Hamlet Act 3

Speaker Claudius Who says: “The harlot’s cheek, beautied with plastering art, Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it Than is my deed to my most painted word: O heavy burden!”
In an aside, Claudius shows the first sign that his conscience is getting to him– perhaps he is feeling guilty for his crime. He describes his lies as “painted words” covering up his crime, and compares himself to a “harlot” who plasters her cheeks with makeup to cover her sins. The king’s simile confirms his crime, shows that he is haunted by his own existential issues, and is a reminder that Denmark’s political leader is distracted. What is the meaning of “The harlot’s cheek, beautied with plastering art, Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it Than is my deed to my most painted word: O heavy burden!”
Hamlet Who says: “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all; And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pith and moment With this regard their currents turn awry, And lose the name of action.”
Hamlet is questioning the purpose of existence, existential crisis. Metaphor of river becomes stagnant over time. Your conscience is what hinders action. What is the meaning of: “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all; And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pith and moment With this regard their currents turn awry, And lose the name of action.”
Ophelia Who says: “O! what a noble mind is here o’erthrown: The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s, eye, tongue, sword; The expectancy and rose of the fair state, The glass of fashion and the mould of form, The observ’d of all observers, quite, quite down!”
Ophelia is talking to Hamlet about how people are supposed to follow the example set by the prince. After he repeatedly tells her to get herself to a nunnery, she reflects on his neurotic behavior. In this passage Shakespeare uses the metaphor “glass of fashion and the mould of form,” to describe Hamlet’s past behavior. To me the glass refers to a mirror in which others reflect his behavior. what is the meaning of “O! what a noble mind is here o’erthrown: The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s, eye, tongue, sword; The expectancy and rose of the fair state, The glass of fashion and the mould of form, The observ’d of all observers, quite, quite down!”
Hamlet who says:”Suit the action to the word, and the word to the Action, with this special observance, that you o’erstepNot the modesty of nature.”
Hamlet instructs the actors to be as natural as possible. Meta because actors are indeed acting. There is chasms in “Suit the action to the word, and the word to theAction. What is the meaning of “Suit the action to the word, and the word to theAction, with this special observance, that you o’erstepNot the modesty of nature.”
Hamlet Who says: “Give me that man That is not passion’s slave, and I will wear himIn my heart’s core, ay, in my heart of heart,As I do thee.”
Hamlet seems as though he is referring to Claudius in this passage. He is trying to make him feel guilty by showing him the play. He is arguing that everyone surrenders to their passion. This is very meta seeing as how there is a play within a play about the same thing more or less. This also shows the buddy story of the play, because Hamlet is telling Horatio how much he means to him. Meaning of “Give me that man That is not passion’s slave, and I will wear himIn my heart’s core, ay, in my heart of heart,As I do thee.”
Horatio Who says : “Well, my lord: If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing, And ‘scape detecting, I will pay the theft.”
Horatio is saying that he has Hamlet’s back, he’s going to watch Claudius and wait for a reaction Meaning of “Well, my lord: If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing, And ‘scape detecting, I will pay the theft.”
Player Queen Who says: “The instances that second marriage move Are the base respects of thrift, but none of love.A second time I kill my husband deadWhen second husband kisses me in bed.”
In the play the player queen is referencing to Claudius by acting a scene in which she discusses second marriages. She is basically saying that the only reason to marry a second time is for money, and there is a sense of unfaithfulness to one’s first husband. This again would fall under the category of family drama, because the present king and the past king are sharing a wife. Meaning of “The instances that second marriage move Are the base respects of thrift, but none of love.A second time I kill my husband deadWhen second husband kisses me in bed.”
Hamlet and Queen Gertrude Who says: “Madam, how like you this play? The lady doth protest too much, methinks.O! but she’ll keep her word.”
Hamlet calls out the queen in front of a large audience to see her reaction. The queen is saying that the scene that the actors are portraying is unreasonable. Meaning of “Madam, how like you this play? The lady doth protest too much, methinks.O! but she’ll keep her word.”
Hamlet Who says: “Your wisdom should show itself more richer To signify this to the doctor, for for me to put him tohis purgation would perhaps plunge him into more choler.”
Guildenstern is telling Hamlet that the king is upset in his room. And Hamlet asks if it’s because he’s been drinking too much. Then Guildenstern tells him that he is angry about the play. Hamlet is saying that Guildenstern should consult someone else before talking to him, because he will make Claudius angrier. Meaning of “Your wisdom should show itself more richer To signify this to the doctor, for for me to put him tohis purgation would perhaps plunge him into more choler.”
Hamlet Who says: “Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me. You would play upon me; you would seem to know my stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice, in this little organ, yet cannot you make it speak. ‘Sblood, do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe? Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, you cannot play upon me.”
Hamlet is telling Rosencrantz saying that he cannot be manipulated. Shakespeare uses the metaphor of musical instruments to demonstrate this. Meaning of “Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me. You would play upon me; you would seem to know my stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice, in this little organ, yet cannot you make it speak. ‘Sblood, do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe? Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, you cannot play upon me.”
Hamlet Who says: “Let me be cruel, not unnatural. I will speak daggers to her, but use none.”
Hamlet would rather harm himself to get revenge on King Claudius, but will never harm his mother. Shakespeare uses the metaphor of using daggers to get this point across. The fact that Hamlet wants revenge on his uncle shows that there is drama within this family. Meaning of “Let me be cruel, not unnatural. Speaker Hamlet I will speak daggers to her, but use none.”
