Hamlet Act 3 Questions

Question: What question is Hamlet considering when he first appears in this act? What, according to Hamlet, is “a consummation/ devoutly to be wish’d?

Answer: Is it worth it to live? (“to be or not to be, that is the question.” he wishes for a peaceful sleep

Question: What, according to Hamlet, keeps a person from escaping the troubles of this life? What, according to Hamlet, does thinking too much—”the pale cast of thought”— do to people?

Answer: There is a fear of something dreadful happening after death. Thought keeps people from taking action

Question: What question does Hamlet pose to Ophelia, and what does he tell her that she should do?

Answer: “Are you honest?” (Are you a virgin?) He tells her to go to a nunnery so that she won’t “breed” sinners

Question: How does Hamlet regard women, love, romance, and marriage? Why might he feel this way?

Answer: He thinks that it shouldn’t exist. He could feel this way because of his mother and Claudius getting married.

Question: What does Claudius conclude about Hamlet after overhearing the conversation with Ophelia?

Answer: He concludes that Hamlet isn’t crazy, his sadness, not love, is making something else.

Question: Why does Claudius decide to send Hamlet to England?

Answer: He believes that Hamlet is dangerous

Question: What, according to Hamlet, is “the purpose of playing,” or acting?

Answer: to represent reality

Question: What is Hamlet hoping will happen when the king sees the play?

Answer: He is hoping that the King will get nervous or uneasy, meaning that he really did murder King Hamlet

Question: What does Hamlet ask Horatio to do during the play?

Answer: He asks Horatio to watch Claudius to see his guilt

Question: What does Hamlet think of Horatio’s judgment? of Horatio in general?

Answer: (“Sh’ hath sealed thee for herself (kings property marked with a seal) for thou hast been as one in suff’ring all that suffers nothing… and blest are those whose blood (passion) and judgment are so well co-meddled (commingled)…”)

In short: really likes Horatio and his judgement