ACT 4:

Initial Reaction:

Initial I thought this part of the play was a little slow and didn’t have a real purpose until the end with Ophelia. I think that it says something that Hamlet was just playing crazy and he made his love interest go crazy from his actions.

Character Analysis:

 Ophelia was a supporting character who was there to further along the idea of Hamlet being crazy. Without her in the play it would be hard to see the distinct contrast of Hamlets actions from pretending to be crazy when he was really sane. She was an important part of getting her father to the room where Hamlet killed him and becomes a significant character as she starts to lose touch with reality.

Theme Analysis:

In this act the theme that stands out the most is love/Family. It was all about Ophelia going crazy due to the loss of her father and her brother wanting to have revenge on Hamlet for his actions. The theme of this is most present when Laertes states:

O heavens, is’t possible a young maid’s wits

Should be as mortal as an old man’s life?

Nature is fine in love, and where’ tis fine,

It send some precious instance of itself

After the thing it loves. (4.5.159-164)

He is clearly concerned with the state of his sister and it shows how family bonds can drive someone insane leaving others to wonder how the person go to that state.

ACT 3:

Initial Reaction:

Initial I thought good Hamlet is finally going to take care of business and kill his uncle. It didn’t really remind me of anybody or movie I have seen.

Character Analysis:

 Polonius was clearly a supporting character that was there to further the ambitions of the king and to help find out what is wrong with Hamlet. It’s unfortunate that in his efforts to find out information on Hamlet he dies due to his noisiness and trickery. Due to his eagerness to please the new king he is inadvertently foiling Hamlets idea of playing crazy.

Theme Analysis:

In this chapter I notice a lot of the theme had to do with loyalty. Weather it was Polonius trying to show Claudius his loyalty by hiding behind some wall tapestry or it was Hamlet calling other characters out for their lack of loyalty and having loyalty with the wrong individual. The one that was the most striking was when Hamlet was talking to his mother saying

To serve in such a difference. What devil was’t

That thus hath cozened you at hoodman-blind?

Eyes without feeling. Feeling without sight,

Ears without hands or eyes, smelling sans all,

Or but sickly part of one true sense

Could not so mope. O shame, where is thy blush? (3.4.77-82)

 With this Hamlet is scolding his mother for not being so loyal to his father. He is telling her that is has been foolish and moved on from his father way to soon.