You will select a question from the list below and respond to it for the Act I thread. You will also respond to another classmate's post. (You should have two posts total for Acts II & III).
1. The First Player's speech is often cut in performances of the play. Explain why it is important and why it should not be cut.
2. Hamlet's "O what a rogue and peasant slave am I" is the first of his soliloquies. What is he saying, and how does this set of words help to move him to action? What does he decide to do at the end of this speech?
3. What is the subject of Hamlet's second soliloquy, the famous "To be or not to be" speech?
Why is he so cruel to Ophelia immediately thereafter?
4. Why does Hamlet decline to take action against Claudius in III.iii? What does this reveal about Hamlet and the use of religion in the play?
5. What happens in III.iv (the closet scene)? Why is this death so important for the play, or what does the death of this figure represent?
6. Based on what you've seen in III.iv, do you think Gertrude knew about the murder?
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1. The First Player's speech is often cut in performances of the play. Explain why it is important and why it should not be cut.
ReplyDeleteIn this scene we encounter Polonius and Raynaldo. Even thou this scene is not necessary to the plot of the play, and gets cut out from all film adaptations, i would say this scene is rather important, because due to what polonius does to laertes to find out if laertes is fooling around, polonius comes up with a plan that will lead him to say the truth.
Hamlet then comes into play as he is trying to find out if the King is guilty of his fathers death.So he uses a similar method, hamlet plays a play thats similar to the way his father died and plans to watch the kings reactions towards the play to see if hes guilty. Hamlet then finds out he is sohe goes crazy leading him to make justice.
5. What happens in III.iv (the closet scene)? Why is this death so important for the play, or what does the death of this figure represent?
ReplyDeleteIn act 3 scene 4 we see Hamlet and Gertrude alone. In This scene Hamlet releases all his anger and frustration to his mother, Queen Gertrude. At this point she Doesnt understand whats going on with hamlet, hamlet tells his mom how she has offended King Hamlet by marring claudius.
Hamlet then makes this scene more dramatic as he brings the ghost of his father into play, causing diffrent reactions among Gertrude and Hamlet. Gertrude doesnt see the ghost, but understands hamlets maddness. Hsmlet is confused as thou he doesnt understand why his cant see or hear the ghost of his father?
Shane
ReplyDelete2. Hamlet's "O what a rogue and peasant slave am I" is the first of his soliloquies. What is he saying, and how does this set of words help to move him to action? What does he decide to do at the end of this speech?
After Hamlet has seen the players and everyone exits, Hamlet opens his soliloquy by being sullen and self-deprecating as usual. He deems himself a "rogue and peasant slave." Rogue in this context (as it has many definitions) probably meaning deceitful or unreliable. Nevertheless the word has nothing but negative and derogatory connotations which in any use. Hamlet begins to envy the player for the remainder of his speech. He finds it "monstrous" that the player could so convincingly and passionately "force his soul so to his own conceit," when he is simply just pretending. Hamlet however, does nothing. He continues to say, "What would he do, Had he the motive and the cue for passion that I have?” If this “monstrous” talent actually had a motive behind it, he would be unbelievable “and amaze indeed the very faculties of eyes and ears.” Hamlet relates this to himself. “Yet I, A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak, Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause, And can say nothing; no, not for a king, Upon whose property and most dear life A damn'd defeat was made.” Hamlet, with the most moving motivation a man can endure, has done nothing, left “unpregnant” of his cause. He continues to belittle himself, but then he uses this realization to ultimately move himself to action. Hamlet decides he will reveal King Claudius through a play, the thing that aroused envy in him. He discovered the power of acting (which marveled him in its inaction) and then decided to take action in this inaction. Or something like that, its supposed to be “ironic” and “contrasting” and all those wonderful things that Shakespeare apparently admired. He (Shakespeare) is also apparently making his own commentary of his profession. The end.
