Scene
1
This scene begins with Claudius, Gertrude, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern
discussing Hamlets behavior. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tell the
monarchs that Hamlet has been successful at dodging their questions
which are intended to find the source of Hamlets abnormal behavior.
They also speak of how content Hamlet seemed to be with the players
arriving. Both Claudius and Gertrude are happy that their son seems
to have interest in something again and decide to go watch a play
the performers are acting out that evening. After Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern leave, Claudius asks Gertrude to leave so that he and
Polonius can spy on Hamlet while he speaks with Ophelia. They want
to see if love is really what’s making Hamlet crazy. Hamlet then
enters talking to himself asking the question "To be or not to
be?", and going off and exploring the question. After which Ophelia
enters and begins a conversation knowing that her father and the king
are watching them. After they talk and Hamlet leaves they discuss
what had happened and Claudius is convinced that his insanity is not
coming from unrequited love. Polonius disagrees and believes that
Hamlet’s insanity does come from the love he has Ophelia. Claudius
then makes a decision to send Hamlet to England to collect the financial
debt that England owes Denmark and cure Hamlet of his insanity all
at once. Polonius then recommends that Hamlet be left alone with his
mother so Polonius can spy on him while Hamlet reveals his true thoughts
to his mother. Claudius then agrees to do that first and then send
him off.
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Hamlet talks
to Ophelia |
Scene
2
The next scene starts with Hamlet telling the players how they each
should act out the parts that Hamlet himself has written for them. Polonius,
Guildenstern, and Rosencrantz all appear but then are quickly told to
go tell the players to hurry up by Hamlet. Horatio shows up and Hamlet
tells him that in the play there is scene which depicts his fathers death,
and then tells him to watch Claudius carefully for any signs of guilt.
After the trumpets play and people come in to watch the play Gertrude
tells Hamlet to come and sit next to her, but Hamlet refuses and asks
Ophelia if he may lie in her lap. Followed by Hamlet toying with Ophelia.
Trumpets then play and the players go on the stage and act out a silent
prologue of the play. In the prologue a king and queen display their love.
After which the queen leaves while a hooded character appears and pours
poison in the king’s ear while he sleeps. The hooded character then
makes approaches to the queen who accepts. The play continues and the
murderer was revealed to be the nephew of the king. During the play when
the poison is being poured in the king’s ear Claudius stands up and
calls lights shortly after leaving with everyone else following. Hamlet
and Horatio stay behind and both agree about the king’s guilty behavior.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter and tell Hamlet that both Claudius
and Gertrude are upset and that Gertrude wants to see him in her bed chamber.
Guildenstern asks what’s bothering Hamlet, but Hamlet just accuses
him of trying to manipulate him. Polonius then comes and tells Hamlet
that his mother wishes to see him. Hamlet tells Polonius that he will
go, determined to speak the truth to Gertrude about her marrying Claudius.
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The players
act out King Hamlet's murder
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Scene 3
As Scene 3 begins Claudius tells Guildenstern and Rosencravtz that
Hamlet is danger and he must be controlled. He wants Guildenstern and
Rosencravtz to escort Hamlet to England. Guildenstern and Rosencravtz
agree and then leave the room. Polonius comes to tell Claudius that
he will hide and listen in on Hamlet and Gertrude’s conversation.
Polonius leaves and the king is alone and reflects on his thoughts.
The king wants to ask for forgiveness but doesn’t want to let go
of the perks he received from killing his brother. The king gets on
his knees and starts to pray when Hamlet enters the room and desires
to kill him on the very spot, but restrains himself from killing him.
Hamlet decides to have the delay because the king was praying and he
didn’t want to send him off into heaven. Claudius then rises and
declares that his prayers were unheard because his thoughts were not
among his prayers.
Scene
4
In Gertrude’s bed chamber Polonius and the queen wait for Hamlets
arrival. Polonius suggests to Gertrude to speak to Hamlet very harshly.
Gertrude agrees and Polonius hides as Hamlet enters the room. Hamlet
comes in the room asking why Gertrude has sent for him. Gertrude tells
Hamlet that he has insulted Claudius. Hamlet responds by telling Gertrude
that she has insulted his father. Gertrude decides to call for someone
that may understand Hamlet, but Hamlet tells her to sit down because
he won’t let her go anywhere until Gertrude looks deep inside herself.
Fearing death Gertrude calls for help followed by Polonius, who gets
stabbed and killed by Hamlet. Hamlet then turns to his mother and compares
a picture of the dead king and Claudius. Hamlet comments on how much
better the dead king was in comparison to Claudius and asks her why
she would marry such a man. Gertrude begs for Hamlet to stop, and tells
him that she looked into her black soul where some sins cannot be washed
away. Hamlet continues to express how he feels of her and Claudius when
the dead kings ghost enters the bed chamber. The dead king tells Hamlet
to remember his revenge and to go easy on Gertrude. Meanwhile Gertrude
thinks Hamlets gone crazy because she could not see the ghost while
Hamlet tells her that he is heading toward the exit. Hamlet Urges Gertrude
to reject Claudius that night and regain her purity back. He also pleads
with her not to let the king know he’s not really crazy. Hamlet
bids her goodnight. He then drags Polonius out of the chamber while
reminding her of his trip to England and how he can’t really trust
Rosencravtz nor Guildenstern.
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Hamlet
sees the King praying
Hamlet
sees that he killed Polonius
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