I think ophelia will be very shcoked at Hamlets actions. He's told her that he loves her and was kind to her for a very long time, possibly promising marriage. Now he's saying cruel things, like he never loved her. She will probably reacted very worriedly and surprised.
Well Ophelia loves Hamlet. I know that Hamlet broke her heart but I think that OPhelia is the sort of girl who would just fall right back in love with him if he shows interest in her again
In response to the inner circle, I think that the ghost wasn't seen by Gertrude because she is so blinded by her selfisness and need to have a person in the here and now to give her the attention she desires.
I there is a possibility that ophelia will go crazy. Hamlet is yanking her back and forth, one second flirting and drawing her in. The next throwing her back out with harsh comments and basicly calling her a whore. She seems so fragile.
I think that Ophelia is going to be completely heartbroken after what Hamlet does to her. He first yells at her and tells her he never loved her then later in the act he embarrasses her in front of everyone. At this point in the story she has to be really confused and at a loss of actions. Since the topic of suicide is seen throughout the play, maybe Ophelia is going to face that decision.
Hamlet is sending a lot of mixed signals. Along with what Molly said, he also made sexual jokes in fron of everyone which probably would have embarrassed her.
when hamlet and claudius are in the confessional and hamlet is about to murder claudius and stops because of the fact that he thinks claudius will go to heaven, doesn't it seem as though the sin of murder (on claudius' part) would send him to hell regardless?
Katie: Going along with what Anna said, I feel that Ophelia is very naive and that she will fall for Hamlet regardless of his actions. Though it is very tragic, her love for Hamlet is the epitome of what love should be, unconditional.
Because Ophelia does love him and can't leave him regardless of his actions what does that say about how Shakespeare views women?
I think Hamlet's actions will have an immense effect on Ophelia's sanity and emotions. It wouldn't be suprising if she killed herself, even if she is strong, due to the harsh way Hamlet has trashed her and her feelings. (and killed her dad???!!)
I agree with Adrienne, i think that Gertrude or Claudius would kill themselves before Ophelia, just because of the guilt that is starting to pile up inside them.
Ophelia is fragile. She has a lot going on and when it comes down to if she'll go crazy, I think she definitely will lose her mind because she is so tired of being used as a puppet from both sides and her emotions are yanked back and forth. That is enough to drive any strong woman crazy
I think Ophelia is going to be betrayed by Hamelt and will not go back to him. He has been wishy washy with their relationship lately and has also killed her father!!! I think the murder of Polonius will be the last straw for Ophelia and she will finally leave Hamlet for good. I don't know how leaving Hamlet will affect Ophelia though. That may cause serious emotional distress for her.
Hailey: I agree that at this point their is nothing going for her. Her father has been killed, the love of her life just called her out and the king is using her.
Will: I agree that it seems that Claudius being in prayer would not affect his going to heaven or not. Either way he would probably go to hell. I think that is just part of Hamlet going a little bit insane. He is not thinking totally straight and he does not want to mess up in the act of avenging his father.
Women seem to be just the puppets in the play with no real depth, other than to cause more tangled conflict and drive the plot in a more negative direction.
The using of women is obvious through out the play. I think this disrespectn towards women shows their status at the time of the play being written. During Shakespeares time women were not given a high role in life. I think this also is trying to show the vulnerablity of women. By using Ophelia and Gertrude, the men are showing their power over these girls in ways that can't be stopped.
Hamlet is not thinking about anyone but himself. He didn't care about the protection of his mother or the future of the country. His only motive: to avenge his father.
Molly: I think he is tired of being used and he knows that she is both using him and being used. He is upset and he wants to hurt everyone else for hurting him. Even though he loved her, he denies it to confuse her.
Molly: When I first read that I thought that he was trying to confuse her. When it also comes to the notes that he wrote her he says that he didn't write them. He might be trying to make her go crazy. I wouldn't put it past him to do that.
Mollyp: I think Hamlet knows that he is being watched and played by Ophelia. Since she is being so wishy washy in their relationship, he feels hurt that she of all people would betray him.
Michelle: I think that women are viewed as just objects who serve men in the story. So far we haven't seen any women who receive very much respect or play a powerful role over any characters. Claudius uses women to do his dirty work so he can keep his hands clean. Once again we see him being selfish and not looking out for his "people".
Molly: I think that he is trying to say that he had the "thought" of loving her (loved her once) but he never really had the physical love for her. There's a big difference between the two.
Lauren and Mackenzie: i also think that Ophelia has a certain dedication to her parents. Way back when, when your parents told you to do something, you did it no questions asked.
Molly: I think what Hamlet is saying is he loved her and wanted to marry her but now because he nows that she is being used to spy on him that he can not love her anymore. He is also trying play with her mind saying he never loved her so she feels bad about herself and it is a payback for spying on him.
Hamlet does not care anymore about anyone. He doesnt even care about himself because if he did he would not be making such a fool out of himself. When Hamlet made these plans to embaress his mother and uncle I think he thought that it would make him feel better but really he is feeling worse deep inside. This resentment towards everyone is almost like a drug he cant stop what he has started.
Katie M: Do you think if Hamlet fails it could be because someone double crosses him? He's been avoiding using people like Claudius but who might get in his way?
Molly: Possibly Hamlet and Ophelia and Hamlet had sex and that is what he means by he loved her once but he didn't actually emotionally love her. It was just sex.
MollyP I think Hamlet is just trying to confuse ophelia. He's hurting everyone around him in the process of trying to avenge his father, but at the same time everyone is hurting him. So in the end it's just an eye for an eye. Everyone in this play seems blind
kch: I don't think Hamlet is trying to be a jerk... I just think that he is trying to show Claudius that he is smarter than they all think, along with his actions of craziness.
