Hamlet, in a state of blind hate, anger and passion kills the unseen Polonius, suspecting that it could be Claudius. By stabbing Polonius, Hamlet resolves his conflict with him and proves that it is not his fear of killing that causes him to delay his revenge on Claudius.
“Thou, wretched rash, intruding fool, farewell.
I took thee for thy better.”
In this scene, the audience witnesses Hamlet’s first impulsive action of murdering Polonius to which Hamlet shows no regret nor remorse as he believes that Polonius brought his own death upon himself. He believes Polonius’ death is justified as Polonius has proven to be perniciously meddlesome in his life and also played a central role in the demise of his relationship with Ophelia. Consequently, by stabbing Polonius, Hamlet commits himself to overt, violent action, which brings him into unavoidable conflict with the King.
In Hamlet’s monologue, he attempts to resolve the conflict with his mother by scolding her through emphasising the stark contrasts between her late husband and Claudius.
“Look here upon this picture…
Hyperion’s curls, the front of Jove himself…
This was your husband. Look you now what follows.
Here is your husband, like a mildewed ear.”
In his monologue, Hamlet attempts to make Gertrude aware of her vast villainy and to make her feel guilty for it. After compelling Gertrude to listen, Hamlet censures her by comparing his loving and loyal father to his furtive and deceitful uncle. He describes King Hamlet as an individual who was full of grace and authority and had qualities like those of Gods, in comparison to Claudius, who is evil and is comparable to a rotten piece of corn. After establishing his uncle’s inferiority, Hamlet reveals his distress of how Gertrude, a mature woman, can allow her sexuality to have such a power over her judgement. By the end of his monologue, it is clear to the audience that Hamlet has succeeded in forcing his mother to a painful self-awareness thereby resolving the conflict between them.
“Oh Hamlet, speak no more,
Thou turn’st my eyes into my very soul,
And there I see such black and grained spots
As will not leave their tinct.”
It is clear from Gertrude’s plea for Hamlet to stop his accusations that Hamlet has succeeded in breaking down the front with which Gertrude has suppressed her feelings hitherto. Despite this, Hamlet’s anger at his mother’s betrayal takes precedence over his goal of revenge and so he continues his passionate denunciation of her and his railing of Claudius. He is halted only by the appearance of the ghost.
In this scene, the ghost of King Hamlet makes his second appearance to reinvigorate Hamlet into completing his revenge on Claudius and to order him not to harm his distressed mother.
“Do not forget. This visitation
Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose…
Oh step between her and her fighting soul.
Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works.
Speak to her, Hamlet.”
Hamlet initially believes that the ghost has come to chide his tardy son into carrying out the revenge, however, through the ghost’s request for Hamlet to intercede and comfort his mother, who is overwrought by her son’s accusations, it is clear that the ghost also acts as his mother’s protector. Seeing nothing herself, Gertrude believes that her son is mad but Hamlet assures her that he has never been mad but has merely feigned madness all along. Before leaving his mother, Hamlet urges her to forsake Claudius and not to reveal that his madness is an act.