Grace Kasemier

Period 2
3/8/17

Something is Rotten in the State of Denmark

For each character, cite quotes and other evidence (commentary ok too) of their motives and intrigues. Whats REALLY
going on with these people? What are the possibilities? Quote chosen (Act, Scene, Line #s) eg: Hamlet: No (III, i, 96)

Act Hamlet Claudius Gertrude Polonius

Act I Hamlet is the most sane he
will ever be in the play and
thats not saying a lot
because hes really
distraught over his fathers
sudden death and his
mothers quick remarriage
to his uncle who has taken
Hamlets place and
become King. Within a
month, Ere yet the salt of
most unrighteous tears
Had left the flushing in her
galld eyes, She married. unmanly grief. Act I Scene
Act I Scene 2. Hamlet
already shows signs of
unrelenting rage towards
his mothers new marriage
even though he hasnt yet
been told that his uncle
murdered his father. He
calls his uncle a satyr and
condemns him fully before
being told by his fathers
ghost that his uncle
King Claudius acts like he is
deeply saddened by his
brothers death but
respectively happy about
his new marriage. The
words he speak
simultaneously act as the
respected King of Denmark
as well as condemn Hamlet
for his actions. But to
persever In obstinate
condolement is a course Of
impious stubbornness. Tis
2. Telling Hamlet that by
continuing to mourn his
dead father he is unmanly
does not paint a kind
portrait of Claudius or at the
least it paints a highly
pragmatic type of person
even in the event of his own
brothers death. Claudius
also sweeps Gertrude away
after speaking with Hamlet
Not very much about Polonius in this Act shows
Gertrudes character is the role of father telling
revealed in the first Act Ophelia how to behave. At
which leaves much of her first the way he talks to her
statements ambiguous as appears to be fatherly
to what her inner feelings advice so that he can
on the matters are. protect his little girl from
Gertrude plays the role of Hamlet who could break her
protector of Claudius, heart. In few, Ophelia, Do
defender of Hamlet, as well not believe his vows, for
as that of a pragmatic they are brokers, Act 1
women who no longer Scene 3 Polonius tells
mourns the death of her Ophelia to stop seeing
first husband. Gertrude Hamlet as he believes
begs Hamlet to stay so that Hamlet doesnt really love
he is better looked after her, but this could just be a
saying Let not thy mother pretense so that Polonius
lose her prayers, Hamlet. I can protect his daughters
pray thee, stay with us. Go virtue so he can later sell
not to Wittenberg Act I her off to a different man for
Scene 2 but whether she a good connection and
says it for his safety or raise his political powers.
because she knows
Claudius wants to kill him
can not be known for
 murdered him. This shows presumably to sleep with
that Hamlets emotions her which is enough to
already run high with a make any son angry.
certain amount of stress so Claudius puts on the facade
when the stress builds in of a caring brother and
further scenes its no uncle but it is just that and it
surprise that his emotional can be seen in his biting
state would get worse even comments to Hamlet and
if he thinks hes only the way he treats Hamlets
pretending to be crazy. mother in front of Hamlet. It
is therefore not
unreasonable to assume,
after we hear from King
Hamlets ghost that
Claudius killed him, that
Claudius plans to kill
Hamlet next and secure the
throne for himself.
certain. She does tell
Hamlet that Thou knowst
tis common; all that lives
must die, Passing through
nature to eternity Act I
Scene 2 of Hamlets father
which lends her to seem
more likely in cahoots with
Claudius and they killed
King Hamlet together
knowing then they could be
together and Claudius
would be King.