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ReplyDeleteLike Shane I believe that in this soliloquy Hamlet is comparing him self the emotions he has about this whole ordeal, to that of the actor. He is trying to figure out how this actor is able to feel so much emotion over something that is make believe. Hamlet believes that if this person was going through the same thing he was, his tears would flood the stage and that he would leave a great impression on the audience. Hamlet is so moved by the actor’s performance he decides to step up his plan of revenge and comes to the conclusion that the play will revel his uncle’s guilt of killing Hamlet I.
ReplyDeleteThe First Player's speech is often cut in performances of the play. Explain why it is important and why it should not be cut
ReplyDeleteThe First Player’s scene is usually cut because it may be to long for film adaptations. By cutting this scene we aren’t able to see what becomes the driving force behind Hamlet’s actions following the actor’s speech. The speech is what inspires Hamlet’s soliloquy that ultimately leads up to his idea of the play. Without this scene Hamlet’s soliloquy wouldn’t make much sense, because in his soliloquy he refers back to the actor’s performance. From there Hamlet is inspired to advance his plan of revenge.
In my opinion the actor’s speech is one of the most important scene of this play.
If it weren’t important I don’t believe Shakespeare would have bother to write it.
Question 4, Does Hamlet decline to take action against Claudius in III.iii? What does this reveal about Hamlet and the use of religion in the play?
ReplyDeleteDuring Act III Scene iii Hamlet, on his way to his mother's closet, stumbles upon Claudius praying. initially he contemplates killing Claudius but decides against it because killing him during prayer would ultimately send him to heaven. This action raises questions. One being how much truth is there in Hamlet's reasoning? Does he believe what he has just said? One can note that god's law also forbids murder. Therefore, Hamlet does not conform to religion in an absolute way. Perhaps Hamlet is using religion to justify his actions. Maybe Hamlet is scared and does not truly want to kill Claudius thus he is using religion to avoid it for the time being. Through this scene Shakespeare is creating a commentary on religion and how the population uses it to justify certain actions while not submitting their other actions to the same standards.
Question 5, What happens in III.iv (the closet scene)? Why is this death so important for the play, or what does the death of this figure represent?
ReplyDeleteAct III's scene iv consists of Hamlet's meeting with his mother in her closet. He is at first speaking harshly with her then becomes aware of Polonius behind a curtain and kills him. The ghost then reappears telling Hamlet that he should leave his mother be and avenge his death, for he has killed the wrong man. The appearance of the ghost is one of the most peculiar parts of the scene because while Hamlet is completely aware of the ghost Gertrude is not. This makes one wonder whether Hamlet was imagining the ghost. But this becomes further puzzling when one remembers that the castle guards and Horatio had all seen the ghost. Most would agree that when multiple people, one being a skeptic, believe they have seen the same ghost something is definitely up. Is Hamlet's second observation of the ghost his imagination? Does the ghost have the power to make himself appear only to Hamlet and not Gertrude? The death of Polonius demonstrates that Hamlet is capable of murder. Because Hamlet has killed Polonius believing it was king Claudius he has not avenged his father's death and is already guilty of murder. This murder raises the question: why can Hamlet kill Polonius but not Claudius? I believe that because Hamlet believed Polonius to be Claudius he was able to kill him. If Claudius was behind the curtain he was 1. not praying 2. committing the sin of eavesdropping. Hamlet would have later been able to ration his actions through religion. Another reason Hamlet killed the form behind the curtain was because he was acting out of passion and could not control his emotions at the moment. His conversation with his mother was pretty involved. This death is important because Hamlet has now murdered an innocent man, and has proved he is capable of murder. How will he ever deal?
Selin's commentary on Cynthia's commentary,
ReplyDeleteI as well believe that the first player's part is removed from film adaptations because it is too long. While the first player's part is important to the plot and understanding Hamlet's reasoning, it is left out because the film adaptation could survive without it. Shakespearian language is trying and difficult at times for many that may be watching the movie. By introducing a new character with a long monologue spectators may become confused as it is brand new and the players have never been seen before. Perhaps for some film adaptations it is easier and less of a "tangent" to cut the first player and include Hamlet's rationale to put on the play. It is too bad that the first player's part does not make it into many film adaptations. It is essential to understanding Hamlet's rationale and what Shakespeare was trying to say about drama and the theatre.
