In the same evening as the last scene, the castle hall is now a theater Hamlet lectures the players on how to play the parts he has written and given to them He tells player one to read the lines musically and smoothly, to not exaggerate anything and to not be over the top, but to not be too tame and fit what is said well, he also says that player one should act naturally. Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildernstern walk by, hamlet tells them to tell the actors to hurry up and help them get ready. Horatio enters, Hamlet is glad to see him and praises him, telling him that he is the best man that he has ever known as well as talking about Horatio’s self control and level of reserve. Hamlet now asks Horatio to watch claudius carefully during the play so they can see whether he is truly guilty or not this will allow them to see if the ghost was telling the truth. We know he already is guilty because Claudius himself told the audience that he has done it. Horatio and Hamlet will compare note after.
Trumpets play, all the lord and ladies walk into the room. Hamlet warns Horatio that he is going to act weirdly. Claudius asks how Hamlet is, the reply is absurd and insane “Excellent, i’ faith, of the chameleon’s dish. I eat the air, promise-crammed. You cannot feed capons so” . Hamlet is saying that he is excellent and that he is eats the air like a chameleon, he is stuffed of it because he eats so much of it. He also asks polonius about the history of his acting. Hamlet also torments Ophelia with some erotic or sexual puns.
The players begin to act the play out. The first thing to criticise somebody is aimed towards him mum and how she remarried quickly, it says the only reason to remarry ids if the first one dies. it carries on saying that when you do remarry it is usually for money, but not for love. We learn the person who kills the king is the nephew. this is possibly hinting or foreshadowing what is going to happen. Hamlet keeps a commentary throughout the play and continues with the sexual references and jokes. When the poison is poured into the sleeping kings ear, Claudius stands up and shouts for the lights to be turned on. The play comes to a stop at this point, the torches are lit and the king runs out the room followed by the rest of the audience. Only Hamlet and Horatio are left.
They both agree that the Kings behavior has told them that he did indeed kill Hamlet’s father. Hamlet continues with his speech and makes up short poems. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive and tell Hamlet and tell him he is wanted in his mothers bedroom, they also tell him that his uncle-father is in his room and is extremely upset. Rosencrantz asks again why hamlet is in a bad temper, Hamlet replies saying that he has no future ahead of him.
Players enter with recorders, hamlet takes one and tries to make Guildenstern play it. Guildendtern repeatedly replies saying he can’t play it, Hamlet then accuses Guildenstern of trying to play him and thinking he is easier to play than an instrument. Polonius enters to escort Hamlet to his mother, but Hamlet tells him that he will go soon. Everyone exits and Hamlet is left by himself. He briefs himself on what he will say,” I will speak daggers to her, but use none” this means he will be very honest , but he is going to try and not lose control of his temper.
React!