Act II Hamlet in Act II starts
doing more crazy actions
to make the people in the
palace wonder about his
health. He appears to
Ophelia in nothing but a
nightshirt and madly goes
on about nothing. When
speaking with Polonius he
goes on and on about
random sayings in order to
appear mad, but he is also
making lots of innuendos
about Ophelia being
King Claudius continues to
act like hes sorry that
Hamlets father died and
hopes Hamlet isnt crazy.
He summons Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern ostensibly
to console Hamlet so he
can regain his sanity, but he
also asks them to
essentially spy on Hamlet
telling them to so by your
companies To draw him on
to pleasures, and to gather
So much as from occasion
Queen Gertrude continues
to take both her husband
and her sons side. It is
ambiguous whether or not
she knows of the plot to kill
her first husband by her
second husband. Indeed
she could have even been
in on it. The Queen goes
along with Claudius bribing
Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern to spy on
Hamlet and console him but
this could just be because
Polonius is using his
political connections and his
daughter to get more
political power. He also
hires Reynaldo to spread
rumours about Laertes
while hes in college in
order to make sure hes not
doing the things that hes
putting in the rumours or
worse. Polonius doesnt do
this in the best interest of
his son he does it to make
sure hes not sullying the
 pregnant which would lead
us to believe he still has
some of his wits, though to
Polonius he seems quite
mad. Let her not walk i th Scene 2. His reason being
sun. Conception is a
blessing, but, as your
daughter may conceive,
friend, look to t. Act II
Scene 2. Hamlet also
decides to hold a play in
the palace that mimics the
situation of his fathers
murder. He does this in
order to catch Claudius
reaction and therefore
prove his guilt. Hamlet is
always emotional but he
isnt crazy at this point
because he has the wits to
concoct a reasonable plan.
Act III Hamlet is reasonable in
this scene and insane
showing he may be losing
his hold on his sanity. He
calls Ophelia a whore and
you may glean, Whether
aught to us unknown afflicts
him thus That, opened, lies
within our remedy. Act II
Claudius that something
that he wishes to find out
what is troubling Hamlet,
saying it cant possibly be
his dead father and to fathers death and our
remedy it. But if we assume
King Claudius has other
intentions this proves an
effective way to glean
information from your
enemy.
King Claudius reveals to the
audience that he is for sure
guilty of murdering King
Hamlet and he feels no
remorse about it. My
she believes what hes
saying at face value and
doesnt see it as spying.
She doesnt agree with
him Act II Scene 1. At first
else is bothering Hamlet
and says I doubt it is no
other but the main His
goes on to list that which
oerhasty marriage Act II
Scene 2.
Queen Gertrude is still a bit
of a mystery as to her
motives but she does
appear to care about
Claudius, Hamlet, and
family name. And there
put on him What forgeries
you pleasemarry, none
so rank As may dishonor
it seems as though he only
wants the rumours to be
light in their lies but then he
Reynaldo can say Ay, or
