Hamlet Act 3: III and IV Questions

Hamlet

Act III Scenes 3 -4 Study Questions

1) What does Claudius plan to do with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and Hamlet?

He plans to “tame” Hamlet using Rosencrantz and Guildenstern; basically by spying on him when he’s away. 

2) What is Polonius going to do while Hamlet speaks with his mother?

He’s going to hide behind the curtain in Gertrude’s room to listen to what they’re saying and get stabbed by Hamlet.

3) List three important things about Claudius’ soliloquy.

1. Claudius feels extremely guilty because of killing his brother. 
2. Claudius thinks that is asking for forgiveness won’t work because he’s still reaping the benefits of his sin; having the kingdom in his control, and having married Gertrude. 
3. Yet, realizing that he is in distress and still kneels down to pray since he knows he will be punished for his sin. 

4) Why is it odd that Hamlet sees the king praying?

Because he deemed Claudius to be below someone who prays. 

5) Why doesn’t Hamlet take this opportunity for revenge?

The sight of Claudius praying makes Hamlet rethink his choices and decides that he won’t kill Claudius in a moment when he is trying to get back into the good graces of God; rather he will do it when he’s out doing some kind of sin.

Scene IV

1) Describe Polonius’ advice to Gertrude.

Polonius advises Gertrude to be blunt with Hamlet so that he understands how much trouble he’s caused for the king and the queen. 

2) What is the significance of the following quote: “How now, a rat? Dead! For a ducat, dead!

When Hamet hears Polonius’s cries for help, he assumes that it’s Claudius. Due to this assumption, he thinks that he has caught Claudius in a sinful act finally, and unleashes his rage upon him by yelling out that he is a dead rat now that he has exposed himself; stabbing him through the curtains instantly.

3) What is odd about the following quote: A bloody dead; almost as bad, good mother, as kill a king and marry with his brother.

That Hamlet is accusing his mother of killing her husband, or as an associate; when he knows it was Claudius who killed the king. 

4) Why might Gertrude say, “What have I done, that thou dar’st wag thy tongue in noise so rude against me.”

Because Gertrude has no idea where Hamlet’s anger is rooted from beside his father’s death. 

5) What descriptions does Hamlet use to compare his father and his uncle?

King Hamlet: He describes his father’s appearance like that of a Greek god; he was shaped like Mercury: “New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill—/ A combination and a form indeed” (60).

Claudius: He then proceeds to compare him to Claudius saying: “Here is your husband, like a mildewed ear/ Blasting his wholesome brother.” 

6) What point does Hamlet make by comparing the men?

That his mother made the wrong choice by marrying his uncle, and his father was worthy of more than losing his widowed wife to someone who isn’t nearly as good as him. 

7) What is disturbing about the following: Nay, but to live in the rank sweat of an enseamed bed; stewed in corruption; honeying, and making love over the nasty sty.”

This quote sums up Hamlet’s perspective of his mother’s marriage with his uncle: as something disgusting that shouldn’t be happening. 

8) What stops Hamlet’s ranting and raving at Gertrude? What does this figure tell Hamlet?

His father’s Ghost. He reminds Hamlet that his planned revenge on Claudius is still due.

9) By the end of the act, Hamlet has made many statements about humanity, in general. Explain a few of his points. Do his opinions reflect his madness.

Hamlet’s monologues and revelations about human life, “to be or not to be” is definitely alluding to his “madness”. Whether it actually confirms it, I’m not sure. He recognizes how untrustworthy women are through his mother and Ophelia’s actions, but chooses to react to that in an aggressive way. That too could be considered a sign of madness. 

10) Explain the differences between the ghost in Act I with the ghost in Act III. Why might these differences reflect Hamlet’s insanity?

The ghost, as shown in Act III is only visible to some people since Gertrude doesn’t see the ghost. In Act I, the ghost is seen by everyone present and Hamlet is given vital information by the ghost which he accepts without questioning. But the ghost in Act III may just be considered a figment of Hamlet’s imagination since Gertrude can’t see it, and the ghost seems a lot more assertive in his position--to motivate Hamlet or to scare him--than in the first scene where it’s with Hamlet.