Its kind of interesting to think that while Hamlet considers women as almost nothing they also affect him in powerful ways. (like how angry he is over Gertrude's and how he can't make up his mind on how he feels about Ophelia)
wil: maybe accidentally killing Polonius will only motivate Hamlet more to kill Claudius. He may blame the incident on the king or he may just be glad Polonius is dead as he was so annoyingly prying...
Molly: I think Hamlet lies purposely to Ophelia when he says he never loved her because he knows that she is being used and going against him. He is extremely mad that everyone he trusts keeps lying to him and now he feels that he can’t trust anyone. At this point Hamlet has to figure his life and his plan out on his own. I also don’t think that Hamlet wants anyone to help him.
Lauren: I thought that Hamlet was upset about killing Polonius. It was simply how he was upset about killing the wrong person. This is his madness finally coming out as his anticipation to kill his uncle grows.
Molly: Hamlet was just intending to hurt Ophelia because she hurt him. He knew she was trying to spy on him for her father and Claudius and was hurt, and felt betrayed therefore he wanted her to feel as bad and lonely as he did.
Does Hamlet feel any remorse for killing Polonius? How much does Hamlet value life? Do you think that because he is kind of suicidal he does not value other's lives as much as he once did?
How many people do you think will die because of Hamlet's determination to kill Claudius? Maybe not all of them will be directly from Hamlet's sword, but how many will suffer from his selfishness?
Good question: When Hamlet stabbed Polonius by accident does anyone think in the back of Hamlets mind he knew it wasnt his uncle but did it any way to prove a point to his mother and get some anger.
Was polonius a test, like if he could kill him he could def kill his uncle.
Inner Circle: I think the fact that he is grieving so bad about the situation with his father's death and his mother marrying Claudias, that killing Polynius did not really phase him becuase he is going insane and he already had the mind set of killing so it was just what he was preparing for. I also think that it will make killing Claudius easier for Hamlet, but it will make things very interesting between Hamlet and Ophelia.
I don't think that Claudius will try and kill Hamlet, atleast not under the table. Claudius doesn't need another murder on his mind. I think that if Claudius is going to try and take down Hamlet he will do it by exile or just use mind tricks to make him kill himself. Claudius is already guilty for the murder of the King and is beginning to doubt it. I don't think he can handle those emotions on top of all that is happening.
Molly: I had originally thought that the king would try to get rid of Hamlet in whatever way possible. Now I think that he is so overwhelmed with guilt that he wants to absolve himself. He is not so focused on Hamlet anymore, but more on himself.
mackenzie, I dont think Hamlet feels any regret in killing polonius. After he stabs him he seems more disapointed than naything in discovering it wasnt the king he had killed. He just told his mother goodnight and dragged the body away. By this point he seems far too absorbed in the idea of revenge to even think of worrying about killing another man in his conquest.
Hailey: I'm pretty sure just about everyone involved in the story with some sort of connection to Hamlet will be crushed in some way shape or form, going back to the garden metaphor of everything growing and encompassing everything.
Hailey: The whole castle and country of Denmark will eventually suffer from the selfishness of Hamlet and his actions. Regardless if anyone is killed or not, the emotional effects will be devastating.
Will Ophelia want revenge for her father's death? Hamlet was alone, he couldn't trust anyone. Now Ophelia is in the same position. Will she turn to someone (Hamlet?) because Shakespear thinks women can't do anything themselves?
Molly: I think Claudius is going to try to kill Hamlet. Unfortunately the spotlight is on him right now after everyone sees his reaction at the play. If Claudius is planning on killing Hamlet he won’t kill him himself. He needs to find someone to kill Hamlet for him. If Hamlet dies, Claudius is going to be the first person suspected.
Based on previous knowledge of Shakespeare's writing, I think Ophelia will not try to kill Hamlet, but will kill herself. As we have stated before, Shakespeare wrote women as insignificant and weak. Therefore, she will not even consider killing Hamlet, she is too weak.
Laurenb I think Hamlet would be the one to kill the king, instead of the king killing him. Mainly because now at this point the king is regreting the murder he commited, totally weighed down by guilt. Hamlet on the other hand has already slain one man and not felt one twinge of guilt. I think Hamlets 'madness' will give him the edge.
I think that women in the play are weak figures, the men run all over them and do whatever they want while the women sit back and just let whatever happen. When Hamlet was yelling at his mother there was a point that she seemed to literally think that he was going to kill her, yet she sat there and didn't fight him. The women in the play let the men do whatever they want making the women in that society seem inferior to men.
Adrienne: I think the murder of Polonuis has just continued the train of betrayl and not trusting people. These two themes have become very apparent in this play. I think that Ophelia will not return to Hamlet because of her farther and I think Ophelia will finally come to her senses and could possibly be the girl that stands up against the norm and will not continue to be abused and used by men in her society.
I think that Hamlet was so angry when he was yelling at his mother that he was going to take out whoever was behind the curtain. He could not have known who it was, but whoever was eavesdropping, was against him, so he was going to take them out.
Could Hamlet stop? Or does Hamlet eventually have to die because nothing would be right if he did kill Claudius? Hamlet already has so many enemies: Fortinbras, Laertes, Polonius, Gertrude? Ophelia?
Kenzie: Hamlet is on a roll; he'll stop at nothing or he'll kill himself if he can't kill Claudius. However, I think they're both going to end up dying from Hamlet's efforts.
Inner Circle: I think Hamlet has reached his breaking point. He has killed Polonius and I believe this action has erased his concious and he will make descions not based of what is right or wrong but what he wants to do at the time. I think that he is finally done with all the messing around and sneaking around "behind the curtain" and spying. He just wants everyone to come out with their confessions and come clean but they won't.
