It seems strange that Polonius disapproved of their relationship. He disapproves because Hamlet is part of the royal family and because he thinks Hamlet is using Ophelia. In this scene the Queen offers her approval she seems to even wish for the relationship to continue “ I do wish that your good beauties be the happy cause of Hamlets wildness” I think she wants to know if Ophelia isn’t the reason Hamlet is mad it could be something else. She says “ I doubt it is no other but the main: his fathers death and our o’earhasty marriage “
Despite Shakespeare’s presentation of Polonius as someone who talks a lot he plans the meeting carefully. He tells Ophelia to “ read on this book” he tells her to do this so it shows that she’s alone and to make her look innocent. Polonius tells Ophelia that she must appear innocent and he says how easily we may hide under a false coating “ tis too much proved, that with devotion’s visage, and pious action, we do sugar o’er the devil himself.”
Polonius comments are important for two reasons, Ophelia has to look innocent because Hamlet criticises women, he says “ I have heard of your paintings too, well enough. God hath given you one face and you make yourself another.”
Claudius guilt is made clear to the audience by his comments “ oh tis too true. How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience! The harlot’s cheek, beautied with plastering art, is not more ugly to the thing that helps it than is my deed to my most painted word. O heavy burden! “
The idea of people hiding parts of their character or acting a part is very common in the whole play. Hamlet has “put on an antic disposition” to hide his plot for revenge.
When Hamlet enters this scene the audience see the real Hamlet. His soliloquy is self-critical and over emotional, it shows how traumatised he feels. Hamlet debates if it is better to live or die “to be, or not to be, that is the question- whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them.”
Hamlet says that the things that stop people wanting to die is the fear of terrors that await the dead. The soliloquy and the previous one show the audience that Hamlets character is emotional, Hamlet speaks to Ophelia as if she is a stranger when he meets her. “ How does your honour for this many a day?” Ophelia attempts to return Hamlets gifts. Hamlet says, “ I never gave you aught.” Ophelia might feel upset when Hamlet says this.
When Hamlet speaks to Ophelia, Shakespeare suggests that he knows he’s being spied on. Hamlet is probably feeling angry and upset if he knows.
In line 111-114 Hamlet is saying that beauty will corrupt virtue. “ For the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd.” Hamlet orders Ophelia to a nunnery and denies that he ever loved her “ I loved you not” he might be telling her this to show that he’s gone mad.
Ophelia is distressed by Hamlets words; she is probably thinking Hamlet is mad. Hamlet criticises all women. Hamlet says women make monsters of men.
In the latter part of the scene Ophelia’s words are emphasised by exclamation marks. This shows how desperate she feels. She says that Hamlet was once the very mirror and model of behaviour and taste. Ophelia uses metaphors to explain Hamlets change. Ophelia feels that there is nothing good left and everything’s wrong now. Ophelia tries to ignore what Hamlet said to her because he’s gone mad.
At the end of the scene Claudius is feeling worried because he knows that Ophelia isn’t the reason Hamlet is mad “ love, his affections do not that way tend.” Claudius plans to send Hamlet to England, Polonius agrees with him. Claudius is right to be fearful of Hamlet because he is planning to kill Claudius.
