Act 3, Scene 1: Key Ideas
English Lit: OCR A Level - Hamlet, topic 2.3.2
Key Ideas in Act 3, Scene 1 - Deception & Acting
Deception and play-acting are key ideas in Act 3, Scene 1.
Motif of women wearing make-up
- The theme of deception recurs throughout the scene.
- Both Claudius and Hamlet use the motif of women using make-up to deceive men.
Derogatory language about women
- Feminist readings of Hamlet often focus on the derogatory, dehumanising language used by male characters to describe female characters.
- Both Claudius and Hamlet use such language in this scene.
- Claudius refers to the “harlot’s” use of the “plast’ring art”, arguably reducing women who use make-up to the status of a prostitute.
- Hamlet’s fevered rant at Ophelia (“God hath given you one face and you make yourselves another”) condemns all women as deceivers.
Ophelia's performance
- Before her ‘arranged’ encounter with Hamlet, Ophelia is given last-minute advice by her father. Polonius directs her as if she is an actor, positioning her on ‘stage’ (“walk you here”) and providing her with a prop (“Read on this book”).
- Her meeting with Hamlet is therefore a performance put on for an audience (Claudius and Polonius) hiding behind an arras (curtain).
Dover Wilson on Hamlet's acting
- For some critics, Hamlet’s cruel treatment of Ophelia is another theatrical ‘performance’ in the sense that Hamlet is perfectly aware that his meeting with Ophelia is being spied upon by the King.
- John Dover Wilson argues that Hamlet overheard Polonius and Claudius plotting this meeting with Ophelia before his entrance in Act 2, Scene 2. Dover Wilson interprets Hamlet’s harsh words towards Ophelia in this scene as 'intended for the ears of Claudius and Polonius, whom he knows to be behind the arras’.
Dover Wilson: dual meanings & irony
- Dover Wilson thinks Hamlet’s questioning of Ophelia’s honesty has an additional meaning, with Hamlet alluding to her allowing herself to be "used as a bait" by the King and her father.
- Likewise, Hamlet’s question to Ophelia, “Where’s your father?”, can be read as ironic – Hamlet knows full well that Polonius is eavesdropping on their conversation.
A threat to Claudius?
- Similarly, Hamlet’s assertion that “Those that are married already – all but one – shall live” could be seen as a deliberate threat to Claudius, who Hamlet knows is listening.