Hamlet; Act Three, Scene 1



Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1

Ophelia, distraught over Hamlet’s seeming descent into madness, laments that this perfect example of the Renaissance Man, this perfect courtier is blighted with insanity.

Hamlet is a skilled sportsman, an intellectual, skillful with eye, tongue and arm (sword), but all his gifts are blasted with this madness.

What are the two extended metaphors used in Ophelia’s speech?
(Flowers: “…the rose of the fair state; sucked the honey of his musicked vows; blown youth blasted with ecstasy.”)
(Sound/Music: “…his musicked vows; Like sweet bells jangled, out time and harsh.”)

Both Claudius and Polonius have spied on Hamlet’s interaction with Ophelia, but both come away with different interpretations of his behavior. Polonius still thinks Hamlet is love sick over Ophelia, but Claudius knows that Hamlet is dangerously obsessed with something else – perhaps the death of his father – and decides to send him to England on the pretext of procuring tribute from that country.

Claudius, ever the “caring father”, suggests that a change of scenery may do Hamlet good. He asks Polonius for his opinion, to which Polonius suggests that they should first have Gertrude speak to Hamlet. If he still seems unsettled and obsessive, then send him to England.

Notice how Polonius dismisses Ophelia when she runs to him for comfort after being emotionally and physically assaulted by Hamlet. Instead of comforting her, Polonius says,” How now, Ophelia? You need not tell us what Hamlet said; we heard it all.”

Tuesday, January 10, 2012:
Have students present their “To Be or Not to Be” illustrations.
Brief discussion of the soliloquy.
Brief discussion of the scene between Hamlet and Ophelia.
Brief analysis of Ophelia’s speech: “O, what a noble mind is here o’erthrown!”
Polonius and Claudius’ reaction to the scene.
Divide class into groups to provide a summary; a listing of all the metaphors and other figurative language devices and insights into the characters, plots and themes. Then a tableau.

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