Hire's Hamlet Log 3:2

Act 3:2

Insight into Character: Ok, so some of the stuff that Hamlet says in this scene contradicts what I just talked about with him trying to protect Ophelia in the previous “get thee to a nunnery” scene. Oh well…perhaps this just plays up his madness; it makes me believe that this madness is more genuine…but perhaps he is acting out so that the K&Q will witness this madness. [Some of the stuff] = lines 119 – 130, 158 – 175, 269 – 275.
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Number 8: this scene has to be portrayed very carefully on a stage or screen. The dumb play (play within a play) is acted out twice…once pantomimed with no words and then once with words. Hamlet has to be acting crazy the entire time…either that or very overly cynical and sarcastic when he is making his comments in the middle of the play. I think that the spectators of the play should overhear Hamlet’s comments for them to be more effective…meaning…the spectators will start to realize Claudius’s guilt as well…instead of him just sneaking off. When Claudius gets up to leave, it just has to be like mass hysteria…audience members should be gasping, rumors and murmurs flying everywhere! I mean…the play stops as soon as Claudius rises…If a movie suddenly just ended these days, people would be pissed and demand a refund or something! After the house clears…Hamlet is alone again…one step closer to sealing the deal with the ghost.
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Significance of scene – we’re gonna talk about this during class… but just like Act 2:2, don’t just skim over the Player’s lines!! There is much significance in his the diction and figurative language within his lines. Go back and read the Player’s speech again!