Lauren: I think that Hamlet did secretly know that it was Polyonius that he killed because he is truly mad and is not thinking before he goes through with his actions and I think the rage towards his mother in that scene also played a part. I also think Shakespere mad that happen in the book to create more drama and crazyness in the play.
Taylor: I do not think that Hamlet's friends would kill Hamlet. The king might think of that and ask them to kill Hamlet, but I do not believe that they would kill him.
This story reminds me of Poe's Tell Tale Heart. Hamlet is the narrator, with his insanity slowly incrasing due to the old man's evil eye. Claudius seems to be the opposite where the guilt is killing him and driving him to insanity as well. I can see the two finally meeting at the middle point of Poe's story, the murder. Just a random thought there...
michellem, I think Hamlet is most deffinetly cray now. It's not pretend anymore, he is becoming what he was pretending to be. He is the actor that has become too absorbed in the role he has been given. Hamlet is out for revenge and it seems as if nothing, nothing at all, will get in his way.
Molly: I think at this rate almost everyone will end up dying either by murder or suicide. Now that Hamlet has gone mad and is killing without thinking first he will end up taking out everyone who steps in his way no matter who it is. Also the people who have a guilty conscious or who have a broken heart will have to face the decision of taking their own life away or not.
Molly: Just like Anna said, Hamlet is living a lie. I don't think anyone is strong enough inside to continue living in a way that is against who they really are. I think they must succumb, they will either die or give in to the lie, in this case Hamlet really could go crazy.
Is Hamlet actually crazy? Normal is subjective--who is actually "normal" or "sane" in this play? Is anyone? Were they originally only calling Hamlet crazy because he refused to follow the rest of the group (and forget his dad's death)?
Sarah: I think that Hamlet is bent on perfecting the deed. He couldn't kill Claudius while he was in prayer on the off chance that he might go to heaven. He will have to pick the perfect time to be sure that Claudius is going to hell for what he did.
Sarah: I think that Hamlet has not reacted to his murdering of Polonius because he hasn't realized the consequences of his actions. This hasn't hit his conscious yet because he is slowly losing his idea of a conscious.
Do you think Shakespeare makes Hamlet appear insane to prove a point that even though it may seem like he isn’t thinking strait; he is really one of the smartest people in the book?
Mackenzie: I agree that Hamlet cannot turn back now and that he will eventually kill Claudius unless he dies first. I just beleive that he feels he has to do it at the perfect time.
lauren, Hamlet, even though insane. Seems to be the wisest person in the book. Even though his actiona are rash and strage he's the on that knows the most. He knows how his father died, he knows who killed him, he knows everyone is spying on him. He knows all of what is going on around him. Hamlet is smart. I just wonder how long that will last.
Molly: Wow that’s a really good point. I think Hamlet has turned into the crazy person he was only acting out in Act 1-2. Since Hamlet forced himself to act in this insane state of mind for so long i think the ideas have stuck in his mind and he has turned it into reality.
Will Gertrude tell Claudius what Hamlet did/said? Can she keep a secret or will she feel like she has to tell her husband what is really going on, even if she knows he is a bad bad man?
Lauren: I think that Hamlet's act of being insane is all fake. I think that he is doing that to confuse people. In that sense, he is the smartest person in the book beacuse he is fooling everyone else.
Hailey, the climax of the entire story might be when he does find the perfect time to kill Claudius. I'm guessing it will be in front of everyone (who is still alive) so he can expose his uncle for what he is and then he will probably kill him.
Taylor: If Hamelt does kill Claudius, Gertrude is going to fall as well. She has to have a man to lean on but she would not be able to lean on Hamlet because of the murders he would have committed. All the women in the play would fall if their leading man is murdered. (Gertrude marrying Claudius can even be considered a fall because of the betrayl and problems this whole situation has caused... would't ya say??)
Mackenzie, I think Gertrude will most deffinetly tell Claudius what happened. She tells him all her worries, she sees nothing wrong with him. She is Blind as is almost everyone else in the play. I think they may even pull Hamlets friends back into the scene to spy on him again and see what happened to the body he carried away or try to find it on their own, since they are both 'puppets' of the king and queen now.
Mackenzie: I think it all depends on whether or not Gertrude has been involved with Claudius from the beginning or if she has just been a by-stander going along for the way. If her overall goal is to keep Claudius at her side on the throne she will have to tell him. But if she is a good mother, which has yet to be proven, she will keep her son’s secret and try to help him.
Was Gertrude in on killing Hamlet's dad? If she was she will most certainly tell Claudius that Hamlet killed Polonius. If she now realizes that Claudius killed her first husband, she will probably not tell Claudius.
Mackenzie: Yes I do think that Gertrude will tell Claudius because women have been showed as weak in the play already and she would not be able to handle the emotional baggage that comes with her son being a murderer. She is going to need support from Claudius and does not see Claudius as a bad man and she thinks she can trust him. However, I think that Claudius will stab Gertrude in the back with this.
lauren, even if Hamlet told her what happened, I don't think she would believe him. He killed a man in front of her, yelled at her, and has been acting 'insane' where as the king has done nothing to incriminate himself. I believe she would sooner take her sane husbands side than her insane sons side. Hamlet has condemed any credability that he ever had.
Do you think she could make up her mind? Shakespear makes women unable to think for themselves, so if it came down to what she, by herself, all alone thought I don't know if she could make a decision without "guidance" from someone else.
Lauren B: I don't know that Gertrude will go to Hamlet's side even if she does find out about her husband's murder. I think that deep down Gertrude already knows what Claudius has done and "loves" him too much to worry about it. She doesn't want to know/ believe what Claudius did.
