From ZuluNotes - Free Leaving Cert Notes

Contents 1 Act 1, Scene 1 1.1 Key Quotes 2 Act 1, Scene 2 2.1 Key Quotes 2.2 Hamlet's First Soliloquy 2.2.1 Video 3 Act 1, Scene 3 4 Act 1, Scene 4 4.1 Key Quotes 5 Act 1 , Scene 5 5.1 Key Quotes 6 Act 2, Scene 1 6.1 Key Quotes 7 Act 2, Scene 2 7.1 Hamlet's Second Soliloquy 7.1.1 Video 7.2 Key Quotes 8 Act 3, Scene 1 8.1 Hamlet's 3rd Soliloquy 8.1.1 Video 8.2 Key Quotes 9 Act 3, Scene 2 9.1 Key Quotes 10 Act 3, Scene 4 10.1 Key Quotes

Act 1, Scene 1

Marcellus and Bernardo are on duty at the royal castle of Elsinore. They see an apparition which resemles the late King of Denmark, Prince Hamlet's father. They ask Horatio, Hamlet's best friend, to join their watch, in the hope that the ghost will appear again. They hope that Horatio will be able to discover it's significance. The ghost appears. Horatio immediately accepts the ghosts authenticity. He then questions it and then disappears quickly. only to reappear, this time to be challeneged by Horatio. On neither occasion does the ghost speak. The 3 discuss the possible reasons for the ghost's appearance. They decide to tell Hamlet what they have seen, in the belief that it may comminicate with him.

The scene provides much necessary information on the political background on Hamlet, on past and present relations between Denmark and Norway and also on the activities of Fortinbras, for example. The references to the last King of Denmark are all flattering and tinged with nostalgia for past glories and achievements. Denmark is filled with a nervous, tight and secure atmosphere. Here we see the reflection on the state of distrubance in Denmark such as

• The strange circumstances surrounding the death of the King

• Why the Prince did not take over the thrown following his fathers death

• The incestuous and hasty marriage of the old Queen and her late husbands brother

Key Quotes

Act 1, Scene 2

The scene begins as a splendid state occasion is being held, with mourning for the late King no longer in fashion. This is an opportunity or Claudius to announce and celebrate his marriage to the court. King Hamlet's successor, his brother Claudius, expresses unfelt sorrow at the death of his predecessor, whose widow, Gertrude, he has hastily married. He thanks the members of his council for sanctioning his accesson to the thrown. His marriage to Gertrude, the "imperial jointress" or joint heiress to the throne of Denmark, has helped to make him King. Claudius confirms Hamlet as his successor. Both Claudius and Gertrude persuade Hamlet to stay in Denmark, rather than return to the University of Wittenburg. Perhaps the King wants Hamlet not to return to University so as to keep an eye on him. Hamlet replies to Gertrude and tells her that he will stay and obey her, thus making us think that he promised he would obey her in order to insult the King.

Hamlet's first passionate soliloquy reveals that the cause of his melancholy is not primarily his fathers death but his disgust at his mothers hasty and incestuous re-marriage. It is wise to note that at the beginning of the soliloquy that he wishes he were dead. This is some time before the more famous "To be or not to be" and he's suicidal already.

Horatio, Marcellus and Bernardo interrupt Hamlet whilst he is agonising over his mothers marriage. Hamlet seems surprised to see Horatio and wonders what he is doing away from University. Horatio tells Hamlet about the apparition. He is amazed and decides to confront it at the next watch. He senses that the appearance of his fathers spirit can only mean some hidden foul deed is about to be brought to light.

Key Quotes

Hamlet's First Soliloquy

Hamlet's first soliloquy is the more passionate of the two. The 2 soliloquies allow us to trace Hamlet's mental process throughout the play. It explains much of whathas been happening in the earlier part of the scene. He has a duty of revenge laid upon him. Here we see the deoslate state of his mind and as mentioned before. This happens before he meets the ghost.

In the first half, we can see the reasons for Hamlet's melancholy. He is despairing and is convinced that there is no value left in his life since the suspicious death of his father and his mothers incestuous re-marriage. Due to his frantic state of mind, he suggests suicide but his belief that itis wrong, stops him. We see the seeds of his inate problems. He is a philosopher and dwells on every issue in his mind. His whole nature is highly philosophical.

