Act 3 Summary
Act 3.1 Character List
 King
 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
 Queen
 Hamlet
 Ophelia
 Polonius
 R & G report that Hamlet gives no reason for his mental
state, reports he speaks with a “crafty madness”
 King is invited to play, seems encouraged and tells R & G to
keep talking to Hamlet
 Gertrude is sent away as King and Polonius plot to watch
Ophelia and Hamlet encounter
 Gertrude hopes Ophelia is the reason for Hamlet’s
“wildness” and that she can cure him
 Polonius instructs Ophelia on what to do
 Claudius makes remark about his “heavy burden”
 Claudius and Polonius hide as Hamlet enters the room
 Hamlet delivers his famous “to be or not to be” soliloquy:
contemplating death and uncertainty
 He sees Ophelia and a few things happen:
 He warmly welcomes Ophelia
 She tries to give back “remembrances” (love notes, gifts)
 He denies ever giving her anything and begins to mess with
her head: “I did love you once…I loved you not”
 Puts her and all women and marriage down: “Get thee to a
nunnery”
 Asks about her father; she says he is at home (in the film…he
clearly knows he is being watched…the text doesn’t support
this either way)
 After verbally abusing her, he leaves, she is upset.
 Claudius doesn’t believe in Polonius’s theory
 Believes Hamlet is dangerous and will send him away to
England
 Polonius still believes in his love theory and creates
another plan: after the plan he will eavesdrop on Gertrude
and Hamlet; if she can’t figure out what is wrong then send
him to England
 Claudius: “Madness in great ones must not unwatched go”
(3.1.193).
Act 3.2 Character List
 Players
 King
 Queen
 Hamlet
 Polonius
 Ophelia
 Horatio
 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
 Hamlet instructs actors how to say lines
 Hamlet asks Horatio to watch Claudius’s reaction to
play and they will both judge if he is guilty
 Enter Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius, Ophelia: Hamlet
is rude and abusive to all
 A “dumb” show is presented that gives a “preview” of the bigger play
 Hamlet continues to be abusive of Ophelia
 Play begins: Player King is dying, Player Queen says she will never
remarry; Player King says she will
 The main event in the play takes place: the poisoning of the Player King
 The King rises; things are a little chaotic as everyone leaves
 Horatio and Hamlet confirm the ghost’ word: Claudius is guilty
 R & G tell Hamlet his mother wants to see him in her
room
 Hamlet accuses R & G of trying to play him
 He goes to see mother: wants to be “cruel, not
unnatural” (3.2.398).
Act 3.3 Character List
 King
 Hamlet
 Polonius
 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
Scene 3 Details
 Claud tells R & G they will take Hamlet to England; he is worried
about his position
 Polonius will spy on Hamlet and his mother behind a curtain
(“arras”).
 Claudius has a soliloquy where he admits his “offense is rank”
and he can’t pray and ask for forgiveness because he is not
willing to give up: “my crown, mine own ambition, and my
queen” (3.3.55).
 Hamlet has another soliloquy: he could kill the king right then,
but thinks he is confessing (which wouldn’t be revenge)
 He will wait until Claudius is sinning so he will go straight to hell
Act 3.4 Character List
 Gertrude
 Hamlet
 Polonius
 Ghost
Scene 4 Details
 Polonius hides behind a curtain to spy on Gertrude and Hamlet
 Hamlet comes in and says harsh things to his mom which scares her
 Polonius screams for help and is stabbed by Hamlet
 Hamlet is only disappointed that it ISN’T Claudius
 Hamlet compares vices of Claudius to virtues of his dad; Gertrude can’t
take what he is saying
 Hamlet hints at Claudius killing his dad
Scene 4 details
 Ghost appears to Hamlet, it reminds Hamlet of his purpose and to help his
mother
 Queen is worried about Hamlet’s state of mind because she doesn’t see
anything
 Hamlet tries to convince her that he is not crazy and that she should repent and
stop being with Claudius
 He looks at Polonius’s body and feels only a bit bad about it; he will answer for
it
 He then tells Gertrude to go ahead and tell Claudius…see what happens
(sarcastically…and a threat)
 Tells mom he is going to England with R & G whom he trusts “as [he] will
adders fanged” (3.4.209); he will beat them at their own game.
 Drags Polonius’s body away and bids his mother goodnight