86.1k views
0 votes
Hamlet - Act 3 Scene 3 and 4

--------------------------------------
1. What warnings about the “cease of majesty” does Rosencrantz explain to Claudius? How is this both foreshadowing and the outcome of an event of the past? (pg. 186)

2. Claudius admits his guilt (to us and to himself): What is the “primal eldest curse” he speaks of? Why can’t Claudius ask for forgiveness from God? (pg. 188)

3. Why doesn’t Hamlet kill Claudius? (pg. 192)

4. Read the scene between Hamlet and Gertrude: Note how her lines “ these words like daggers into my ears” relates to how Hamlet’s father was killed. Why does the Ghost appear when it happens? How is it’s sudden appearance different from its appearance in Act 1, and What does this difference suggest? What is it’s message to Hamlet? (pg. 202)

5. What is Gertrude’s agreement with Hamlet? (pg. 202)

2 Answers

5 votes

In 'Hamlet,' Rosencrantz's warning to Claudius foreshadows future consequences and reflects past events, while Claudius cannot seek forgiveness for his guilt due to the benefits he gains from his sin. Hamlet spares Claudius to avoid granting him heaven, and the Ghost appears to remind Hamlet of his duty, revealing internal conflicts. Gertrude agrees to keep Hamlet's feigned madness a secret.

In Hamlet, Act 3 Scene 3, Rosencrantz warns Claudius about the consequences of the king's actions, which is a form of foreshadowing and also reflects events from the past, particularly the murder of King Hamlet. Claudius acknowledges his guilt in a soliloquy, referring to the "primal eldest curse," involving the biblical story of Cain and Abel, indicating his inner turmoil and inability to seek forgiveness as he still benefits from his sin. Hamlet refrains from killing Claudius in this scene, as he believes Claudius is praying and does not want to send his soul to heaven.

The intense confrontation between Hamlet and Gertrude in Act 3 Scene 4 results in Gertrude exclaiming that Hamlet's words are like daggers, which parallels the poisoning of King Hamlet's ears. The Ghost's appearance during this scene differs from Act 1 because it now seems to serve the purpose of reminding Hamlet of his duty to avenge his father rather than to spur him to action against Gertrude. The difference suggests an internal conflict within Hamlet, as the Ghost does not interact with Gertrude, indicating that she might not see it, thus implying the potential question of Hamlet's sanity or the nature of the Ghost.

Gertrude's agreement with Hamlet is to keep his secret of feigned madness, as Hamlet has convinced her of Claudius's guilt in the murder of his father.

User Xaralis
by
5.7k points
3 votes

1- Rosencrantz explains that when a king dies he does not die alone.He compares the public figure with a wheel on a mountain .When the wheel falls it makes everything go down with it.It is a foreshadowing because it shows that the death of King Hamlet is already " acting like a gulf.." as with his own son.Prince Hamlet is giving signs of distress which affect the new king, his mother and the whole kingdom.It is the outcome of an event in the past because everything that is happening around Claudius has been originated by himself and his killing of his brother.

2-The primal eldest cause he speaks of is the death of Abel in the hands of his brother Cain..."A brother´s murder.."He cannot ask for forgiveness as he feels too guilty to do so.

3- Hamlet does not kill Claudius because he is praying.If Hamlet kills him while praying, as Christian people beleive, he will die and go to Heaven and he does not deserve eternal peace.

4-The lines relate to how king Hamlet was killed because Claudius put poison in his ear as he was sleeping.The words Hamlet utters are full of poison for Caudius and for herself, his mother.The appearance of the Ghost this time has a double meaning. He has warned Hamlet that the mother is innocent so he might be here in order to remind his son of that, to ask him to intercede with her and also because he wants his son to carry out his revenge. Hamlet gets the message that he has to go on with the revenge but would have liked some confirmation from the mother that Clauduis has murdered his father.He seems to need the mother on his side.

5-Gertrude is told by Hamlet that he has been pretendng to be mad.He wants her to hide that from Caudius, that she knows now what is going onwith her son. She agrees.He demands that his mother avoids being alone with his uncle, too.

User Tim Cadenbach
by
6.5k points