The second have lets us see that his problems arise from his mothers marriage and his fathers death. Hamlet's devotion to his father is very visible and because of his extreme disgust at his mothers re-marriage, his belief in love is virtually extinguished. He cannot fully distinguish between love and lust as he sees love as something that is somewhat tainted. Here we see his ill - concealed hostility towards his mother and his seething hatred and resentment of his uncle.

The soliloquy betrays his mental and emotional torment, a torment which he is unable to share with anybody. He finds it difficult to talk to Horatio, Marcellus and Bernardo for long, although he responds to the news of the spirit with a renewed emotional intensity.

Video

Act 1, Scene 3

The 1st scene, set on ghostly battlements at night, gave way in Scence 2 to the exotic splendours of the court. Scene 3 provides another contrast, being a domestic one, intimate and personal, involving family affairs of Polonius, Laertes & Ophelia. Laertes, about to leave for France, he warns Ophelia against placing undue trust in her lover Hamlet. Laertes dispises Hamlet and strongly warns Ophelia against him, showing that he sees her as weak and that to be afraid of Hamlet would do no harm. Polonius gives Laertes his blessing and advice. He encourages him to live a life so that he will not be seen to be badly judged.

As Laertes leaves the scence, Polonius then rebukes Ophelia for making herself much too accessible to Hamlet, whose intentions may not be honourable. Polonius warns her to end her relationship with him. Ophelia tries to defend herself, as she had promised Laertes but her father insists that he is right and that she will not make a fool out of him. Ophelia agrees not to see Hamlet again. Polonius is a master of cynicism, self - servicing, dishonourable and is willing to have Reynalds to spread gossip to find out about his Laertes life.

Act 1, Scene 4

This scene is set back in the ghostly setting and atmosphere of scene 1. Hamlet, Marcellus and Horatio wait in darkness for the appearance of the Ghost. The Ghost appears and beckons Hamlet to follow it. Horatio and Marcellus try to restrain him but he obeys the Ghost's call. After Hamlet is gone, Horatio and Marcellus are unsure as to what they should do next. Marcellus wants to follow Hamlet to protect him as he fears the Ghost will turn into something cruel and evil and suspects "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark", Horatio is not all too sure and says "Heaven will direct it", meaning whatever the problem is in Denmark, God will take care of it. The two men then exit the scene.

Key Quotes

"Angels and ministers of grace defend us! Be thou a spirit of health or goblin clamh'd, bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, be thy intents wicked or charitable, thou com'st in such a questionable shape" - Hamlet

"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" - Marcellus

Act 1 , Scene 5

The scene provides the first major climax of the play. It marks the end of it's first phase. As the crime of Claudius is revealed and the task of vengeance is laid by the Ghost on Hamlet, who dedicates himself utterly to this solemn duty. The Ghost promises Hamlet a burden of shame and guilt if he does not revenge him. It is revealed that whilst Old Hamlet was sleeping in his orchard, Claudius poured poison in his ear. The poison curdled his blood and rose to his skin, until his body was covered with a "vile and loathsome crust". Essentially, Old Hamlet had his life, his crown and his queen stolen from him all at once by his brother. Worse, he died without chance to pray or take the last rites, so that now, instead of being in heaven, suffering in purgatory.

As morning comes, the Ghost must leave, he instructs Hamlet not to do anything bad to his mother and not to think bad of her. Hamlet refuses to reveal to Horatio and Marcellus what has come out but forces them to take an oath never to reveal what they have seen and never to comment to others if they notice anything about his behaviour odd.

Key Quotes

"Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder" - Ghost

"Haste me to know't that I, with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge" - Hamlet

"The serpent that did sting thy father's life Bold textting thy father's life Now wears his crown" - Ghost

"O my prophetic soul" - Hamlet

"Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand, Of life, of crown, of queenm at once dispatch'd, Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin" - Ghost

"Let not the royal bed of Denmark be A couch for luxury and damned incest. But howsoever thou pursu'st this act. Taint not thy mind, nor thy soul contrive Against thy mother aught" - Ghost

"It is an honest Ghost, that let me tell you" - Hamlet

"How strange or odd see'er I bear myself" - Hamlet

" To put an antic disposition on " - Hamlet

"The time is out of joint; O cursed spite, That ever I was born to set it right" - Hamlet