drinking, fencing, swearing,
Quarreling, drabbingyou
may go so far. Act II Scene
1. Which would definitely
discredit him. In relation to
his daughter he orders her
to stop seeing Hamlet and
to not sleep with him
because then she will never
be married and shell ruin
Polonius reputation. Then
when Hamlet acts crazy to
Polonius, Polonius uses his
insanity to push his
daughters marriage to
Hamlet assuming Hamlets
insanity is love.
Polonius is obviously a
social climber. He has his
daughter go to Hamlet and
hides with Claudius to
prove to him that Hamlets
repeatedly insults her while
Polonius and Claudius
overhear and do nothing
about it. Get thee to a
nunnery. (Act III Scene 1
Line 131) he says to her
repeatedly which is slang
for a whore house. He also
says to her Or if thou wilt
needs marry, marry a fool,
for wise men know well
enough what monsters you
make of them. (III, 1,
149-151) another round of
insults. This whole scene
either shows Hamlet is a
great actor or hes starting
to lose hold of his sanity for
real. Hamlet also shows he
has some restraint
however as he asks
Horatio to watch Claudius
reaction to make sure hes
guilty and not just base his
decision off of a biased
opinion. Observe my
uncle (III, 2, 85). Though
Hamlets overall plan lacks
judgement he does show
the ability to make
somewhat sound
reasoning.
stronger guilt defeats my
strong intent (III, 4, 44)
shows he is guilty and the
lines My words fly up, my
thoughts remain below;
Words without thoughts
never to heaven go. (III, 4,
102-103) show he has no
remorse for his actions.
Once this is taken into
account his motives
become clearer. He wants
to kill Hamlet that is for
sure. Whether or not he
loves Gertrude is more
debatable.
Ophelia. She doesnt think
Hamlet is crazy because
hes in love with Ophelia but
for Ophelias sake she treated her in a disgusting
wishes it saying And for
your part, Ophelia, I do wish
That your good beauties be
the happy cause Of
Hamlets wildness.(III,i, all (III, ii, 192-194) instead
42-44). Even if she only
wants Hamlets craziness to
be about Ophelia so she
doesnt feel responsible she
does care about Ophelia.
When Gertrude sees the
play Hamlet put on she
doesnt show a reaction to it
like Claudius does but she
does say The lady doth
protest too much,
methinks.(III, ii, 254) when
she sees how the Queen in
the play overly talks about
how great her first husband
is,pointing out that it seems
like shes lying. This could
reflect her first marriage
and how it might not have
been as loving as Hamlet
assumes. When Hamlet
attacks her she doesnt
appear to have been in on
the plot to kill Claudius
in love with Ophelia. When
shes on the floor crying
because Hamlet has
manner he says simply
How now, Ophelia? You
need not tell us what Lord
Hamlet said; We heard it
of comforting her in any sort
of fatherly manner. He also
decides to hide in Queen
Gertrudes room to make
sure se doesnt give in to
whatever Hamlet says to
her. This is in no way
proper behavior for
someone who isnt the King
to be in the Queens
chamber. When he hears
the Queen crying for help
because Hamlet is
attacking her Polonius
doesnt come to her aid he
just yells What ho! Help!
(III, iv, 28) which shows he
is a rat of a person who
wont even defend his own
queen.

