Hamlet Act 1 Scenes 3-5

    So in this scene we get 3 new characters: Ophelia (Hamlet's lover), Laertes (Ophelia's older brother) and Polonius (the dad ). Laertes really annoys me. He is so bossy and belittling to Ophelia when he gives advice to her about her relationship with Hamlet. His elaborate and showy diction makes him out to be pretentious and obnoxious. He says things in the most extravagant way possible. When explaining how Hamlet is a Prince and will have to marry based off of what will benefit the crown, Laertes states in line 15, "and now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch" (1.3.15). I know that is just a line out of a whole sentence, but the fact that one line of his is that complicated and crazy looking proves how pompous he is and sounds. Ophelia, on the other hand, is so witty and funny. I have to admit that I laughed a little when she advises Laertes to follow his own relationship advice when she says "whiles like a puffed and reckless libertine / himself the primrose path of dalliance treads, / and recks not his own rede" (1.3.49-51). I think Ophelia is pretty awesome. I wonder how her relationship with Hamlet will fare as Hamlet continues to spiral.

    

    Now for scene 4. I found this scene pretty boring. There is a lot of talk about men being drawn from a content, peaceful state of mind to a crazy one. Hamlet condemns these men and I wonder if this could be ironic later and he ends up being one of the crazy men. There is a huge disagreement between Hamlet and Horatio and Marcellus when it comes to Hamlet going away with the Ghost. Horatio and Marcellus are very unwilling to let Hamlet go away with the Ghost but Hamlet seems completely drawn into the Ghost. He even threatens to kill his own friends if they don't let him go talk to the Ghost!!!!! I'm pretty sure this is the beginning of Hamlet's mental spiral. I believe the most notable line in this scene is from Marcellus when he chillingly says, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark'' (1.4.90). THAT IS SO CREEPY!!!! There is definitely some foreshadowing there and sounds like we are going to have some good drama in the rest of the book!!!!!

    Scene 5... O.M.G! I have to be real for a second, I was not surprised at all when it was revealed that Claudius killed King Hamlet. What did surprise me was the way that he died. POISON IN THE EAR????? That's so random! What about putting the poison in the food or something more normal? I am also 100% sure Hamlet is about to have a complete mental meltdown after his soliloquy where he states that he is about to get revenge and how he just completely pushes away his friends. He just goes ahead and makes Horatio and Marcellus swear to secrecy AND goes ahead and tells them to act oblivious if they see him acting strange. Also, if Hamlet stating that he will "put an antic disposition on '' isn't a sure sign of him about to go crazy, I don't know what is (1.5.172). 

    Hamlet's current situation with being dead set on seeking revenge for his father is making me think a lot about solipsism. I predict that all he can think about in the upcoming scenes is going to be revenge and it will drive him insane and impact everyone around him. It makes me think of Chillingsworth and how his obsession with finding Pearl's dad and how it just withered his life away. Maybe the same thing will end up happening with Hamlet?????

Here are some questions:

How do you feel about the Ghost? - Can we trust the Ghost? What do you think about Ophelia? How do you think her and Hamlet's relationship will fare? What do you think lies in Hamlet's future later in the book? - Do you think he is going to spiral?