4. Why does Hamlet decline to take action against Claudius in III.iii? What does this reveal about Hamlet and the use of religion in the play?
ReplyDeleteReligion in this play is only used in this play as a means to justify actions. Hamlet in Act 1 condemned religion for not allowing him to part on to the afterlife. He was utterly depressed and contemplated suicide to “end” (emphasis) it all, the miserable life without his adored father. However religion in a way acts a wall almost; Hamlet indeed condemned religion, but was he bringing up that point to weasel his way out of suicide? Surely he could have just ended his life as it was without having to have met the ghost and bringing about the creation of further tragedy. Again this is seen when Hamlet encounters Claudius praying and attempting to repent for his sinful ways. Hamlet sees this moment as inopportune because Claudius was repenting, and if he had slain him there and then he would have only done him a favor by sending him to heaven. He wanted him to die in the most horrid manner at his disposal, memorable if when he were in his “incestuous pleasure of his bed.” Since his father was not given the opportunity to have a chance to repent his sinful ways; he was dammed to forever walk earthbound in agony for eternity. However, here religion is used to evade the murder. It once again acts as a wall, preventing blood from being shed; even though Hamlet was already determined in his resolve. What Shakespeare might be commenting on religion is how it separates us from the animals. Surely Hamlet could have done away with Claudius at that point, and could have done away with his life in the first place since the very beginning. Religion indeed a creation of man was probably created to stop meaningless slaughter. Possibly Shakespeare took note of this and wondered why man is so intrigued with religion. In this play it hinders Hamlet from taking action. However this is countered by the proceeding scene when he kills spying Polonius. He murdered by instinct, there was not a shred of religious contemplation at all! Shakespeare probably did so to show that we still retain the primitive origin of our nature. As animals. That also brings to question: is religion the one thing that keeps us from stepping into the chasms of madness? This very man-made cult of thought? In the end would this paradoxical belief hold true even when unused? The characters only use religion when the situation sees fit, otherwise it is ignored.
At first I would have not agreed with you Selin, but I see the point you raised. Death in this play is seen as a heavy burden on everyone. From Claudius’ soliloquy when he was praying it appeared that he did indeed felt the sin burdening him. Hamlets main reason for distress was how dishonorable the deed of his father’s death was carried out by his blood related brother. However his death can also be the catalyst for Hamlet’s questions on life and its many virtues. When one loses a loved one, they undergo through various phases, but in the process they ask the “why” and all sorts of other inquiries about life. Hamlet indeed questions the point of living a worthless life to convey the message that life can have but tragedy. He acts this way because his father’s death has left him in shock. Another use of death is to punish and set things right once again. Hamlet has to bring about Claudius’ last breath when the moment is opportune, and ridden in sin. We also have a contrast of revenge with Laertes after finding out of their family’s unfortunate end. Death in a twisted, maniacal manner is used to justify murder. Ironically those murders can only but give birth to more hatred, chagrin and slaughter. Also I agree with Selin over how can we exactly justify murder that is reckless? Polonius was done away by Hamlet’s instinct to kill Claudius the very chance he received; however this also shows that Hamlet emotional stability has indeed gone overboard. Now that he has gotten to taste his first murder, how will he deal with the burden that comes from killing someone that you mistakenly misconstrued to be someone else? Is it alright to just come up with an excuse to support your action?
ReplyDelete4. Why does Hamlet decline to take action against Claudius in III.iii? What does this reveal about Hamlet and the use of religion in the play?
ReplyDeletehamlet's decline to take claudius' life because he was praying shows that hamlet does acknowledge his religion even though he is going against it. Though he also seems to acknowledge these beliefs only when it gets him out of doing something extreme such as killing himself or others. he had no problem accepting the idea of killing others but is too afraid to do it when the time comes.
Kyle Neumann commenting on selin's comment
ReplyDeleteI agree that it could have been potentially confusing but if they have been accurately portraying shakesperian language all this time one more monologue despite the length should not be an incredibly difficult task. i agree more with the fact that the film adaptations could survive without explaining hamlet's rationale. As opposed to books i do not know many people who enter a movie looking for a deeper or symbolic meaning mostly we go there for the entertainment purposes so to add these deeper areas could potentially confuse people or even worse make them lose interest.