Act IV Hamlet in Act IV is
especially crazy. At this
point it is easy to see that
his acting crazy has
become actual crazy. After
he has killed Polonius,
Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern are asking
him where he put the body
and hes just cracking
jokes and puns. This
apparent insanity is fake.
Hamlet just has a real dark
sense of humor. When
Claudius questions him
about the death Hamlet
sasses him saying in reply
to where is Polonius In
heaven. Send thither to
see. If your messenger find
him not there, seek him i
th other place yourself.
(IV, iii, 37-39). Later on in
Claudius acts smartly in this
act in relation to Hamlet.
The audience knows for
sure now that he did kill
King Hamlet and Gertrude
is one of the things he got
for doing so. If shes the
main reason is more
debatable. He does also
say that his own ambition is
the reason which is
probably the stronger drive.
When Laertes returns home
from college he finds his
father dead and he thinks
Claudius killed him.
Claudius tells him that
Hamlet killed Polonius
which makes Laertes want
revenge and be on
Claudius side. Make
choice of whom your wisest
friends you will, (IV, v, 228)
because she does say As
kill a king? (III, iv, 36) in
response when Hamlet
accuses her. After he
physically attacks her
Gertrude acts in a loving
manner towards Hamlet but
it is unclear if it is real or
not.
Gertrude is still a bit of a dead
wild card in relation to her
motives which are hazy.
She tells Claudius what
happened between her and
Hamlet calling him Mad as
the sea and wind when both
contend (IV, i, 7) She also
tells Claudius that Hamlet
killed Polonius thinking it
was Claudius. When
Claudius says he wants to
send Hamlet to England,
Gertrude agrees with him. It
is unclear whether or not
she knew that Claudius
planned to have Hamlet
killed in England or if she
just thought he was sending
Hamlet away. Either way
has different implications.
One would be that Gertrude
was smart and aware of
the play after Hamlet has
returned from England
than he does act crazy for
real. When he is actually
crazy there is little humor
in it and thats where there
is a distinction.
Claudius says to Laertes
and Laertes chooses
Claudius especially after
seeing the state of his
sister. When Horatio
receives a letter saying
Hamlet is coming back to
Denmark. Claudius knows
his plan to have Hamlet
killed in England failed so
he uses Laertes need for
revenge and decides to
murder Hamlet with
Laertes. you may choose A
sword unbated, and in a
pass of practice Requite
him for your father. (IV, vii,
156-158). Claudius says to
Laertes outlining the murder
plan. By having Laertes
duel Hamlet with a real
sword that has poison on it,
Claudius can use Laertes
as shield in case people
think Claudius planned the
murder. Its also not murder
because revenge is
honorable and has a
reason. Therefore Claudius
continues to fight for power
in the least honorable way
possible.
what was happening and
chose Claudius, the other
way would be that she was
just stupid and trusting
Claudius even though hes
obviously untrustworthy.
Though Gertrude is hesitant
at first she does see
Ophelia when she is crazy
and it saddens her as she
relates to Ophelia saying,
So full of artless jealousy is
guilt, It spills itself in fearing
to be spilt. (IV, v, 24-25)
This quote would appear
that she knows what its like
to feel guilty therefore she
knew that Claudius killed
her former husband but she
loves him anyway.
Act V Hamlet returns from
England to to find Ophelia
being buried. He acts
rashly especially
considering the way he
previously acted to
Ophelia. He even says that
his own pain is greater
than Laertes, Ophelias
brother. Something you
should not say to the man
whose father you
murdered and whose sister
committed suicide because
of you. What is he whose
grief Bears such an
emphasis, whose phrase
of sorrow Conjures the
wandring stars and makes
them stand Like
wonder-wounded hearers?
This is I, Hamlet the Dane
(V, i, 267-271) Then he
fights Laertes over
Ophelias dead body, not
something a sane person
would typically do. He is
also full of himself which is
why he dies. He duels
Laertes knowing Laertes is
the better swordsmen but
because hes big headed
he does it anyway. Laertes
King Claudius just wants
Hamlet dead. Hes been
trying to handle Hamlet the
whole play so he wont
have to give up the crown
he literally killed for. Hes
not leaving it up to Laertes
to kill Hamlet he also has a
ring that hes going to use
to poison Hamlets glass of
wine. However Gertrude
goes to drink the wine
instead of Hamlet. Claudius
says Gertrude, do not
drink. (V, ii, 317).
Therefore he either loved
Gertrude and didnt want
her to die or he simply
wanted to keep his power
and his power is tied to
being married to the queen
and with her dead his
position would be more
debatable. This might
cause unrest in his people
on the brink of war with
Norway. Then Claudius is
killed when Hamlet shoves
the poisoned wine down
Claudius throat.
Queen Gertrude is kind to dead
Hamlet when hes dueling
Laertes. She also drinks the
poisoned wine even when
Claudius tells her not to
saying, I will, my lord; I
pray you pardon me. (V, ii,
318). This could be
interpreted in a number of
ways either Gertrude was
brushing off Claudius
because she thought he
was silly or she was
willingly committing suicide
to save her only child and
she was asking her
husband who she loved to
forgive her. Later when she
starts to die she tells
Hamlet, No, no, the drink,
the drink! O, my dear
Hamlet! The drink, the
drink! I am poisoned (V, ii,
341-342). This would show
that she wants Hamlet to kill
Claudius if its because she
chose Hamlet over her
husband in her final
moments and she wants
him to have his revenge
because she know he wont
die in peace if he doesnt is
debatable but likely.
 wounds Hamlet with a
poisoned sword and
eventually dies. Hamlet
kills Claudius for killing
Gertrude, inadvertently,
and for killing his father.
The most reasonable
Hamlet is in the entirety of
the play, is right before he
dies when he says But I
do prophesy th election
lights On Fortinbras; he
has my dying voice. (V, ii,
393-393) He elects
Fortinbras as King which
keeps his people from
going to war with Norway.
Hamlet may be an
emotional wreck but he
pulled through right before
he died, he was selfless.

Analysis