Kendra: I doubt Gertrude helped kill Hamlet's dad. First of all, she is a woman and Shakespeare wrote women as weak. How could she be strong enough to kill someone? Also, she just seems shocked at things like that, and I believe she actually loved the other king. However "frailty thy name is women" and women's love is short and weak.
I think that Gertrude will side with Claudius. She has already ignored Hamlet in the beginning of the play for Claudius. I also agree that she will turn a blind eye to Claudius's deed of killing her first husband.
Laurenb: I think that gertrude will take Hamlet's side. She's married to the man who killed her husband and this marriage has already caused her so much trouble.
Mackenzie: But because they are sinful/insane, that would make her the only one who is sane and capable of comprehending the issues of the country...making her the one with all of the power. It's a win-win situation for her.
Katie O: Claudius is prideful and wants it all, which will result in his downfall. However, he is selfish and very unheroic, and is, therefore, not the tragic hero (in my opinion)
Lauren: No I do not think that Gertrude loves Claudius. I think she was vulnerable and needed that manly figure to support her and direct her. I may be mistaken but I do not recall having Gertrude say that she loves Claudius in the text. She has shown affection and feelings for him but I can't remember a time when she has really confessed her love for him.
Hailey M: I agree. If Gertrude did anything of use rather than being a tool, she'd be too similar to the wife in MacBeth...the puppet master. Women are not puppet masters in this play.
Katie, Claudius regrets what he has done, he has killed for fame pride and power, not only that but for a beautifull queen as well. He is also of a royal standing, and has no way of getting back out of the hole he has dug himself into.
Adrienne: To cause the deaths of these people, evil would come into play with murder etc. However, if they did die, everything might be made right. Therefore, is it possible that evil acts could end in good??? I want to say no, but in this case it might be possible.
Michelle: I don't think he wanted to portray anything--he thought he was talking to himself. However, I think he concluded that he would rather live in his current suffering then risk the pain of the unknown after he is dead. He is wrestling with suicide.
Michelle: Going off that question...Do you think Hamlet knew he was being spied on when he had his speach in hopes that the spies would get the idea that Hamlet knew the truth?
Michelle: yea it would be the ultimate release from Denmark, and from the prison of the world and of his own body. I think he is sick of himself and of everyone around him.
Inner Circle: I think Heratio is the one person that can be selfless. In all plays there is always that one character that has no reason to be selfish or has done anything wrong, but they end up getting betrayed by their friends and are effected by everyone else and their problems.
Does it seem true that death is almost the only easy way out ofr every character in this play? so far almost every person has twisted themselves or others around them in some way.
Michelle: I think Hamlet's "To be or not to be" speech was him dealing with his thought of suicide and how he would rather be here and saying it would be easier to not kill himself and stay here and deal with his problems and revenging his fathers death.
Kenzie: I agree with you but I can't decide either. In Beowulf the movie, he killed his own son and sacraficed his own life to unselfishly protect his free people's future. However, the act of redemption of his own evil act of giving into temptation with G's mom was dying to defeat evil.
159 comments:
How do you think Ophelia will react to Hamlet's actions?
I think ophelia will be very shcoked at Hamlets actions. He's told her that he loves her and was kind to her for a very long time, possibly promising marriage. Now he's saying cruel things, like he never loved her. She will probably reacted very worriedly and surprised.
Well Ophelia loves Hamlet. I know that Hamlet broke her heart but I think that OPhelia is the sort of girl who would just fall right back in love with him if he shows interest in her again
Ophelia might end up killing herself, seeing as this is a tragedy.
Katieo: I think Ophelia won't be able to cope with the mixed signals that Hamlet is giving her, and that she will end up going crazy...
shiggity schwah!
Interesting thought Taylor, she may end up killing herself. I feel though that Ophelia is stronger than that.
is she not already shocked by his actions? him telling her she is a hussy then asking to lay in her lap in a sexual enduendo kind of way?
In response to the inner circle, I think that the ghost wasn't seen by Gertrude because she is so blinded by her selfisness and need to have a person in the here and now to give her the attention she desires.
I there is a possibility that ophelia will go crazy. Hamlet is yanking her back and forth, one second flirting and drawing her in. The next throwing her back out with harsh comments and basicly calling her a whore. She seems so fragile.
I think that Ophelia is going to be completely heartbroken after what Hamlet does to her. He first yells at her and tells her he never loved her then later in the act he embarrasses her in front of everyone. At this point in the story she has to be really confused and at a loss of actions. Since the topic of suicide is seen throughout the play, maybe Ophelia is going to face that decision.
Hamlet is sending a lot of mixed signals. Along with what Molly said, he also made sexual jokes in fron of everyone which probably would have embarrassed her.
when hamlet and claudius are in the confessional and hamlet is about to murder claudius and stops because of the fact that he thinks claudius will go to heaven, doesn't it seem as though the sin of murder (on claudius' part) would send him to hell regardless?
Katie: Going along with what Anna said, I feel that Ophelia is very naive and that she will fall for Hamlet regardless of his actions. Though it is very tragic, her love for Hamlet is the epitome of what love should be, unconditional.
Because Ophelia does love him and can't leave him regardless of his actions what does that say about how Shakespeare views women?
Taylor: I think someone else would kill themselves before Ophelia
I think Hamlet's actions will have an immense effect on Ophelia's sanity and emotions. It wouldn't be suprising if she killed herself, even if she is strong, due to the harsh way Hamlet has trashed her and her feelings. (and killed her dad???!!)
Why do you think Ophelia gives in to being used by the King and her father?
Why do you think that Shakespeare uses the women that Claudius sends to talk with Hamlet? What role do they have on him??
Shakespear veiws women as weak and dependent on men. Both women in this story are tools.
How do you think Ophelia will react is she finds out Hamlet killed her dad?
KOSI 101 IS PLAYING CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!