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ReplyDeleteClayton Nocker
ReplyDelete5. What happens in III.iv (the closet scene)? Why is this death so important for the play, or what does the death of this figure represent?
In the beginning of the scene Gertrude is meeting with Polonious in an attempt to determine the source of Hamlet's apparent madness. They agree that Polonious will hide behind a tapestry and eavesdrop on the conversation. While harshly arguing with his mother, Hamlet realizes someone is behind the tapestry and, thinking it's Claudius, stabs through it, killing Polonious. After passively dismissing the man's death, Hamlet turns again to his mother, severely criticizing her and venting his frustrations. Mid rant the ghost re-appears, and reminds Hamlet of his goal to avenge his father. Gertrude, seeing this, things Hamlet is totally mad. A discussion follows and his mother agrees not to tell anyone about the ghost. The death of Polonious is almost a commentary on the fate of scheming, nosy, intruding people. Polonious' character was an embodiment of these things. Hamlet's casual dismissal of the murder leaves readers to wonder why he would feel so little of killing a virtually innocent man but hesitated and prolonged action for so long when it came to his father's murderer. Religion, previously the primary factor preventing Hamlet from simply stabbing Claudius, is absent from this scene. I think this scene shows a certain schizophrenia about Hamlet in that he is able to block out thoughts undesireable given a certain situation. He was too busy yelling at his mother to be bothered to care he had just murdered a man for example. Readers are further left wondering why Hamlet could not apply the same "one track" mindset when dealing with Claudius. Polonious' death also serves to foreshadow the string of deaths that would follow in the play, most with the same level of inane irrationality.
Clayton Nocker commenting on Shane's post.
ReplyDeleteI think that Hamlet's character is a very unpredictable one in that it's never really quite possible to tell when he's going to apply the kind of self-realization you mentioned to a given situation. It seems Hamlet's personal analysis are the only real way he gets things done (or keeps himself from doing it). If Hamlet had realized that his mild reaction to killing Polonious meant that he was more than capable of revenge (murder) then maybe the story wouldn't have lasted so long. But that's probably just Shakespeare at work.
What happens in III.iv (the closet scene)? Why is this death so important for the play, or what does the death of this figure represent?
ReplyDeleteIt seems like in order to resolve or end this dramtic problem that a person has caused is by taking revange by killing them so then they can suffer for what they have done wrong. To prove this : Claudius decideds to kill his own brother so then he can be king but now that hamelt knows about it and hes liked by the socity.Claduis plans a sneaky plan to kill him too.
On the other hand Hamlets views death more like a way to resolve and get revange what has been damage by just killing the person so then they can go die and suffer for what they have done wrong. However, hamlet decribes death in Act 3 scene 1 as a way of a person going to sleep but within that sleep theres a catch which is that the person doesnt know what kind of dream they might get along the way which would lead towards the person become a coward of dieing not peacefully "suffering during death". in a way it seems like the person is suffering for what they had done wrong "for there sins".
To be, or not to be? That is the question—
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And, by opposing, end them? To die, to sleep—
No more—and by a sleep to say we end
The heartache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to—’tis a consummation"- hamlet
In conclusion death in thios play is ude to take reavange and to try and end this dramtic problem that has been cause by Claduis.
I agree with pablo and selin about how Claduis truly regrets what he has done but on the other hand dont you think that probably he senses that hamelets is planing to kill him so then he wants to be forgiven first so then he wont die and go hell for his action of killing his own brother.But why is it that now that he wants forgiveness is it becuase he blames himself for the death of clausuis and all this dramatic action that happening? Is he blamming him self? or hes being selfish again and wants to go heaven "die peaceful".
ReplyDelete5. What happens in III.iv (the closet scene)? Why is this death so important for the play, or what does the death of this figure represent?
