Act III Scene II

-Discuss an allusion and analyze why you think Shakespeare chooses to use it where he does.

    "O heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever

The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom:

Let me be cruel, not unnatural:"

- Hamlet says this line before visiting his mother. Polonius instructed Hamlet that Gertrude wants to talk to him in her room. This lines says that he doesn't want to kill his mother like Nero did with his mother. He states that he will be cruel to her but no violent. He will say things that will hurt her but not physically harm her. Also no matter what he says and how much his words threaten or shame her, his soul will never let him do any harm to her. Basically, Hamlet hates his mother with all the things he did in the past few months right after his father's death, but he doesn't mean to harm her in any way. I think Shakespeare put this line here because earlier in Act 1, the ghost tells Hamlet that he can avenge his father's death, but he shouldn't do anything to his mother because the heaven will take care of that. Therefore, this doesn't mean Gertrude is innocent for the murder of old Hamlet and we don't really know if the ghost is really Hamlet's father's ghost. 

-Summarize the action of the scene(s) and discuss how the scene fits into the play as a whole.

      Hamlet creates a play that talks about the situations that happened in the past months to confirm that Claudius killed his father by showing guilt. This scene reflects Hamlet's relationship to Horatio because he told him what the ghost said and he really cares about him and vice versa. Hamlet had strict rules to the actors that they shouldn't overreact with their gestures and how they say things. They should keep it simple without getting noticed by the King. Hamlet is eager for the King to see the play, he thinks that if Claudius don't show guilt then the ghost lied to him. The play begins with an introduction of a happy royal couple, then the King dies from poisoning and the Queen remarries not after a long time. Before this, Hamlet and Ophelia had an interaction and he has rude sexual implications towards her. We don't know if he is mad about their break up or just acting crazy as a part of his plan. During the play, the Queen promises to the King that it would be treason to her heart if she remarries. There's a line that the player queen says 

" a second time I kill my husband dead

When second husband kisses me in bed." This can mean that Hamlet thinks his mother is part of the horrible act. The King got  scared and yelled he wants the lights to be lit. This confirms that the King is guilty because he was affected by the play. This whole scene confirms that the King is guilty and Hamlet knows the truth. Therefore, Hamlet will avenge his father because he knows the truth and has evidence proving his point. 

-Discuss a reference to any of the four themes that Shakespeare is exploring in Hamlet.

      In this scene, his madness shows well I mean his act to be crazy seems to be working. As he welcomes his guests, he acts like his dad died 2 hours ago and how madly in love Gertrude to the King. Claudius is suspicious of his madness, but he is gathering evidence to prove his suspicion. 

Hamlet knows he is being spied by the King so his act of madness goes on. Also, he acts like he enjoys the play because it's depicting the death of the King and the after effects of his death. Therefore, I do know that he is acting crazy, but at some parts it seems like he is really crazy.