Hamlet

A detailed Summary of Hamlet

How would you direct Act 3, Scene 4 in Shakespeare's Hamlet?

Hamlet is one of William Shakespeare's most popular plays. It is a revenge tragedy featuring Hate, Jealousy, Love and Betrayal all of these are universal human experiences and make this play as relevant today as when it was first performed. This has allowed every single person who has ever read Hamlet to find something that they relate to.

In act 3 scene 4 Hamlet is planning to go to Gertrude's private room to condemn her for her quick marriage to Claudius, and to persuade her of Claudius' guilt concerning the death of his father. Polonius is present at the start of the scene and on hearing Hamlet coming has hidden himself behind the arras in order to listen in on the ensuing conversation. However, during a scuffle between Hamlet and Gertrude, Polonius screams out for help and gives away his position. Hamlet who is in a state of blind hate, anger and passion kills Polonius, suspecting that it could be Claudius. Hamlet then attacks his mother. The ghost of King Hamlet appears and gives Hamlet some advice about his mother, Hamlet has a job to do and should not be so harsh on his mother. The ghost departs and Hamlet concludes his conversation with his mother.

ttle more than the kings wife and that's all, but in this scene she shows she is much more than that. She fully expresses her feelings and begins to realise how much her marriage to Claudius is affecting Hamlet. If I were advising someone how to act as Gertrude I would tell them to act shocked and suprised at Hamlets depravity at first and then slowly become more and more withdrawn as the scene continues, as though to show that Gertrude is realising the consequences of her recent actions.

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t shows us that even before his untimely death he was still a snivelling little man desperate to climb the social ladder.

The first Character in this scene to speak is Polonius who is delivering advice to Gertrude, he appears very Flattering towards Gertrude 'Your grace hath screened and stood between much heat and him.' Whenever we have seen Polonius so far in the play he has always been very sly, always trying to find out information about people behind their backs 'by indirection find directions out.' He even tries to deceive and spy on his own son. Polonius seems to believe he has an overpowering presence over people, however many would disagree, indeed after Polonius is killed Hamlet refers to him as a 'wretched rash intruding fool.' If I were to advise an actor to play Polonius I would ask that he try and assert a pompous nature over people when talking to them.

When the ghost does appear in the scene it is a pivotal moment, it allows Hamlet to stop an realise what he is doing to his mother. Hamlet should be standing above Gertrude to show her weakness, and then slowly the lights should d

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Approximate Word count = 1125
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English