Hamlet+3.2

5 / 7. Ophelia says, "Tis brief, lord," and Hamlet follows with, "As woman's love" (3.2.174-5). This was a very cold/harsh remark to Ophelia. If I were Ophelia, I would definitely be hurt and offended right now by Hamlet's words. Hamlet is also being a little hypocritical because his love has also been very fickle throughout their whole relationship. This also kind of offends me, as woman - as does the Queen's statement during the play, "For women fear too much, even as they love,/ And women's fear and love hold quantity" (3.2.188-9). I'd like to solidify the meaning of the Player Queen's words before I identify my stance, though..

4 / 3. Queen Gertrude says, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks" (3.2.254). I feel like this reaction of the Queen's is one of Shakespeare's famous lines, but I am trying to grasp my head around why it is. Is it due to the irony of the situation? The fact that the Queen did not protest enough to marrying after her husband's death.

5 / 8. Hamlet says, "Make you a wholesome answer. My wit's/ diseased" (3.2.349-50). Here, Hamlet is admitting to his insanity/giving up on his sanity and basically saying that he is tired of trying to please others (come up with a wholesome/sane/proper answer for his mother). Hamlet's reactions also suggest some things about his relationship with his mother. Hamlet then ends the scene in saying "Soft, now to my mother/ O heart, lose not thy nature....Let me be cruel, not unnatural./ I will speak (daggers) to her)" (3.2.425-29). Hamlet is now struggling to verify that his conscience and "heart" is still there - He does not want to hurt his mother, just as his father/the ghost of the king told him not too. However, Hamlet plans on accusing her and hurting her with words. I had kind of an emotional reaction to that line because when you think of "speaking daggers" it is really something that cuts (literally!).