DRJ#3

Initial Reaction:  I found this act to be full of spying and scheming.  It seemed like Polonius was always snooping on Hamlet, while Hamlet was seeking proof or justification to kill Claudius.  I currently don’t have any plotters or schemers in my life thank god.

Character Analysis:  I chose Hamlet for the third act character analysis.  I feel that Hamlet is the protagonist and that he does have a fatal flaw which is his procrastination and cowardice.  Hamlet is of noble decent, obviously is not perfect, his downfall is his own doing so he fits many of the requirements of a tragic hero.  However, his lack of commitment, cowardice and dragging of feet etc cause many unnecessary deaths.  If he was a true tragic hero he would have manned up and killed Claudius no matter the consequence.

Theme Analysis:  Most of the third act is about Hamlet’s mousetrap set for Claudius.  Either the setting up, the actual play or the aftermath is involved in the entirety.  This is what Hamlet is using for proof of Claudius’ guilt.  So naturally the revenge theme is involved but more importantly there is also a temporal factor, meaning that revenge should be quick. This entire time Hamlet drags his feet, not actually plotting how to kill Claudius, but justification to work up his courage.  This can be seen in his famous “to be or not to be” when Hamlet says, “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all, and thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought, and enterprise of great pith and moment with this regard their currents turn awry, and lose the name of action.”  This is ironic because he would have his revenge if he would follow his own advice.