I agree with Adrienne, i think that Gertrude or Claudius would kill themselves before Ophelia, just because of the guilt that is starting to pile up inside them.
Ophelia is fragile. She has a lot going on and when it comes down to if she'll go crazy, I think she definitely will lose her mind because she is so tired of being used as a puppet from both sides and her emotions are yanked back and forth. That is enough to drive any strong woman crazy
I think Ophelia is going to be betrayed by Hamelt and will not go back to him. He has been wishy washy with their relationship lately and has also killed her father!!! I think the murder of Polonius will be the last straw for Ophelia and she will finally leave Hamlet for good. I don't know how leaving Hamlet will affect Ophelia though. That may cause serious emotional distress for her.
Hailey: I agree that at this point their is nothing going for her. Her father has been killed, the love of her life just called her out and the king is using her.
Will: I agree that it seems that Claudius being in prayer would not affect his going to heaven or not. Either way he would probably go to hell. I think that is just part of Hamlet going a little bit insane. He is not thinking totally straight and he does not want to mess up in the act of avenging his father.
But why are the women used? Whether they are tools or not, they are still vital to Hamlet's actions.
eviscerate your fragile frame, and spill it out in the ragged form, a thousand different versions of yourself...
Women seem to be just the puppets in the play with no real depth, other than to cause more tangled conflict and drive the plot in a more negative direction.
Lauren: Ophelia may let the men control her by making her speak with Hamlet because this may make her feel important and part of something.
what do you guys think Hamlet means when he tells Ophelia that he loved her once, and never loved her at all?
The using of women is obvious through out the play. I think this disrespectn towards women shows their status at the time of the play being written. During Shakespeares time women were not given a high role in life. I think this also is trying to show the vulnerablity of women. By using Ophelia and Gertrude, the men are showing their power over these girls in ways that can't be stopped.
Hamlet is not thinking about anyone but himself. He didn't care about the protection of his mother or the future of the country. His only motive: to avenge his father.
Molly: I think he is tired of being used and he knows that she is both using him and being used. He is upset and he wants to hurt everyone else for hurting him. Even though he loved her, he denies it to confuse her.
Molly: When I first read that I thought that he was trying to confuse her. When it also comes to the notes that he wrote her he says that he didn't write them. He might be trying to make her go crazy. I wouldn't put it past him to do that.
Mollyp: I think Hamlet knows that he is being watched and played by Ophelia. Since she is being so wishy washy in their relationship, he feels hurt that she of all people would betray him.
Michelle: I think that women are viewed as just objects who serve men in the story. So far we haven't seen any women who receive very much respect or play a powerful role over any characters. Claudius uses women to do his dirty work so he can keep his hands clean. Once again we see him being selfish and not looking out for his "people".
Molly: I think that he is trying to say that he had the "thought" of loving her (loved her once) but he never really had the physical love for her. There's a big difference between the two.
Molly: Maybe Hamlet is saying that he had feelings for Ophelia but didn't care enough to call it love.
Lauren and Mackenzie: i also think that Ophelia has a certain dedication to her parents. Way back when, when your parents told you to do something, you did it no questions asked.
Molly: he could have said it just to say it and to be a B****ard with no real meaning behind it. just to make her feel bad
Molly: I think what Hamlet is saying is he loved her and wanted to marry her but now because he nows that she is being used to spy on him that he can not love her anymore. He is also trying play with her mind saying he never loved her so she feels bad about herself and it is a payback for spying on him.
Hamlet does not care anymore about anyone. He doesnt even care about himself because if he did he would not be making such a fool out of himself. When Hamlet made these plans to embaress his mother and uncle I think he thought that it would make him feel better but really he is feeling worse deep inside. This resentment towards everyone is almost like a drug he cant stop what he has started.
maybe accidentally murdering Polonius is a sign that he should not kill Claudius...
Katie M: Do you think if Hamlet fails it could be because someone double crosses him? He's been avoiding using people like Claudius but who might get in his way?
Molly: Possibly Hamlet and Ophelia and Hamlet had sex and that is what he means by he loved her once but he didn't actually emotionally love her. It was just sex.
MollyP I think Hamlet is just trying to confuse ophelia. He's hurting everyone around him in the process of trying to avenge his father, but at the same time everyone is hurting him. So in the end it's just an eye for an eye. Everyone in this play seems blind
The accidental death of polonius didnt even phase him...
What person doesnt get upset by an accidental murder??
Possibly someone who thinks its justified because he is "upset"
Will: I think accidentally Killing Polonius proves that he's willing to take out anyone who gets in his way. He is determined to sucdceed.
kch: I don't think Hamlet is trying to be a jerk... I just think that he is trying to show Claudius that he is smarter than they all think, along with his actions of craziness.
Its kind of interesting to think that while Hamlet considers women as almost nothing they also affect him in powerful ways. (like how angry he is over Gertrude's and how he can't make up his mind on how he feels about Ophelia)
wil: maybe accidentally killing Polonius will only motivate Hamlet more to kill Claudius. He may blame the incident on the king or he may just be glad Polonius is dead as he was so annoyingly prying...
Do you guys think the king will try to kill Hamlet?
adreinne: word
Molly: I think Hamlet lies purposely to Ophelia when he says he never loved her because he knows that she is being used and going against him. He is extremely mad that everyone he trusts keeps lying to him and now he feels that he can’t trust anyone. At this point Hamlet has to figure his life and his plan out on his own. I also don’t think that Hamlet wants anyone to help him.
mollyt: Definitely
Lauren: I thought that Hamlet was upset about killing Polonius. It was simply how he was upset about killing the wrong person. This is his madness finally coming out as his anticipation to kill his uncle grows.
