| “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below;Words without thoughts never to heaven go.” | Claudius — This quote is significant because it means that Claudius doesn’t have any regrets. |
| “To be or not to be, that is the questionWhether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer.” | Hamlet — This quote is significant because it characterizes Hamlet’s suicidal thoughts, by asking himself whether it’s worth it to die |
| “O Hamlet, speak no moreThou turn’st my eyes into my very soul” | Getrude — This quote is significant because it characterizes Gertrude as a nice person |
| “I like him not, nor stands it safe with us / To let his madness range.” | Claudius — This quotes is significant because it characterizes Claudius and demonstrates how much he despises Hamlet and how he is no longer safe around him. |
| “Nay then, let the devil wear black, / for I’ll have a suit of sables.” | Hamlet — This quote is significant because it foreshadows Hamlet’s actions. |
| “How now, a rat!” | Hamlet — Hamlet acts very jumpy and surprised with all the exclamation points and this quote is significant because he’s just killed off one of the main characters Polonius. |
| “Let not ever the soul of Nero Enter this bosom.” | Hamlet — Nero killed his mother and then watched rome burn and did nothing. Hamlet explains how he won’t be like Nero and will actually do something, stop sitting around, and won’t hurt his mother. |
| “O, what a noble mind is here o’erthrown!” | Ophelia — This quote is significant because it allows insight into the mind of Ophelia. She is able to speak her mind about Hamlet’s mental state. |
| “Oh this is hire and salary, not revenge” | Hamlet — The choice of contrast between salary/hire and revenge helps the audience understand Hamlet’s train of thought. It foreshadows the plot (Claudius’ death is put off). |
| “Be thou assured, if words be made of breath / And breath of life, I have no life to breathe” | Gertrude — Gertrude has lost hope in the future because of her actions or her son. Connection to hamlet’s suicidal thoughts. |
| “How in my words somever she be shent, / To give them seals never, my soul, consent.” | Hamlet — Contrast between his words and his thoughts (“soul”) |
| “The lady protests too much, methinks. / O but she’ll keep her word” | Hamlet — This quote demonstrates Hamlets utter lack of respect for his mother. |
| “That your good beauties be the happy cause of Hamlet’s wildness.” | Gertrude — This quote is significant because it gives a theory as to why Hamlet may be acting crazy. |
| “This is the very coinage of your brain.” | Gertrude — |
| “If thou dost marry, I’ll give thee this plague” | Hamlet — Hamlet tells Ophelia that women |
| “The lady doth protest too much, methinks” | Gertrude — |
Hamlet Act 3 Quotes Quiz
August 15, 2019