tables on his mother. Having pointed out her failings and presenting her with the contrasting virtues of her two husbands, the Ghost appears to Hamlet once more in order to remind him that Gertrude’s judgement should be left to God.

2. Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with, And that your grace hath screened and stood between Much heat and him. As the scene opens, Polonius instructs Gertrude of what she must say to Hamlet. He informs her that she must make the young Prince aware of how his erratic behaviour is causing great concern and offence in the Danish court. Polonius describes Hamlet’s recent actions including the play within the play as being mere ‘pranks’ suggesting that he does not realise or appreciate the seriousness that lies at the heart of these actions. Gertrude insists that she will get the answers necessary while Polonius insists that he will observe from behind the tapestry.

3. No, by the rood, not so. You are the queen, your husband’s brother’s wife, And—would it were not so!—you are my mother. When Hamlet joins the Queen in her private chambers, it is the first and indeed only time within the entire play that mother and son will appear on stage alone together. Hamlet is once again open in his disgust and anger towards his mother whom he blames for the troubling recent events in Denmark. The definition of Gertrude as ‘your husband’s brother’s wife’ identify the nature of his anger and the belief that Gertrude is guilty of an incestuous act. It is also clear that Hamlet no longer recognises Gertrude, wishing she was not his mother.

4. Oh, what a rash and bloody deed is this! A bloody deed? Almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king and marry with his brother. As Gertrude struggles, she cries out, alerting Polonius who has been hiding behind the tapestry (arras). Believing it to be the King, Hamlet stabs through the tapestry…thus killing Polonius. This is an action that is out of character; never before have his actions been described as ‘rash’. In previous scenes he had been a victim of his tendency to over think things. Here he acts rashly, without thinking. The tapestry provided a barrier of conscience as he was able to distance himself from the murder as he was unable to see it. Despite this, even once his deed is…

5. Oh, what a rash and bloody deed is this! A bloody deed? Almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king and marry with his brother. …revealed he shows little remorse for his actions, suggesting that Polonius deserved his fate as a result of his meddling, while he turns his crime on his mother by claiming that it is merely almost as ghastly as her own actions. In killing Polonius, Hamlet’s conscience is now stained. He has himself become a killer and as such his quest to avenge his father’s death has now condemned him to walk the fires of Purgatory just like his father. This action also leads to the madness and death of Ophelia and Laertes thirst for revenge.

6. Leave wringing of your hands. Peace. Sit you down And let me wring your heart… This was your husband. Look you now, what follows. Here is your husband, like a mildewed ear Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes? Hamlet takes out his anger and frustration on his mother as he reveals the nature of Claudius’ crimes. Hamlet insists on confronting his mother with her guilt. He insists that he will wring her heart by showing her the true nature of her own failings. He claims that he will present a mirror before her and he does this by placing two pictures before her…one of the late King and one of her new husband Claudius. Hamlet contrasts the two men and their character, idealising his late father and making him appear God like and strong. Hamlet presents Claudius as being unworthy of mention…

7. Leave wringing of your hands. Peace. Sit you down And let me wring your heart… This was your husband. Look you now, what follows. Here is your husband, like a mildewed ear Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes? …establishing a contrast between his weaknesses and the strengths of his father. Hamlet also attempts to reason why Gertrude may have acted in such a way. Hamlet reasons that Gertrude could not possibly be motivated by lust or desire as at her age, physical love is not a primary motivation. As a result he assumes that she may have lost her mind and asks if she has eyes. Can she see what she has done?

8. Do not forget. This visitation Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose. But look, amazement on thy mother sits. O, step between her and her fighting soul. As Hamlet chastises his mother, the Ghost of his late father appears to him for the final time. The ghost had originally instructed Hamlet to leave Gertrude to God’s judgement. The ghost reminds Hamlet of his mission and instructs him once again to leave judgement of his mother. This time however, there is a sense that he must ‘step between her and her fighting soul’. Gertrude cannot see the ghost and fears for her son, believing that his actions are evidence of his madness.

9. My pulse as yours doth temperately keep time And makes as healthful music. It is not madness That I have uttered. Hamlet assures his mother that all that he has told her is true. He insists that she must believe and trust him. He insists that he is not mad, although Gertrude seems to believe that he is. Hamlet later promises his mother not to pass on his words to a single soul. Although she promises to do just this, by the beginning of the next scene she has revealed all to Claudius.