Molly: Hamlet was just intending to hurt Ophelia because she hurt him. He knew she was trying to spy on him for her father and Claudius and was hurt, and felt betrayed therefore he wanted her to feel as bad and lonely as he did.
Does Hamlet feel any remorse for killing Polonius? How much does Hamlet value life? Do you think that because he is kind of suicidal he does not value other's lives as much as he once did?
How many people do you think will die because of Hamlet's determination to kill Claudius? Maybe not all of them will be directly from Hamlet's sword, but how many will suffer from his selfishness?
Hamlet is making such irrational descions.
Good question: When Hamlet stabbed Polonius by accident does anyone think in the back of Hamlets mind he knew it wasnt his uncle but did it any way to prove a point to his mother and get some anger.
Was polonius a test, like if he could kill him he could def kill his uncle.
Inner Circle: I think the fact that he is grieving so bad about the situation with his father's death and his mother marrying Claudias, that killing Polynius did not really phase him becuase he is going insane and he already had the mind set of killing so it was just what he was preparing for. I also think that it will make killing Claudius easier for Hamlet, but it will make things very interesting between Hamlet and Ophelia.
Lauren: Because Hamlet wasn't even phased by the killing I think that it may show how he has actually become mad, it is no longer an act.
I don't think that Claudius will try and kill Hamlet, atleast not under the table. Claudius doesn't need another murder on his mind. I think that if Claudius is going to try and take down Hamlet he will do it by exile or just use mind tricks to make him kill himself. Claudius is already guilty for the murder of the King and is beginning to doubt it. I don't think he can handle those emotions on top of all that is happening.
Molly: I had originally thought that the king would try to get rid of Hamlet in whatever way possible. Now I think that he is so overwhelmed with guilt that he wants to absolve himself. He is not so focused on Hamlet anymore, but more on himself.
mackenzie, I dont think Hamlet feels any regret in killing polonius. After he stabs him he seems more disapointed than naything in discovering it wasnt the king he had killed. He just told his mother goodnight and dragged the body away. By this point he seems far too absorbed in the idea of revenge to even think of worrying about killing another man in his conquest.
Hailey: I'm pretty sure just about everyone involved in the story with some sort of connection to Hamlet will be crushed in some way shape or form, going back to the garden metaphor of everything growing and encompassing everything.
Hailey: The whole castle and country of Denmark will eventually suffer from the selfishness of Hamlet and his actions. Regardless if anyone is killed or not, the emotional effects will be devastating.
Will Ophelia want revenge for her father's death?
Hamlet was alone, he couldn't trust anyone.
Now Ophelia is in the same position.
Will she turn to someone (Hamlet?) because Shakespear thinks women can't do anything themselves?
If Claudius is planning on killing Hamlet…Do you think Hamlet or the King will be the first to succeed at killing one another?
ANNA P: made a good point, i think its reasonable for Cladius to use Ophillia against Hamelet, what better weapon than a past love/total hotty
Molly: I think Claudius is going to try to kill Hamlet. Unfortunately the spotlight is on him right now after everyone sees his reaction at the play. If Claudius is planning on killing Hamlet he won’t kill him himself. He needs to find someone to kill Hamlet for him. If Hamlet dies, Claudius is going to be the first person suspected.
Do you think Claudis will send Hamlet's friends to kill Hamlet?
Lauren: Hamlet is a heck of a lot smarter than anyone thinks and expects. He will always be one step ahead of Claudius.
Based on previous knowledge of Shakespeare's writing, I think Ophelia will not try to kill Hamlet, but will kill herself. As we have stated before, Shakespeare wrote women as insignificant and weak. Therefore, she will not even consider killing Hamlet, she is too weak.
Laurenb I think Hamlet would be the one to kill the king, instead of the king killing him. Mainly because now at this point the king is regreting the murder he commited, totally weighed down by guilt. Hamlet on the other hand has already slain one man and not felt one twinge of guilt. I think Hamlets 'madness' will give him the edge.
I think that women in the play are weak figures, the men run all over them and do whatever they want while the women sit back and just let whatever happen. When Hamlet was yelling at his mother there was a point that she seemed to literally think that he was going to kill her, yet she sat there and didn't fight him. The women in the play let the men do whatever they want making the women in that society seem inferior to men.
taylors: Yes I think he will since Claudius has already used Rosencrants and Guildenstern to get to Hamlet in many ways.
Adrienne: I think the murder of Polonuis has just continued the train of betrayl and not trusting people. These two themes have become very apparent in this play. I think that Ophelia will not return to Hamlet because of her farther and I think Ophelia will finally come to her senses and could possibly be the girl that stands up against the norm and will not continue to be abused and used by men in her society.
Do you think that Hamlet has taken his faux insanity too far and that he really IS crazy now?
I think that Hamlet was so angry when he was yelling at his mother that he was going to take out whoever was behind the curtain. He could not have known who it was, but whoever was eavesdropping, was against him, so he was going to take them out.
Could Hamlet stop? Or does Hamlet eventually have to die because nothing would be right if he did kill Claudius? Hamlet already has so many enemies: Fortinbras, Laertes, Polonius, Gertrude? Ophelia?
Who else in this play do you think will die? Do you think Hamlet will die at the end of the play?
Kenzie: Hamlet is on a roll; he'll stop at nothing or he'll kill himself if he can't kill Claudius. However, I think they're both going to end up dying from Hamlet's efforts.
Mackenzie: Hamlet is a tragic hero... Death... is inevitable.
Do you guys think that maybe Hamlet started out just acting like hes crazy, and after a while it turned into a reality?
Inner Circle: I think Hamlet has reached his breaking point. He has killed Polonius and I believe this action has erased his concious and he will make descions not based of what is right or wrong but what he wants to do at the time. I think that he is finally done with all the messing around and sneaking around "behind the curtain" and spying. He just wants everyone to come out with their confessions and come clean but they won't.