Act 2, Scene 1

The second movement of the play begins here and ends at the close of Act 4, scene 4, when Hamlet leaves for England. The second movement involves 4 major developments

• Hamlet rejects Ophelia

• The play scene satisfies Hamlet that his uncle is guilty

• Hamlet spares Claudius at prayer and kills Polonius

• Hamlet is banished to England, where Claudius has planned death for him

The scene opens with Polonus and Reynaldo. Polonius is not fully trusting of Laertes, so he plans to send a messenger to check up on him in Paris. He thinks that if Laetes is up to any fooling aorund that he will cleverly uncover him. He plans to arrange for the messenger to meet with Laertes friends and to say words such as "he is very wild" so as to encourage his friends to agree and divulge information.

As Reynaldo exits the scene, Ophelia enters. She appears to be in a state of shock and is frightened. She had been in her bedroom when suddenly a dishevelled looking Hamlet emerges from her closet unexpectedly. He seizes her wrist and does not follow through with whatever he had planned and leaves the room. Surprisingly, Polonius does not seem shocked or angry. He says that has an explanation, that Hamlet's madness is the result of his unrequited love for Ophelia. Polonius exits the scene as he leaves to tell Claudius.

Key Quotes

"What was I about to say? By the mass I was about to say something: where did I leave?" - Polonius

"Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth" - Polonius

"This is the very ecstasy of love" - Polonius

"That hath made him mad" - Polonius

Act 2, Scene 2

This is the longest scene in the play. It does little or nothing to advance action but suggest's Hamlet's inactivity and terrible procrastination.

Hamlet's odd behaviour is by now a matter for comment at the Court of Elsinore. The scene opens with the King and Queen meeting with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The King asks them to spend time with Hamlet and investigate the reason behind his apparent madness.He uses the pair jut like Polonius used Reynaldo in the previous scene. Claudius is anxious to find an explanation. He insists that he can see no other reason apart from the death of Hamlet's father behind the reasoning for is madness. Perhaps, Claudius is suspicious that Hamlet is aware that it was he who murdered his father and wants to know what Hamlet plans to do, if he does in fact know that it was him. The pair agree when the Queen mentions that there may be money in it for them if they uncover the reason behind Hamlet's madness.

As Rosencrantz and Guildenstern leave, Polonius enters with news for the King. Claudius questions whether Polonius did in fact find the reason behind Hamlet's madness. The Queen knows better and says that it is because of the death of his father or because of her re-marriage to Claudius. Polonius suggests arranging an encounter between Hamlet and Ophelia, it will be secretly watched by the King and himself as they hide behind the curtain. The King and Queen agree.

As the decision has been made, Hamler enters the room reading a book, and is accosted by Polonius (who has encouraged the King & Queen to leave), who feels his odd conversation with the Prince confirms his suspicion of madness. Hamlet, far from being mad, is merely leading Polonius on. Polonius asks him ridiculous, childish questions, yet Hamlet relplies with insults that he doesn't understand which continue to make him think that Hamlet is mad.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern re enter the scene and Polonius leaves. Hamlet quizzes them as to why they came to visit. They do not reveal that they are working for the King. Eventually Hamlet asks were they not sent for as opposed to the pair saying that they just came by to visit him. They give in andconfess that they had been sent for.

The players arrive at Elsinore for a performance. Hamlet greets them and talks to them as he is friednly with them. Hamlet asks the players for a "passionate speech", he begins to receit it and then the player takes over. Hamlet loses interest and as the speech turns into speaking of a woman who is grieving over her husband, Polonius issues a halt on the speech. Hamlet announces as he is leaving the room that the following day he would like to hear a play "The Murder of Gonzago". He tells the player that he would like to write speech to be incorporated into the play which he would write.

Hamlet leaves the scene and his second soliloquy begins.

Hamlet's Second Soliloquy

Here we see that Hamlet is disgusted with himself for procrastinating and not taking action. As such, he is no upset that he has not yet killed Claudius but that his procrastination has become too much. He compares himself to the player, who when reciting the speech began to cry. He sees himself as not having the strength, determination and passion like the player. He questions himself and wonders does he not hate Claudius enough and love his father enough to take action sooner? He imagines being bullied and being made fun of with the hope of working himself into a rage. He does so as he imagines Claudius being the one who makes fun of him and taunts him.

