Act 3, Scenes 1-2
What is the point of Hamlet’s “To be or not to be”
soliloquy? What is the underlying question?
 Does Hamlet mean what he says to Ophelia? What
does it show you about his view of women in
general?
 Hamlet comments on marriage in these scenes.
Why does he tell Ophelia “Get thee to a nunnery”?
Why does he say this? What is he saying about
marriage in general?
 What is Gertrude referring to in Line 226 (white
version)/Line 254 (orange version)? Why is this
line so famous?

Act 3, Scenes 1-2
What is the point of Hamlet’s “To be or not to be”
soliloquy? What is the underlying question?
 Does Hamlet mean what he says to Ophelia? What
does it show you about his view of women in
general?
 Hamlet comments on marriage in these scenes.
Why does he tell Ophelia “Get thee to a nunnery”?
Why does he say this? What is he saying about
marriage in general?
 What is Gertrude referring to in Line 226 (white
version)/Line 254 (orange version)? Why is this
line so famous?

Act 3, Scenes 1-2

Hamlet comments on marriage in these scenes.
Why does he tell Ophelia “Get thee to a nunnery”?
Why does he say this? What is he saying about
marriage in general?
◦ Hamlet is generally angry about marriage due to his
mother’s hasty marriage to his uncle. He is untrusting of all
women and advises Ophelia to go to nunnery to keep her
from marrying and having more “sinners” or children who
will grow up and marry as well. Perhaps he wants her there
to protect her from his increasing instability as well.
Act 3, Scenes 1-2

What is Gertrude referring to in Line 226 (white
version)/Line 254 (orange version)? Why is this
line so famous?

Gertrude is referring to the actress Queen that she really vows
to never marry because in that time period, protest means
vow.
This phrase has been used as a figure of speech to show a
person's repeated attempts to convince others of something
have ironically helped to convince others that the opposite is
true, by making the person look insincere and defensive.

Homework

Read Act 3, Scenes 3-4 and answer
corresponding questions.
Soliloquy

Think of a time in your life when you had to
make an important decision. In the style of
Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” soliloquy,
write a poem in which you mull and
struggle over a decision. Include the
thoughts that went through your head –
perhaps the pros, the cons, and what your
final thought was.
◦ “To play or not to play:” Trying to decide whether
or not to play a sport in high school
◦ “To ask or not to ask:” Asking someone to the
prom or out on a date.
Soliloquy

Your soliloquy should be 15-20 lines
long and open with a “To_____ or
not to_____” that clearly shows your
struggle from the outset. You will
share your poem with the class, so do
not include anything that you would
not be comfortable having your
classmates hear. Your poem may be
funny and whimsical or more serious
if you so choose.
Homework
Finish soliloquy. Be ready to share
tomorrow.
 Read Act 3, Scenes 3-4 and answer
corresponding questions.

Act 3, Scenes 3-4

How does Hamlet react after he murders
Polonius? What does this show you about
his current mental state?
◦ Hamlet acts triumphant after he stabs through
the arras. He believes he killed King Claudius.
When he learns it is Polonius, he shows no
remorse. Hamlet’s mental state could be
described as unstable.
◦ Line 27 white book, line 32 orange book
◦ Line 32 white book, line 38 orange book.
Act 3, Scenes 3-4

What occurs beginning on Line 36 (white
version)/Line 40 (orange version) of Scene
3? Compare Claudius’s thoughts on his own
guilt as he tries to pray to Gertrude’s
recognition of her guilt when confronted by
Hamlet.
◦ Claudius tries to pray for confession, but he says
how can he ask for forgiveness when he still
possesses all that he gained from the murder.
◦ Gertrude is horrified to learn about the murder of
King Hamlet and did not know about it.
Act 3, Scenes 3-4

In Scene 4, how is the theme of incest
seen in Hamlet’s conversation with
Gertrude? (Include quotes from their
conversation that illustrate this.)
◦ Freud wrote that Hamlet had an Oedipus
complex.
◦ Line 20 orange, line 16 white
◦ “You are the Queen, your husband’s
brother’s wife.
◦ Line 104 orange, Line 92 white “In the
rank sweat of an enseamed bed, stewed in
corruption.
Act 3, Scenes 3-4

How do Gertrude’s changing emotions
convey the idea that women are
unable to act and react without the
direction of men?
Line 202 orange, 181 white she asks Hamlet
what she should do
 Line 224 orange, line 201 white She needs
Hamlet to remind her his departure for
England. She lets other make decisions
about him.
 Lines 99 and 107 orange, 89 and 95 white
She’s begging Hamlet to stop telling her
about the murder and she appears frail.

Act 3, Scenes 3-4

Hamlet is now obsessed with gaining
certain, divine knowledge.
◦ Wants to know God’s plan
◦ Wants to know that Claudius will go to
hell after death