ACT 3
Polonius: "'Tis too much proved that, with devotion's visage,
And pious action, we do sugar o'er
The devil himself" (III, i, 47-49)
- Polonius physically said that people act to hide their true evil intentions from God
- He thinks it's okay for Ophelia to act in front of Hamlet since "everyone does it"
Claudius: "How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience!
The harlot's cheek, beautied with plastering art,
Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it
Than is my deed to my most painted word:
O heavy burthen!" (III, i, 51-55)
- Here Claudius is admitting to himself that he feels guilty in his aside
- After hearing Polonius' conversation with Ophelia, he starts to realize his guilt
- Although he is aware of his wrongdoings, he still hides it from reality
Hamlet: "I have heard of your paintings too, well enough; God
has given you one face, and you make yourselves
another: you jig, you amble, and you lisp, and
nick-name God's creatures, and make your wantonness
your ignorance" (III, i, 142-147).
- Hamlet is expressing his feelings towards women
- He feels like women uses makeup to cover their true intentions
Claudius: "My words fly up, my thoughts remain below
Words without thoughts never to heaven go" (III, iii, 98-99)
- Hamlet does not attack Claudius because he is praying for God to forgive his sins
- Hamlet believes that Claudius will go to heaven if he kills him while he is praying
- However, little does Hamlet know that Claudius was just looking like he is praying
- Hamlet is fooled by Claudius' appearance