Summary:
In scene 1 opens with two gravediggers preparing the grave for Ophelia and thay are talking about if she really deserves a Christain funeral. Then Hamlet and Horatio show up and Hamlet goes to talk to one of the men because they are singing while they dig, he finds this extremely unappropriate. When they are talking the man starts talking about Hamlet, not knowing that it is he who he's talking to. Then the king, queen, and Laertes show up; when Laertes dives into the grave Hamlet comes forward and they start fighting because no one believes that Hamlet really loved Ophelia.
In scene 2 we find out that Hamlet opened the letter from the king that said Hamlet was to be killed immediately. After he read it he wrote a new one to be delievered. Then a messenger Osric shows up to tell Hamlet about a bet and in the process praise Laertes. Hamlet accepts the bet, but both Hamlet and Laertes are wounded with poison on the sword and the queen is poisoned with a drink meant for Hamlet. Once Hamlet figures out whats going on he forces the king to drink, and he also dies. So Colonius, Gertrude, Hamlet, and Laertes all die and Horatio is left to tell the story.
Questions:
Yes, Hamlet did love Ophelia.
Yes, the Queen did know.
Ophelia kills herself because she has great greif over everything in her life. She can't have a proper burial because her death was suspicious and could have been suicide.
Hamlet is mad indeed and not pretending.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Act 4 Notes
Summary:
In scene 1 not very much happens, Gertrude tells Claudius that Hamlet killed Poloinous then Rosencratz and Guildenstern go to get Hamlet and the dead body to bring them to the chapel.
In scene 2 Rosencratz and Guildenstern find Hamlet but he refuses to give them the body, then Hamlet calls them sponges to the king (they seek information for him then he squeezes them dry) and fools.
In scene 3 Hamlet talks to Claudius and is told he has no choice but to go to England, and Hamlet doesn't really put up much of a fight. In a strange way he tells Claudius that he is his mother, because when man and wife marry they become one flesh. Then at the end of the scene we hear Claudius confess that he is going to have Hamlet killed in England.
In scene 4 Hamlet has a conversation with a captain of the army of Norway as they are on their way through Denmark to invade Poland. Hamlet talks about how everything in anyones life has a core of evil and that if he doesn't see the evil in a thought that its not worth a moment of his time.
In scene 5 Ophelia sings a song to the king and queen and it is very obvious that she has lost her mind. When Claudius is complaing to his wife that is when Laertes and a mob come in, because they all believe that he should be kind, not Claudius. However Claudius calms Laertes down somewhat enough to an agreement that he will listen to Cladius's story before seeking revenge.
In scene 6 Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet saying that he is a prisinor on a pirate ship, he says to show these letters to the king and to come save him.
In scene 7 Claudius tells Laertes that he is completely innocent and that the death of his father is all Hamlet's fault and the only reason he hasn't killed Hamlet is because his mother and the public loves him. They decide that they want to trick Hamlet into his own death, by setting up a fencing between the two when he gets back. Then Gertrude comes in and tells them that Ophelia has drowned.
Soliloques':
All of Hamlet's soliloques are very significant because they let us hear what is going on inside his mind. Some people wonder if Hamlet really is mad or if he just wants everyone to think that he is. I think the soliloques' show us that he is not pretending, because it shows us not only what he says to other people, but what is going on in his own head.
Ophelia:
After Polonius dies Ophelia seems to loose her mind, her song she sings to the queen is all about love. Then she presents the characters with flowers-
Rosemary--remembrance, to Laertes: (remeber their father)
Pansies--thoughts, also to Laertes (they must be strong in their minds and hearts to get through the loss)
Fennel--flattery, to King (Because no one except Hamlet ever speaks a bad word about him)
Columbines--thankfulness, to Queen (she should be thankful for the love in her life)
Rue--sorrow, also to Queen (she shouldn't forget the hearache of her lost love)
Daisy--a warning to women who are too easily persuaded to love, to Gertrude (she married her dead husbands brother)
Violets--faithfulness, cannot give--explanation toward Horatio (they all died with the death of her father)
In scene 1 not very much happens, Gertrude tells Claudius that Hamlet killed Poloinous then Rosencratz and Guildenstern go to get Hamlet and the dead body to bring them to the chapel.
In scene 2 Rosencratz and Guildenstern find Hamlet but he refuses to give them the body, then Hamlet calls them sponges to the king (they seek information for him then he squeezes them dry) and fools.
In scene 3 Hamlet talks to Claudius and is told he has no choice but to go to England, and Hamlet doesn't really put up much of a fight. In a strange way he tells Claudius that he is his mother, because when man and wife marry they become one flesh. Then at the end of the scene we hear Claudius confess that he is going to have Hamlet killed in England.
In scene 4 Hamlet has a conversation with a captain of the army of Norway as they are on their way through Denmark to invade Poland. Hamlet talks about how everything in anyones life has a core of evil and that if he doesn't see the evil in a thought that its not worth a moment of his time.
In scene 5 Ophelia sings a song to the king and queen and it is very obvious that she has lost her mind. When Claudius is complaing to his wife that is when Laertes and a mob come in, because they all believe that he should be kind, not Claudius. However Claudius calms Laertes down somewhat enough to an agreement that he will listen to Cladius's story before seeking revenge.