ReplyDeleteScene III Act IV is where Hamlet accidentally kills Claudius through curtains after harassing his mother over her sins that have plagued his mind lately. Although Claudius is "innocent" in regards to Hamlet's purpose in revenging the death of his father, that doesn't mean that Claudius hasn't sinned. Hamlet stabs him and says "How now! A rat?" Those exact words, I think, perfectly describe Claudius. He scurries around scrounging for fresh news to report to the king, always eavesdropping and getting into other peoples' business. It's fitting that he dies doing the very thing he deserves getting punishment for, even if that punishment might not necessarily have had to be death. It shows that in this kingdom, even the "innocent" are corrupt. Claudius' death is also important because it is a major contribution to the decline of Ophelia's sanity, and even Hamlet's (debatable) sanity. It helps drive the play forward.
Paulina commented on Selin's No. 4 post.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Selin saying that Hamlet uses religion to justify his actions as well as excuse him out of killing Claudius, if he may not actually want to kill him. Since religion is the most fundamental, ethical organization that the subjects of this kingdom believe in, and it's not even consistently followed, what does this say about the subjects themselves? It's interesting that one of the questions she asks is "Does Hamlet believe what he just said?" Well, could Hamlet really believe that killing someone while they're praying sends them to heaven? Personally, I think that's a ridiculous idea, but then again if it was an excuse to get out of killing Claudius, that would explain why Hamlet thought of it in the first place. But also, if Hamlet does believe it, it just emphasizes more how corrupt and inconsistent even the religions is. If Hamlet doesn't believe it, then does that leave Hamlet's own honor and reputation uncertain? If he is lying to himself to not avenge his own father when the time is opportune for him, perhaps that makes him less of a man... or something like that. Whether he believes it or not, it would somehow stain what we thought was Hamlet's good soul.
4. Why does Hamlet decline to take action against Claudius in III.iii? What does this reveal about Hamlet and the use of religion in the play?
ReplyDeleteHamlet decides that he will not kill Claudius because he is praying. He tells himself that it would be the wrong time to kill a man for it is the time when he is most "holy". Therefore when he kills Claudius then he would be going to heaven and not the fiery hell where he deserves to be in. Also he uses his religion to contradict himself and uses it as an excuse to hold him self back from taking action.
Question 4.
ReplyDeleteDoes Hamlet decline to take action against Claudius in III.iii? What does this reveal about Hamlet and the use of religion in the play?
In Act. 1 Hamlet does not commit suicide because it was against religion. During Act 3 scene 3, on his way to his mother’s room Hamlet runs into Claudius. Claudius is palying, Hamlet decides is the perfect time to kill the king., hamlet rethinks what he is going to do and steps back to his decision, all because killing Claudius while praying would automatically send him to heaven. I think Hamlet uses religion to stop him of some actions he is about to commit. Also, i believe Shakespeare uses religion as a way to prevent Hamlet of doing something, because i twas how people got out of doing thing in real life.
Comment to Cynthias post...
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cynthia the first players part is removed from the movies because a new character is introduced and the speech is to long. The 1st player is important to play but in the movie it can be removed, because it would cause confusion to the viewers.
What happens in III.iv (the closet scene)? Why is this death so important for the play, or what does the death of this figure represent?
ReplyDeleteIn the Closet scene, Hamlet pressures Gertrude into guilt and kills Polonius. Throughout the play, Polonius has driven the plot of the play by being somewhat of a "gossip". The death of Polonius is important for the play because it moves the plot of the play faster. After Polonius' death, Ophelia goes into madness and drowns herself, and Cladius seizes it as an oppurtunity to have Laertes kill Hamlet by avenging his death.
"Now that he has gotten to taste his first murder, how will he deal with the burden that comes from killing someone that you mistakenly misconstrued to be someone else? Is it alright to just come up with an excuse to support your action?"
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that Hamlet feels guilty for killing Polonius at all. Like the Old adage goes "Curiousity killed the cat", Polonius was eavesdropping and was basically reaping what he was sowing. Although Hamlet thought he was going to kill Cladius and discovered it was Polonius, he showed no remorse for killing him. Instead, Hamlet shifted back to harassing his mother.