Question

In act III, scene I, of Shakespeare's Hamlet, why does Hamlet speak rudely to Ophelia, telling her "Get thee to a nunnery"? A. Hamlet is angry with Ophelia for spending too much time painting her face to beautify herself. B. Hamlet is aware that he is being watched and that Ophelia is being used to spy on him. C. Hamlet believes that Ophelia had a part to play in the murder of his father. D. Hamlet has differences with Polonius in matters of the court

Answer 1

B. Hamlet is aware that he is being watched and that Ophelia is being used to spy on him.

Step-by-step explanation:

He believes Ophelia is being used as spy in a conspiracy against him.

The scene goes likes this:

In mid-thought, Hamlet sees Ophelia approaching. Having received her orders from Polonius, she tells him that she wishes to return the tokens of love he has given her. Angrily, Hamlet denies having given her anything; he laments the dishonesty of beauty, and claims both to have loved Ophelia once and never to have loved her at all. Bitterly commenting on the wretchedness of humankind, he urges Ophelia to enter a nunnery rather than become a “breeder of sinners”. He criticizes women for making men behave like monsters and for contributing to the world’s dishonesty by painting their faces to appear more beautiful than they are. Working himself into a rage, Hamlet denounces Ophelia, women, and humankind in general, saying that he wishes to end all marriages. As he storms out, Ophelia mourns the “noble mind” that has now lapsed into apparent madness.

Answer 2

The correct answer is B) Hamlet is aware that he is being watched and that Ophelia is being used to spy on him.

Hamlet speaks rudely to Ophelia because she was spying him. She married Hamlet's uncle, Polonius and he used her to spy Hamlet. Polonius wanted control Hamlet because he believed that Hanlet would discover that he had killed his father and he was afraid of that.