In scene 6 Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet saying that he is a prisinor on a pirate ship, he says to show these letters to the king and to come save him.
In scene 7 Claudius tells Laertes that he is completely innocent and that the death of his father is all Hamlet's fault and the only reason he hasn't killed Hamlet is because his mother and the public loves him. They decide that they want to trick Hamlet into his own death, by setting up a fencing between the two when he gets back. Then Gertrude comes in and tells them that Ophelia has drowned.
Soliloques':
All of Hamlet's soliloques are very significant because they let us hear what is going on inside his mind. Some people wonder if Hamlet really is mad or if he just wants everyone to think that he is. I think the soliloques' show us that he is not pretending, because it shows us not only what he says to other people, but what is going on in his own head.
Ophelia:
After Polonius dies Ophelia seems to loose her mind, her song she sings to the queen is all about love. Then she presents the characters with flowers-
Rosemary--remembrance, to Laertes: (remeber their father)
Pansies--thoughts, also to Laertes (they must be strong in their minds and hearts to get through the loss)
Fennel--flattery, to King (Because no one except Hamlet ever speaks a bad word about him)
Columbines--thankfulness, to Queen (she should be thankful for the love in her life)
Rue--sorrow, also to Queen (she shouldn't forget the hearache of her lost love)
Daisy--a warning to women who are too easily persuaded to love, to Gertrude (she married her dead husbands brother)
Violets--faithfulness, cannot give--explanation toward Horatio (they all died with the death of her father)
Act 3 Notes
Summary:
In scene 1 Claudius and Polonius put there plan into action by leaving Ophelia alone and spying to see how Hamlet reacts to being around her. Hamlet talks about the rights and wrongs of death and living a life you don't want to. Then he tells Ophelia that he doesn't love her and that all women are heartless whores.
In scene 2 the players preform a play that strangely relates to Hamlet's mother and father. But in the middle of the play, when they start talking about the king being killed by poison in his ears Claudius runs out. When Hamlet is talking to his friends he receives word that his mom wants to chat with him soon.
In scene 3 Claudius is praying and confessing his sins when Hamlet walks in ready with his sword to kill him, but then he realizes that if he dies at this moment he will be sent to heaven, so he decided to wait until Claudius is doing something completely sinful then kill him before he has a chance to ask for forgiveness, just like his father died.
In scene 4 when Hamlet goes to talk to his mother he notices that Polinious is behind the tapestry and kills him with his sword. Then once Hamlet starts giving his mother hell the ghost appears and Hamlet realizes that his mother cannot see him. Then in the end Hamlet asks his mother to stay way from his uncles bed tonight and not to fall into his trap because once you say no once, it becomes easier the next time and the next and the next.
Themes:
Redemption Questions-
1. King Hamlet was murdered and he never got a chance to confess his sins.
2. Because Claudius is praying and begging for mercy, if Hamlet kills him now then he will go to heaven, he wants him to die while he's living a sin and has no chance to ask for forgiveness.
Examples-
Friendship/Loyalty- Hamlets friends are going with him to England
Revenge- Hamlet plans to kill Claudius.
Regret- Gertrude's obvious pain when Hamlet is confronting her.
Betrayal- During the play when the wife makes her promise to her husband (relates to Hamlet's parents)
In scene 1 Claudius and Polonius put there plan into action by leaving Ophelia alone and spying to see how Hamlet reacts to being around her. Hamlet talks about the rights and wrongs of death and living a life you don't want to. Then he tells Ophelia that he doesn't love her and that all women are heartless whores.
In scene 2 the players preform a play that strangely relates to Hamlet's mother and father. But in the middle of the play, when they start talking about the king being killed by poison in his ears Claudius runs out. When Hamlet is talking to his friends he receives word that his mom wants to chat with him soon.
In scene 3 Claudius is praying and confessing his sins when Hamlet walks in ready with his sword to kill him, but then he realizes that if he dies at this moment he will be sent to heaven, so he decided to wait until Claudius is doing something completely sinful then kill him before he has a chance to ask for forgiveness, just like his father died.
In scene 4 when Hamlet goes to talk to his mother he notices that Polinious is behind the tapestry and kills him with his sword. Then once Hamlet starts giving his mother hell the ghost appears and Hamlet realizes that his mother cannot see him. Then in the end Hamlet asks his mother to stay way from his uncles bed tonight and not to fall into his trap because once you say no once, it becomes easier the next time and the next and the next.
Themes:
Redemption Questions-
1. King Hamlet was murdered and he never got a chance to confess his sins.
2. Because Claudius is praying and begging for mercy, if Hamlet kills him now then he will go to heaven, he wants him to die while he's living a sin and has no chance to ask for forgiveness.
Examples-
Friendship/Loyalty- Hamlets friends are going with him to England
Revenge- Hamlet plans to kill Claudius.
Regret- Gertrude's obvious pain when Hamlet is confronting her.
Betrayal- During the play when the wife makes her promise to her husband (relates to Hamlet's parents)
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