Claudius Who says: “I like him not, nor stands it safe with us To let his madness range. Therefore prepare you; I your commission will forthwith dispatch, And he to England shall along with you. The terms of our estate may not endure Hazard so dangerous as doth hourly grow Out of his lunacies.”
The solution is to ship Hamlet away because of his behavior, Claudius has given up on the idea of keeping his enemy closer than his friends. Meaning of “I like him not, nor stands it safe with us SpeakerTo let his madness range. Therefore prepare you; I your commission will forthwith dispatch, And he to England shall along with you. The terms of our estate may not endure Hazard so dangerous as doth hourly grow Out of his lunacies.”
Polonius Who says: “Behind the arras I’ll convey myself To hear the process; I’ll warrant she’ll tax him home; And, as you said, and wisely was it said, ‘Tis meet that some more audience than a mother, Since nature makes them partial, should o’er-hear The speech, of vantage.”
Polonius is going to listen to the conversation between Hamlet and his mother. He thinks that Gertrude may be too close to Hamlet, and that it is good that someone will be spying on them. I think when Polonius says “I’ll warrant she’ll tax him home;” Shakespeare is cleverly saying that Gertrude is going to reprimand him. Meaning of “Behind the arras I’ll convey myself To hear the process; I’ll warrant she’ll tax him home; And, as you said, and wisely was it said, ‘Tis meet that some more audience than a mother, Since nature makes them partial, should o’er-hear The speech, of vantage.”
Claudius Who says: “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go.”
If Claudius was sorry he might be able to give up his new found wealth and power. However he doesn’t actually feel sorry he’s just going through actions of repent. Meaning of: “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go.”
Hamlet Who says: “He took my father grossly, full of bread,With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May;And now his audit stands who knows save heaven,But in our circumstance and course of thought”Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged Taking him in the purging of his soul,When he is fit and seasoned for the passage?”
Hamlet is saying that his uncle Claudius killed his father before he was able to make up for his mistakes, which is what he means by saying “full of bread.” Then he wonders if Claudius confessing his sins really counts as Hamlet’s revenge. This passage demonstrates the crime as well as the family drama aspect of the play, by examining the death of King Hamlet, as well as the potential death of Claudius. Meaning of “He took my father grossly, full of bread,With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May;And now his audit stands who knows save heaven,But in our circumstance and course of thought”Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged Taking him in the purging of his soul,When he is fit and seasoned for the passage?”
Gertrude then Hamlet Who says: ” O _______ speak no more; Thou turn’st mine eyes into my very soul; And there I see such black and grained spots As will not leave their tinct. Nay, but to live In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, Stew’d in corruption, honeying and making love Over the nasty sty,— O! speak to me no more; These words like daggers enter in mine ears;
The queen is telling Hamlet to stop stop talking to her, because it is forcing her to accept the truth. Hamlet responds by saying that her relationship is corrupt with Claudius and they need to end things. Meaning of ” O _______ speak no more; Thou turn’st mine eyes into my very soul; And there I see such black and grained spots As will not leave their tinct. Nay, but to live In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, Stew’d in corruption, honeying and making love Over the nasty sty,— O! speak to me no more; These words like daggers enter in mine ears;
The Ghost Who says: “Do not forget: this visitation Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose. But, look! amazement on thy mother sits; O! step between her and her fighting soul; Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works:”
The ghost of King Hamlet is trying to convince Hamlet that he needs to take revenge on his uncle. Shakespeare uses the term blunted purpose to demonstrate Hamlet’s loss of motivation to achieve revenge. The Ghost wants to make sure that Hamlet keeps his mother from being overwhelmed. Meaning of “Do not forget: this visitation Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose. But, look! amazement on thy mother sits; O! step between her and her fighting soul; Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works:”
Hamlet Who says: “Confess yourself to heavenRepent what is past, avoid what is to come,And do not spread the compost on the weedsTo make them ranker.”
Hamlet asks his mother to repent her sins and not to make things worse. Meaning of “Confess yourself to heavenRepent what is past, avoid what is to come,And do not spread the compost on the weedsTo make them ranker.”
Hamlet Who says: ” Refrain tonightAnd that shall lend a kind of easiness To the next abstinence . . .”
Hamlet is telling his mother that it is easy to feel like she is not doing anything wrong by being in a relationship with Claudius. In this passage Hamlet is specifically telling his mother not to sleep with Claudius tonight, which will begin to make saying no easier in the future. This would easily fall into the category of family drama. It is unusual that a son would ask his mother not to sleep with her husband. Meaning of ” Refrain tonightAnd that shall lend a kind of easiness To the next abstinence . . .”
Hamlet Who says: “Make you to ravel this matter out That I essentially am not in madness,But mad in craft.”
He’s asking his mother to keep his secret that he’s been acting crazy. Meaning of: “Make you to ravel this matter out SpeakerThat I essentially am not in madness,But mad in craft.”
Hamlet Who says: “This man shall set me packing; I’ll lug the guts into the neighbour room. Mother, good-night. Indeed this counsellor Is now most still, most secret, and most grave, Who was in life a foolish prating knave. Come, sir, to draw toward an end with you.”
Hamlet has killed Polonius, because he thought it was his uncle Claudius behind the tapestry. To cover up for his crime Hamlet is now dragging the body into the next room, while convincing his mother that Polonius was a foolish man in his life anyway. Meaning of: “This man shall set me packing; Speaker HamletI’ll lug the guts into the neighbour room. Mother, good-night. Indeed this counsellor Is now most still, most secret, and most grave, Who was in life a foolish prating knave. Come, sir, to draw toward an end with you.”