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Analysis of Act 3 Scene 4 of Hamlet
This scene is known as the closet scene, it is a pivotal scene in Hamlet. Hamlet confronts his mother, Gertrude, over her recent decisions, whilst displaying his condition, his mother's position, and the relationship between them.
This scene begins with Polonius telling Gertrude that she should be direct with Hamlet when she confronts him, he then tells her that he is going to stand silently behind the tapestry so that he can listen to their conversation, this is ironic as it is his lack of silence that causes his death. Polonius hides and Hamlet enters. Gertrude tells Hamlet that he has offended his father, Claudius, and in response to this Hamlet tells her that she has offended his father, Old Hamlet. Gertrude gets offended by the way that Hamlet is answering back to her so she asks him if he has forgotten who he is speaking to, here we can see what type of strict relationships parents had with their children in the Elizabethan era in contrast to what they are today. Hamlet though continues to answer back to her, telling her what the situation that they are in is "you are the queen your husband's brother's wife" when he carries on speaking he uses such a tone that we get the idea that he doesn't want her to be his mother anymore. After this comment Gertrude rises, resentful of what Hamlet has just said, Hamlet pushes her down again telling her that she must not move away to fetch others as he goes to fetch a mirror for her, the mirror that Hamlet is talking about is the one which reveals the truth and sets standards. He wants her to look to the bottom of her soul. By the way that Hamlet has phrased this line Gertrude takes it as a threat of personal violence and calls out for help and Polonius responds to this, thinking that it was Claudius behind the tapestry Hamlet kills him.
Hamlet wants to know if it is the king that he has just killed, Gertrude is in shock and she tells Hamlet "what a rash and bloody deed is this". Hamlet tells her that this deed would almost be as bad as killing a king and marrying his brother. Gertrudes response for some confirms her innocence; she doesn't seem to have a clue as to what Hamlet is talking about. Hamlet then lifts up the arras and finds out that it is Polonius that he has killed; he calls him a meddling old fool. After this their conversation continues, Hamlet tells Gertrude that he hopes that her heart hasn't become so hardened that it's impenetrable, he believes that her vices, that to her have become so habitual, are to blame. Gertrude questions Hamlets reasons for talking to her in such a way, he tells her his reasons are that she has committed an act that heaven would be ashamed of. Hamlet personifies the act be telling [next page]