DRJ #4: Hamlet, Act IV & Act V

Initial Reaction:  The whole play reminds me of a Mexican soap opera, but Act three especially reminds me of one. Part of it has to do with the opening scene, when Getrude is revealing to Claudius that Hamlet killed Polonius.

Character Analysis:  I chose Claudius for the third act character analysis. Claudius is a cold blooded, selfish, deceiving jerk who wants to send Hamlet off to England because he feels threatened by him.  One of Claudius’s fatal flaws is his want for power. Why does he not stop after killing his own brother and marrying his wife? Because his want for power is stronger than anything else. I truly think that if Claudius stopped creating so many sinful acts after killing his brother he would have saved many innocent lives and souls.

Theme Analysis:  I see a huge theme of deception towards the end of the play. It all comes together when Claudius and Laertes plan to get rid of Hamlet. When Laertes and Claudius plan for a fencing match but also make a plan b with poison to kill Hamlet shows deception through lies and plotting.

DRJ #3: Hamlet, Act III

Initial Reaction:  When the “play within a play” starts it reminded me of a junior high play. It’s a weird comparison but for some reason it just reminded me of that. Without the sexual remarks.

Character Analysis: :  I chose Ophelia for the third act character analysis. She is weak and passive and we see this every time she agrees to do what her father, Polonius suggest she do. She doesn’t have much say and is compared to Gertrude through Hamlet. Ophelia is placed into the same pool of woman that Gertrude is in by Hamlet, could be said by saying, “they drink the same water”. Hamlet’s phrase says it all, “I have heard of your paintings too, well enough.”

Theme Analysis:  One particular theme that stands out to me most is revenge. Hamlet creates this “play within a play” to get a reaction out of Claudius so he can get revenge on him. Then when Hamlet sees Claudius vulnerable and gets the chance to kill him he decides not too but it seems to easy at the moment. If he kills him then and there Hamlet won’t get his full revenge. Claudius is praying at the moment and if he kills him then he will go to heaven but he doesn’t want him to go to heaven but to hell.