Act 3 Scene i (Overview)

The scene begins with Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Polonius, Ophelia, Gertrude, and Claudius.

Gertrude asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern what Hamlet has told them is wrong with him. They reply saying that Hamlet seems depressed, but he dances around the questions they ask him. They then say that when they invited a troupe to perform for Hamlet, he became quite happy, and the troupe is going to put on a show for Hamlet that evening, and he would like Gertrude and Claudius to both be there. Claudius then sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern out to try and heighten Hamlet's eagerness to watch the troupe. They exit.

Claudius then asks Gertrude to leave so he and Polonius can spy on the conversation Hamlet is going to have with Ophelia. Gertrude exits.

Polonius gives Ophelia a prayer book to pretend to be reading so Hamlet believes she is all alone. He makes a comment that people do this all the time: act devoted to God to mask their wrong deeds. This comment makes Claudius feel extremely guilty for his horrible deeds. Polonius and Claudis exit. Enter Hamlet.

Hamlet enters with his famous part "To be, or not to be. That is the question..." This passage expresses Hamlet's question of whether it is better to live through life's struggles or end one's life and not bear the troubles. He says that sleeping and dying are the same thing, but no one knows what dreams you have when your dead and life's misfortunes are behind a person. Because of this, man drags on with his life because of his uncertainty of death.

Ophelia then comes up to Hamlet and tells him to take back all the things he has given her. Hamlet then leads Ophelia on by saying that he never loved her. Ophelia admits she was misled. Hamlet tells Ophelia to go to a nunnery and stay a virgin so she does not bring any more sinners into the world, because no matter what, everyone is evil. He then says all women are whores and that if Ophelia doesnt get to a convent, she will surely be one as well and cheat on her husband. He finishes with saying everyone, except for ONE person he knows (hinting at the king or queen?), will stay married. He then leaves.

Ophelia cries out that she is so sad to see Hamlet in such a lowly state when he was such an outstanding person before he became insane. Claudius and Polonius then come out from hiding. Claudius says he will send Hamlet to England to retrieve the money that England owes Denmarrk and hopefully, during his travels, he will come out of his funk. Polonius still believes that his insanity was caused by unrequited love. All exit.