Hamlet Act 3 Analysis

Act 3 opens with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern reporting to Claudius about how they have not yet been able to find the root of Hamlet’s madness but that Hamlet requested Claudius attend the actor’s play. Polonius and Claudius then execute their plan to use Ophelia to understand Hamlet’s behavior. As they watch behind cover, Hamlet bumps into Ophelia right after delivering his famous “to be or not to be” speech where he contemplates suicide. In his conversation with Ophelia, rather than being kind, he berates her and tells her to go to a nunnery. Claudius then concludes that Hamlet is not mad because of his love for Ophelia, but rather, because of a different, unknown reason. To be safe, he decides to send Hamlet off to England. Polonius also

Hamlet and Horatio enter and are fascinated by the fact that one of the grave diggers is so desensitized to death that he whistles while digging a grave. After finding the skull of his old caretaker, Yorik, Hamlet then begins to ponder death and the universal and inescapable nature of senescence. His thoughts are interrupted by a funeral procession that turns out to be for Ophelia. During the burial, an emotionally distressed Laertes jumps into the grave and asks the grave diggers to bury him alive, prompting Hamlet to also jump into the grave and claim that he loves Ophelia more than forty thousand brothers. After a brief scuffle, Hamlet and Horatio leave, and Claudius reminds Laertes of their plan to murder Hamlet. The next scene shows Hamlet telling Horatio about his journey to England and how Hamlet replaced the King’s letter requesting for Hamlet to be killed with a letter ordering the execution of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who continued on their way to England even after Hamlet jumped on the pirate ship. Orsic, a courtier, then interrupts their conversation, and tells them that Claudius has requested a duel between Laertes and Hamlet. After Horatio and Hamlet mock Orsic’s ornate language, Hamlet agrees to the duel, and although Horatio fears that Laertes has more skill, Hamlet counters that he has been practicing for quite a while. At the actual duel, a table has been set up for Claudius and Gertrude to watch. Before the duel, Hamlet requests forgiveness from Laertes who partially accepts it, but claims that he must still duel for the sake of his honor. As the match begins, with Laertes surreptitiously using the poisoned sword, Hamlet wins the first point. The king drinks to Hamlet’s success, and offers a drink to Hamlet, who declines. Hamlet wins the second round, and this time Gertrude drinks