Reader’s Response, and archetypal Response to Hamlet Act 3, Scene 4.

Reader’s Response, and archetypal Response to Hamlet Act 3, Scene 4.

After reading Hamlet Act 3, Scene 4, this is my character analysis. Hamlet, the prince, is the main character. Gertrude is the queen and Hamlet’s mother.  Hamlet’s father passed away, and is now “The Ghost”. Polonius is Claudius’ court. Claudius is the king.

As I read more, the plot thickens. As I stated before, Hamlet’ father, Gertrude’s husband, passed away. Gertrude is now seeing Hamlet’ uncle, who is Hamlet’s father’s brother, Claudius. Yes, very confusing! Because of Gertrude’s unethical decisions, Hamlet has been speaking to his father, the ghost, who is plotting revenge on his brother. Through Polonius’ speech, we discover that Hamlet is aware of his mother’s actions and has been trying his best to stop them, “He will come straight. Look you lay home to him. Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with, And that your grace hath screened and stood between Much heat and him. I’ll silence me even here. Pray you, be round with him” (3.4.4-5). After reading this, I realized that Polonius has some sort of relation with Claudius as he tells Gertrude to be strict with Hamlet so that the King is not affected by his “pranks”. We also learn the type of man his uncle is, “A horrible act—almost as bad, my good mother, as killing a king and marrying his brother” (3.4.29-30). As I read further, something that really stuck out to me was Hamlet’s loyalty. For example, he killed his own uncle in his father’s honour. As a matter of fact, he is willing to kill anybody who gets in his way, like when he killed Polonius. As the plot thickens I wonder about who else he will kill, or possibly betray in order to protect the loyalty between his father and him. Many of Shakespeare's novels and the characters within them are heavily driven by loyalty and traits alike. I wonder if William himself was a man driven by loyalty and respect? If I had to make an assumption as to what might happen as the story goes on, is that Gertrude will continue her adventures with the King although she says she will stop at the end of the scene; this will eventually anger Hamlet so much so that he will potentially kill his mother.

Secondly, for my Archetypal response to Act 3 Scene 4, i was able to come up with some questions but also draw the following points to a conclusion. After saying all the nice things about his father, Hamlet goes on to say Claudius is terrible. “Here is your husband; like a mildew'd ear, Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes?” (3.4.64-65). Claudius takes the archetypal role of the Villain in the novel, to Hamlet, he is the enemy. In my opinion, I truly believe Hamlet also sees his mother as a “bad guy” in the play. Hamlet says terrible things to his mother, for example, “turns her eyes into her soul”. He said on many occasions, things that a son would never to his mother. “O Hamlet, speak no more: Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soul; And there I see such black and grained spots As will not leave their tinct” (3.4.85-87). Why does what Hamlet says have such an effect on her? Perhaps she believes it holds some truth? In the quote stated, “black and grained spots” within her soul. To me,  this is a symbol for the darkening of her character because she has now levelled herself with Claudius. Although Gertrude is Hamlet’s mother in the play, she begins to turn into what he believes is an enemy too.