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In act III scene 1 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 polonium in matters of court.

In act III scene 1 of shakespeare's hamlet why does hamlet speak rudely to ophelia-example-1
User Audwin
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2 Answers

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Answer:

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

Step-by-step explanation:

Hamlet believed that Ophelia was cheating on him. She has just given him back all his tokens of love, and he feels betrayed. In his anger, he curses the fickleness of all women and tells Ophelia to "get thee to a nunnery." If Hamlet really means "nunnery," then he is saying that Ophelia should become a nun in order to preserve her chastity and avoid bearing children that are "sinners." If, however, Hamlet means "brothel" ("nunnery" was Elizabethan slang for this), then he is criticizing Ophelia for not being chaste enough.

User Simon Frey
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6 votes

Answer:

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

Step-by-step explanation:

Hamlet is so brutal to Ophelia because he cannot trust her. In Act 3, Hamlet and Ophelia are on stage together for the first time. Sadly, however, their meeting is a set up, devised by Claudius and Polonius to determine the cause of Hamlet's seeming insanity.

User Danatron
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