Purpose of a play/art

Hamlet, in scene 3.2 mentions what he believes the purpose of plays are. In lines 23 he says, "to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure." He believes that the "purpose of playing" is to reveal the truth. I agree with Hamlet because in many forms of art such as movies, writings and drawings the creator of these things are trying to display some sort of a message and what they believe to be true to their audience. In class, we have been writing about memories and reading them to our peers. As we write, we are telling the truth, displaying honesty with one another. Hamlet wants to reveal the truth to everyone, hoping to unveil King Claudius' secret of killing King Hamlet. By doing this through a play, it will grab the attention of the audience portraying a truthful message to them.

Claudius threatened by Hamlet

Claudius knows Hamlet is a threat and because of this he uses Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as a defense. In 2.2 King Claudius wants both men to draw out "Hamlets transformation" (line 5). He asks them to spy on Hamlet, hoping that he would share information with his two friends that he would normally keep from his mom and uncle. The king orders them "to draw him on to pleasures, and to gather, so much as from occasion you may glean, whe'r aught to us unknown afflicts him thus, that open'd lies within our remedy." (line 15). The King would not do this if he did not think that Hamlet was up to something/ a threat to him. It is obvious to the King that Hamlet would be "depressed" because of his fathers death and his mothers marriage. He would not care what Hamlet thought unless he knew that he really found out the Kings truth. King Claudius i'm sure is fearful of his life because he knows that Hamlet found out how his father was murdered.

We know that Gertrude is oblivious to everything about the murder of her first husband. If she knew about the murder she would say more about hamlet in lines 56-57 "i doubt it is no other but the main; His fathers death, and our o'erhasty marriage." If Gertrude was aware of how King Hamlet died, she would voice that to Claudius either with anger or fear. She would probably fear for her life as well as her new husbands.


King Claudius' chief concern in the court should be about Norway and their plans they have to attack. He is not worried about them attacking or them crossing through Denmark to get to Poland. He is distracted by Hamlet, as he is a threat. King Claudius is probably concerned for his safety as he doesn't know if Hamlet is up to no good.

Did Hamlet love Ophelia before act 3?

Through previous scenes, textual evidence has supported Hamlets love for Ophelia. Act 1.3 in line 100, Ophelia spoke to her father about Hamlets love for her. She said, "He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders of his affection to me." Also, in line 111 Ophelia continues saying, "My lord, he hath importun'd me with love in honourable fashion." To me it seems like Ophelia is sticking up for Hamlet against her father, telling him that Hamlet does love her.

Furthermore, the letter that Hamlet had written to Ophelia reveals the way he felt about her. Polonius read the letter aloud to the Queen in act 2.2. Hamlet said in line 110, "To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia...but never doubt I love." Through this letter that Ophelia never got to read, Hamlet does reveal the connection he has with her. Polonius had instructed Ophelia in act 2.2 to "lock herself from his resort, admit no messengers, receive no tokens." With Ophelia taking her fathers advice Polonius believes that is when Hamlet fell into his sadness/madness. I agree that with his fathers death and his mothers marriage to his uncle, has made him feel this way. Now the women he loved is distant from him, giving him another reason to be such a depressed man.