‘Get thee to a nunnery:’ | Hamlet to Ophelia | 3.1 |
Repeated phrase suggesting she’s a whore - nunnery also meant a brothel. |
‘God hath given you one face and you make yourselves another.’ |
Hamlet to Ophelia |
3.1 |
Misogynistic again? Suggesting all women are two faced. He’s right though - Ophelia had spied on him for Claudius & Polonius. |
‘… cousin Hamlet,’ | Claudius to Hamlet | 3.2 | Suggests a family affection - though false. |
‘… the chameleon’s dish’ | Hamlet in reply | 3.2 | Hints that Claudius is not what he seems. |
‘Do you think I meant country matters?’ |
Hamlet to Ophelia |
3.2 |
During the play, Hamlet uses crude and offensive language to Ophelia - suggesting he’s thinking of sex. |
‘… look you how cheerfully my mother looks, and my father died within two hours’ |
Hamlet to Ophelia | 3.2 |
Shows anger at the happiness of his widowed mother. |
‘The lady doth protest too much methinks’ | Gertrude to Hamlet | 3.2 |
Gertrude seems unaware of the reason for Hamlet’s questioning during the play. |
‘A poisons him i’th’garden for’s estate’ | Hamlet to court | 3.2 |
He makes it clear that the play king is poisoned, hoping to prick Claudius’ conscience. |
‘Give me some light: away!’ | Claudius to Lords | 3.2 |
He makes an excuse to leave the hall - a sign of guilt in Hamlet’s eyes. |
‘… my wit’s diseased’ | Hamlet to Rosencrantz | 3.2 |
Hamlet suggests that his usual flair with words is failing him. |
‘I will speak daggers to her but use none’ | Hamlet soliloquy | 3.2 |
He tells the audience how he intends to speak to his mother. |
‘I like him not’ | Claudius to Guildenstern | 3.3 |
Claudius’ real feelings towards Hamlet are made clear. |
‘Oh, my offence is rank’ | Claudius soliloquy | 3.3 | Claudius’ confession. |
‘All may be well’ |
Claudius soliloquy |
3.3 |
Hoping that by prayer, his sins are forgiven - dramatic irony - the audience know of Hamlet’s intentions. |
‘My words fly up, my thoughts remain below’ |
Claudius soliloquy | 3.3 |
Telling the audience that he doesn’t intend his confession to be known beyond God. |
‘Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended’ | Gertrude to Hamlet | 3.4 |
Shows her lack of understanding by suggesting that Hamlet should care about Claudius. |