Hamlet, the nunnery scene [part 1]

Hamlet’s true motives are questionable before he even enters into this fierce confrontation with Ophelia
and by the time he storms out of it, we, the reader or audience, are left with very few answers. His
manner, in particular his melancholy mood, has been affected by so many factors beforehand that it is
almost impossible to source his outburst from any one of them in particular. His mother has remarried too
quickly, his father has been recently murdered, he hates his uncle and perhaps most significantly he should
be king. His depressing situation has led him to consider suicide – and it would appear that Ophelia, although
not completely free of blame herself, is the unfortunate scapegoat upon which Hamlet has decided to vent
his fury.

Ophelia’s first line – “Good my lord, how does your honour for this many a day?” - reeks of incompetence
and suspicion. The nature of the greeting and the formal manner with which the line is said would arouse
the suspicion of Hamlet instantly. It can also be interpreted as Ophelia’s way of sending a subtle warning to
Hamlet. Hamlet is mocking her and has already detected the unnatural atmosphere filling the room.

Line 93 moves away from the formal tone as Ophelia brings up the subject of returning Hamlet’s love gifts.
“I have remembrances of yours that I have longéd long to re-deliver,” has been clearly rehearsed with the
alliterated ‘l’ and the assonance on the ‘o’ sound giving Hamlet a massive indication as to the fact that he is
being set-up.  Hamlet may also want to disorientate Ophelia because he is suspicious of her odd behaviour
without specifically being aware of the eavesdroppers.

Line 103 – “Ha, ha, are you honest” - is where the subject and the dramatic dynamics of the scene change.
Hamlet goes on the attack – his sarcastic tone has come out of the blue, but with Claudius and Polonius
watching on, it is, however, impossible to know whether this is genuine or just another attempt to
disorientate and go along with his supposed ‘antic disposition’. He accuses Ophelia of being corrupt like all
women, and, suddenly, Hamlet begins to use certain elements of his depressing life to make his point
effectively. He suggests that beauty and virtue are closely linked together and Hamlet goes on a physical as
well as verbal attack of Ophelia – often portrayed as helpless.

Hamlet’s disillusion with women almost certainly stems from his mother’s actions with his Uncle Claudius;
however it is apparent that he once had genuine love for Ophelia as demonstrated by Line 114. This
poignant moment in the scene reveals a sense of regret on Hamlet’s part and leaves Ophelia feeling very
vulnerable at this stage. Hamlet continues to emphasise his distrust of women by claiming Ophelia has
betrayed him and that she has given in to temptation. In fact, he goes on to say that he himself is a sinner
and that all human beings are born into sin; which is a contradiction to what he has just said. It is fair to
say, therefore, that Hamlet’s depressing stance on human beings has been influenced by the corruption in
his own life.