Lauren: I think that Hamlet did secretly know that it was Polyonius that he killed because he is truly mad and is not thinking before he goes through with his actions and I think the rage towards his mother in that scene also played a part. I also think Shakespere mad that happen in the book to create more drama and crazyness in the play.
Taylor: I do not think that Hamlet's friends would kill Hamlet. The king might think of that and ask them to kill Hamlet, but I do not believe that they would kill him.
This story reminds me of Poe's Tell Tale Heart. Hamlet is the narrator, with his insanity slowly incrasing due to the old man's evil eye. Claudius seems to be the opposite where the guilt is killing him and driving him to insanity as well. I can see the two finally meeting at the middle point of Poe's story, the murder.
Just a random thought there...
Hamlet is going to far now. Its not simple anymore its not going to be a hit and run, he has got too many people involved.
Einstine was thought to be carzy at times, but look how big of a genius he turned out to be.
michellem, I think Hamlet is most deffinetly cray now. It's not pretend anymore, he is becoming what he was pretending to be. He is the actor that has become too absorbed in the role he has been given. Hamlet is out for revenge and it seems as if nothing, nothing at all, will get in his way.
Molly: I think at this rate almost everyone will end up dying either by murder or suicide. Now that Hamlet has gone mad and is killing without thinking first he will end up taking out everyone who steps in his way no matter who it is. Also the people who have a guilty conscious or who have a broken heart will have to face the decision of taking their own life away or not.
Outer Circle: Is hamlet delaying the gratification of killing his uncle because he is afraid, or because he is bent on perfecting the deed?
Molly: Just like Anna said, Hamlet is living a lie. I don't think anyone is strong enough inside to continue living in a way that is against who they really are. I think they must succumb, they will either die or give in to the lie, in this case Hamlet really could go crazy.
is hamlet's mind transparent or opaque in the respect that other can't really tell what exactly he's doing, but they may have a clue..?
KC makes a good point, everyone did think Einstein was crazy but he was really just different than everyone else because he was a genius.
Is Hamlet actually crazy? Normal is subjective--who is actually "normal" or "sane" in this play? Is anyone? Were they originally only calling Hamlet crazy because he refused to follow the rest of the group (and forget his dad's death)?
Sarah: Hamlet is committed now, I don't think he could turn back even if he wanted to. I think he is waiting for perfection. Dun dun dunnnn
Sarah: I think that Hamlet is bent on perfecting the deed. He couldn't kill Claudius while he was in prayer on the off chance that he might go to heaven. He will have to pick the perfect time to be sure that Claudius is going to hell for what he did.
Sarah: I think that Hamlet has not reacted to his murdering of Polonius because he hasn't realized the consequences of his actions. This hasn't hit his conscious yet because he is slowly losing his idea of a conscious.
Do you think Shakespeare makes Hamlet appear insane to prove a point that even though it may seem like he isn’t thinking strait; he is really one of the smartest people in the book?
Mackenzie: I agree that Hamlet cannot turn back now and that he will eventually kill Claudius unless he dies first. I just beleive that he feels he has to do it at the perfect time.
What do you think would happen to Gertrude if Hamlet does succeed in killing Claudius??
Mrs. Smith: what is the word for small sword like thing? its bigger than a knife, ooh what is it called...?
Was the play the main turning point when everyone realized the corruption of it all.
Is the perfect time possible? Or will Hamlet never be perfectly satisfied with the situation?
Will this stop him from killing Claudius? I doubt it but I don't think he will find that perfect moment he wants.
lauren, Hamlet, even though insane. Seems to be the wisest person in the book. Even though his actiona are rash and strage he's the on that knows the most. He knows how his father died, he knows who killed him, he knows everyone is spying on him. He knows all of what is going on around him. Hamlet is smart. I just wonder how long that will last.
KC: A dagger??
Molly: Wow that’s a really good point. I think Hamlet has turned into the crazy person he was only acting out in Act 1-2. Since Hamlet forced himself to act in this insane state of mind for so long i think the ideas have stuck in his mind and he has turned it into reality.
Will Gertrude tell Claudius what Hamlet did/said? Can she keep a secret or will she feel like she has to tell her husband what is really going on, even if she knows he is a bad bad man?
Lauren: I think that Hamlet's act of being insane is all fake. I think that he is doing that to confuse people. In that sense, he is the smartest person in the book beacuse he is fooling everyone else.
Gertrude will probably end up dead one way or another. :)
oh yes, thanks taylor, i do believe it is called a dAgger. thank you
Hailey, the climax of the entire story might be when he does find the perfect time to kill Claudius. I'm guessing it will be in front of everyone (who is still alive) so he can expose his uncle for what he is and then he will probably kill him.
Taylor: If Hamelt does kill Claudius, Gertrude is going to fall as well. She has to have a man to lean on but she would not be able to lean on Hamlet because of the murders he would have committed. All the women in the play would fall if their leading man is murdered. (Gertrude marrying Claudius can even be considered a fall because of the betrayl and problems this whole situation has caused... would't ya say??)
I agree Hailey, she will end up dead causing Hamlet to do something rash and that will cause the whole tragedy of the play.
Mackenzie, I think Gertrude will most deffinetly tell Claudius what happened. She tells him all her worries, she sees nothing wrong with him. She is Blind as is almost everyone else in the play. I think they may even pull Hamlets friends back into the scene to spy on him again and see what happened to the body he carried away or try to find it on their own, since they are both 'puppets' of the king and queen now.
Eric (inner circle): Hamlet said he wanted to kill claudius during sin...if he has Gertrudew on his side, can he find the time and way now?