The soliloquy closes with Hamlet then cursing himself because has taken no action and then cursing himself again because all he is doing is cursing himself. He has a plan for during the play the following day, he figures that the content of the scene he will write will creat some sparks and he will keep a watchful eye on Claudius to see his reaction.

Video

Key Quotes

"Of Hamlet's transformation" - Claudius

"More than his father's death, that this hath put him" - Claudius

"Whether aught us to unknown afflicts him thus" - Claudius

"My too much changed son" - Gertrude

"I have found the very cause of Hamlet's lunacy" - Polonius

" The head and source of all your son's distemper" - Claudius

"I doubt it is no other but the main; His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage" - Gertrude

"Since brevity is the soul of wit" - Polonius

"Your noble son is mad" - Polonius

"How may we try it further!" - Claudius

"Though this be madness, yet there is method in't " - Polonius

"How pregnant sometimes his replies are!" - Polonius

"For there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so" - Hamlet (NB - Tragic Flaw)

" It appeals no other thing to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours" - Hamlet

" I am but mad north - north - west when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw" - Hamlet

"What would he do Had he the motive and the aire for passion That I have?" - Hamlet

"Yet I, A dull and muddy - mettled rascal, peak, Like John - A - Dreams, unpregnant of my cause" - Hamlet (NB - Tragic Flaw)

Act 3, Scene 1

The scene opens with Claudius questioning Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about Hamlet's madness, they do not have any answers for him. Rosencrantz tells the King that the players have arrived for a performance and Polonius says Hamlet has invited them to the performance. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern exit the scene as Claudius requests that Gertrude also leaves. The King has sent for Hamlet so that he and Polonius can use Ophelia as bait and examine Hamlet's madness. As Gertrude leaves, she turns to Ophelia and tells her that it is she who can save Hamlet from his madness as opposed to being told by her father that she must stay away from him.

Polonius and Claudius go about setting up the scene for Hamlet. Claudius hides and Polonius instructs Ophelia to enter the room from a certain place and to be reading book as she enters. Que Hamlets entry. Polonius joins the King in hiding and they wait for Hamlet to see Ophelia. Hamlet arrives but appears not to see Ophelia as he is pondering the infamous "to be or not to be". This sets the scene for his third soliloquy.

Hamlet finally takes notice of Ophelia. He greets her in an unusual manner. As a result of her fathers instructions, Ophelia has kept away from Hamlet,ending whatever love affair was had between the two. He greets her by calling her a "nymph" which was known to be a sort of Godess. In short, he is calling her some sort of pet name such as "baby" or "honey" which would be used today. He also asks her to pray for him. Ophelia replies by telling Hamlet that he should as such take back the gifts he gave her, for example the love letter which Polonius read to the King and Queen, because he no longer loves her. She accuses him of being dishonest and unfair. It is hard to tell whether Ophelia is trying to get Hamlet to admit that he does love her or whether she is still shaken by his visit in her room and finds offence with it. Hamlet confesses to Ophelia that he did love her once. She says that he made her believe that he loved her, but appears to doubt it. The scene climaxes with Hamlet saying "get thee to a nunnery", ensuring her that she would be safe from harm and men.

Like in the previous scene when Hamlet suddenly asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern why they are at Elsinore, completely out of the blue, he asks Ophelia where Polonius is. It appears that he suspects he is being spied upon and that he knows Ophelia better than this, that she is just acting. She tells Hamlet that her father is at home which provokes Hamlet into a temperous rage.He speeaks derisively of women, accusing them of luring men into false pretences with cosmetics. He exits the scene by again telling her to go to the Nunnery but in a more vulgar tone suggesting he means somewhere like a "whorehouse" as he is raging that she could lie to him.

As the King and Polonius re-enter the scene Ophelia is upset, she had been remembering the good side to Hamlet, that he had been the perfect Prince and someday hoped that she would be his Queen. Her love for him is so strong and instead of dwelling on his insults, she is musing on the degree og which Hamlet's mind is disturbed. Polonius completely disregards his daughters feelings and ignores her. Claudius knows that Hamlet spells danger and he knows that he is at risk. He tells Polonius of his plan to have Hamlet sent to England, that it would be good for his state of mind. Polonius still insists that Hamlet's madness is down to Ophelia. Polonius proposes a new plan that they will arange a meeting for Hamlet with his mother, hoping that he will open up to her and that Polonius will again hide behind the arras. Claudius agrees.

