Act III Review Quotes

Here is a list of Act III quotes that I have compiled that seem useful. I emphasize that everyone should still know the text by heart because any quote that Laz can pull out of memory is likely to be on this test.

Warning: These are only my interpretations so there may be other ways of interpreting this. Also this is by no means a complete list and is subject to revision and editing. Please submit any other quotes along with additional significance to these quotes. (R.C.)

Chapter 3 Relative Quotes

ACT III

Scene I

1. “We are oft to blame in this (‘tis too much proved) that with devotion’s visage and pious action we do sugar o’er the devil himself” lines 52-55

a. Polonius, speaking to Claudius, preparing to spy on Hamlet

b. Appearance vs. Reality, by looking and acting the part we become the part but the underlying causes are still evil.

2. “How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience”

a. Claudius, self (soliloquy- aside), preparing to spy on Hamlet

b. Seems almost like a confession but does not show what he is guilty for. This is put in to grab the audience’s attention and gives a possibility that Hamlet is correct and that the ghost is not a devil.

3. “The harlots cheek beautied with plast’ring art is not more ugly to the thing that helps it than is my deed to my most painted word. O heavy burden!” lines 56-62

a. Claudius, self (soliloquy- aside), preparing to spy on Hamlet

b. Claudius is trying to cover up for something. Lying only ends up making things worse, not better. Since Claudius is a usurper and is flawed, he thinks he is in control but will only end up making everything unravel.

4. “To be or not to be—that is the question:…” lines 64-98

a. Hamlet, speaking to self (soliloquy), walking around acting mad

b. Shows Hamlet’s cynical view of life again. Hamlet is rational in thought here, using his philosophical background to debate the topic of death. He states that because people are cowards and fear the unknown they will not take their own lives- thinking things through makes people not want to do them. This rational thought makes us respect Hamlet a little more.

5. “Where’s your father?” line 141

a. Hamlet to Ophelia (Claudius + Polonius eve’s dropping), Ophelia + Hamlet fighting

b. This is a response that catches Ophelia off guard which then prompts her to respond with her first lie to Hamlet. This is significant because it shows that Hamlet now definitely knows that he is being watched by someone (if he didn’t know before) and shifts Ophelia from being a friend to a foe.

6. “Thus set it down: he shall with speed to England for the demand of our neglected tribute.” Line 184

a. Claudius to Polonius, after observing Hamlet with Ophelia

b. Claudius wants Hamlet to practice his diplomatic skills. He also wants Hamlet out of the country so that he might become sane again.

Scene III

7. “O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven;…” lines 40

a. Claudius, self-soliloquy, after he ran off from the play

b. Claudius is partially human because he feels remorse for what he has done but he will not give up what he gained from it. Against the Judeo/Christian belief of repentance – must believe in what you want to be forgiven for and must give up all that you have gained from it.

8. “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below; Words without thought never to heaven go”

a. Claudius- soliloquy, after he ran off from play and Hamlet was watching him

b. Claudius talks about repentance but does not wish it because he doesn’t believe in his own words. This is a significant part of the play because Hamlet could end the play right now but he chooses not to because he does not want Claudius to go to heaven.

9. “Come, come, and sit you down; you shall not budge. You go not till I set you up a glass where you may see the inmost part of you.” Line 23-25

a. Hamlet to Gertrude (Polonius spying), after Polonius makes another plan to spy on Hamlet

b. Another reference to appearance vs. reality because Hamlet wants to show Gertrude how she is viewed by him, not how she just normally views herself. This is also significant because it is misinterpreted as a threat instead of a philosophical look into one’s own soul which then results in the death of Polonius.

10. “Look here upon this picture and on this, The counterfeit presentment of two brothers…” line 63 onward.

a. Hamlet to Gertrude, after the death of Polonius, still inside Gertrude’s room

b. Shows how Hamlet views the two kings. Shows “divine right of kings” that old Hamlet is portrayed as a god while the usurper should be portrayed as a moldy ear. Usurpers are not normal and disrupt the “Great Chain of Being”.

11. “My pulse as yours doth temperately keep time and makes healthful music.” Line 161

a. Hamlet to Gertrude, after Ghost re-appears

b. Hamlet gives explanations for why he is not mad by saying his pulse is normal. The ghost may have appeared when the others could see it before, but this ghost could be a manifestation of his conscience warning him not to hurt his mother. Since he has to remind himself not to hurt someone it means that he is going partially insane.

12. “Let it work for ‘tis the sport to have the enginer hoist with his own petard; and ‘t shall go hard but I will delve one yard below their mines and blow them at the moon.”

a. Hamlet to Gertrude, after ghost leaves

b. Shows that Hamlet knows the repercussions of his actions and that he will be punished for killing Polonius. Also shows that he is smart enough to know that Claudius will make an attempt on his life, but since he is smart, he will outsmart the would be assassins and use their own tricks against them.

13. “The counselor is now most still, most secret, and most grave, who was in life a foolish prating knave.”

a. Hamlet to the body of Polonius, dragging Polonius away

b. Joking about Polonius showing that the only way he was ever able to be quiet and not intrude on anything is when he is dead. Basically, he states that because he was that way in life that’s what got him killed.