Mackenzie: I think it all depends on whether or not Gertrude has been involved with Claudius from the beginning or if she has just been a by-stander going along for the way. If her overall goal is to keep Claudius at her side on the throne she will have to tell him. But if she is a good mother, which has yet to be proven, she will keep her son’s secret and try to help him.
Was Gertrude in on killing Hamlet's dad? If she was she will most certainly tell Claudius that Hamlet killed Polonius. If she now realizes that Claudius killed her first husband, she will probably not tell Claudius.
Mackenzie: Yes I do think that Gertrude will tell Claudius because women have been showed as weak in the play already and she would not be able to handle the emotional baggage that comes with her son being a murderer. She is going to need support from Claudius and does not see Claudius as a bad man and she thinks she can trust him. However, I think that Claudius will stab Gertrude in the back with this.
Do you think Gertrude will take Hamlet's side if she finds out that Claudius did kill The King?
lauren, even if Hamlet told her what happened, I don't think she would believe him. He killed a man in front of her, yelled at her, and has been acting 'insane' where as the king has done nothing to incriminate himself. I believe she would sooner take her sane husbands side than her insane sons side. Hamlet has condemed any credability that he ever had.
Do you think she could make up her mind? Shakespear makes women unable to think for themselves, so if it came down to what she, by herself, all alone thought I don't know if she could make a decision without "guidance" from someone else.
Kendra: Does Hamlet think Gertrude is guilty because she willingly gone into a controlling incestuous marriage or did she help with the actual murder?
Lauren: It depends on whether or not she was in on the murder with Claudius.
Laurenb: I think that Gertrude will choose her side based on who will make her more powerful. She too is selfish and wants what is only good for her.
Lauren B: I don't know that Gertrude will go to Hamlet's side even if she does find out about her husband's murder. I think that deep down Gertrude already knows what Claudius has done and "loves" him too much to worry about it. She doesn't want to know/ believe what Claudius did.
Irene: So then she faces the choice of siding with a murderer of the king or her insane son who doesn't know what he is doing.
Doy you think Gertrude truly loves Claudius?
What does this play say about godd vs. evil? Will a death (or more?) be the determinate of epic or tragic hero? Would a tragic end be good or evil?
What aspects of Claudius could make him a tragic hero?
Kendra: I doubt Gertrude helped kill Hamlet's dad. First of all, she is a woman and Shakespeare wrote women as weak. How could she be strong enough to kill someone? Also, she just seems shocked at things like that, and I believe she actually loved the other king. However "frailty thy name is women" and women's love is short and weak.
*good vs. evil
Lauren: I don't think Gertrude and Claudius are in love, they are in lust.
I think that Gertrude will side with Claudius. She has already ignored Hamlet in the beginning of the play for Claudius. I also agree that she will turn a blind eye to Claudius's deed of killing her first husband.
Hamlet can not trust anyone because everyone has betrayed him. Therefore he does not care about his future he is living for the moment.
Laurenb: I think that gertrude will take Hamlet's side. She's married to the man who killed her husband and this marriage has already caused her so much trouble.
Mackenzie: But because they are sinful/insane, that would make her the only one who is sane and capable of comprehending the issues of the country...making her the one with all of the power. It's a win-win situation for her.
Katie O: Claudius is prideful and wants it all, which will result in his downfall. However, he is selfish and very unheroic, and is, therefore, not the tragic hero (in my opinion)
Lauren: No I do not think that Gertrude loves Claudius. I think she was vulnerable and needed that manly figure to support her and direct her. I may be mistaken but I do not recall having Gertrude say that she loves Claudius in the text. She has shown affection and feelings for him but I can't remember a time when she has really confessed her love for him.
Hailey M: I agree. If Gertrude did anything of use rather than being a tool, she'd be too similar to the wife in MacBeth...the puppet master. Women are not puppet masters in this play.
Katie, Claudius regrets what he has done, he has killed for fame pride and power, not only that but for a beautifull queen as well. He is also of a royal standing, and has no way of getting back out of the hole he has dug himself into.
What did Hamlet want to portray with his "To be or not to be" speech?
Adrienne: To cause the deaths of these people, evil would come into play with murder etc. However, if they did die, everything might be made right. Therefore, is it possible that evil acts could end in good??? I want to say no, but in this case it might be possible.
Michelle: I don't think he wanted to portray anything--he thought he was talking to himself.
However, I think he concluded that he would rather live in his current suffering then risk the pain of the unknown after he is dead. He is wrestling with suicide.
hailey: what would suicide bring for Hamlet? A release from the 'prison' that is Denmark?
Michelle: Going off that question...Do you think Hamlet knew he was being spied on when he had his speach in hopes that the spies would get the idea that Hamlet knew the truth?
Michelle: yea it would be the ultimate release from Denmark, and from the prison of the world and of his own body. I think he is sick of himself and of everyone around him.
I think Haratio is the most neutral out of everyone. He is going along for the ride. Out of everyone I would trust him the most.
Michelle and Hailey: But Hamlet is afraid of the unknown of death, so do you think he could ever willingly enter it through suicide?
Inner Circle: I think Heratio is the one person that can be selfless. In all plays there is always that one character that has no reason to be selfish or has done anything wrong, but they end up getting betrayed by their friends and are effected by everyone else and their problems.
Does it seem true that death is almost the only easy way out ofr every character in this play? so far almost every person has twisted themselves or others around them in some way.
Michelle: I think Hamlet's "To be or not to be" speech was him dealing with his thought of suicide and how he would rather be here and saying it would be easier to not kill himself and stay here and deal with his problems and revenging his fathers death.
Kenzie: I agree with you but I can't decide either. In Beowulf the movie, he killed his own son and sacraficed his own life to unselfishly protect his free people's future. However, the act of redemption of his own evil act of giving into temptation with G's mom was dying to defeat evil.
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