Hamlet's 3rd Soliloquy

This solilioquy comes as a bit of a surprise to the audience. We are used to Hamlet's previous soliloquys in which he was beating himself up over not taking any action against his fathers death and then deciding on a plan in which to out Claudius. NOt to be confused with Hamlet's suicidal thoughts in his first soliloquy, but 2to be or not to be" does not represent a matter of to live or to die but whether he should take action or let things happen without him taking any action to do so. He wonders whether death is the right choice to make regarding Claudius or whether it would be better for him to suffer.

This soliloquy is nothing major. He reveals no major information about the King, Queen, his father or anything that he plans to do. Again he ponders death and then scorns himself for thinking about it, like in his first soliloquy with tempting suicide.

Video

Key Quotes

"Does honesty exist?" - Hamlet

"Get thee to a nunnery" - Hamlet

"We shall have no more marriage all that those married, all but one shall live" - Hamlet

"Sprung from neglected love. How now Ophelia!" - Polonius

Act 3, Scene 2

The function of this scene is:

• For a public exposition of Claudius' guilt

• Confirmation for Hamlet

• Underline Hamlet's procrastination

The scene opens with Hamlet and the players, they are discussing the performance of "The Murder of Gonzago" and it seems that he wants the performance to be as realistic as possible, in the hope of trigger Claudius' guilty conscience.

Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and Polonius enter as the actors leave to prepare for the performance. Hamlet sends for Horatio and showers him with compliments about his loyalty to him. Hamlet asks him to keep an eye on the King during the performance. The other audience members, the King & Queen and Ophelia arrive for the performance. Immediately Hamlet begins to act oddly. He insults both Polonius, the King and Ophelia within a matter of moments.

The players enter and the performance begins. They first perform a silent pantomime which gives a preview of The Murder of Gonzago. It is similar to the events surrounding King Hamlet's death. The pantomime shows a loving King and Queen. She shows her love for him, and leaves him to sleep "upon a bank of flowers." A villain enters, he takes the King's crown, pours poison in the King's ear, and leaves. His wife returns, she finds the King dead, and "makes passionate action." The villain then comes back and makes a move on the Queen. She resists him for a while, "but in the end accepts love."

The main play begins. We see a King & Queen who have been married for many years. The King has become sick and forsees death, he wishes the best for his wife and tells her to find somebody to be as good to her as he has been.

Key Quotes

"Observe my uncle. if his occulted guilt Do not itself unkennel in one speech It is a damned ghost that we have seen" - Hamlet

Act 3, Scene 4

In this scene Polonius gives Gertrude advice on how to handle Hamlet in a bid to get him sent out of Denmark. After Polonius hides behind the arras, the Queen accuses him of offending his father. Hamlet bitterly rejects this and accuses her of betraying her real husband. The Queen becomes afraid of Hamlet and shouts for help – Polonius answers and Hamlet lunges a stab at the hiding place behind the arras hoping he killed the King. He later calls Polonius a “wretched, rash, intruding fool”. The Ghost returns and tries to remind Hamlet of his purpose. The Queen does not see the Ghost and believes Hamlet has finally gone truly mad. They later agree on Hamlets departure to England.

It is disputed whether the appearance of the Ghost in this scene was a figment of Hamlet’s true madness arising behind his disposition or whether it was actually the Ghost seen by a number of people in the earlier scenes.

The function of this Scene is to (Incomplete List):

• Develop Hamlet's madness.
• Prove Gertrude's innocence.

Key Quotes

“You are the queen, your husband’s brother’s wife; And – would it were not so! – you are my mother.” – Hamlet

“thou wilt not murder me?” – Queen Gertrude

“A bloody deed! Almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king, and marry with his brother” - Hamlet

“[To Polonius] Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell!” - Hamlet

“A king of shreds and patches” – Hamlet

“In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, Stew’d in corruption, honeying and making love Over the nasty sty, -” - Hamlet