DRJ #4: Hamlet, Act 4

One particular scene that stood out to me in this act is the way that Gertrude informs Laertes of Ophelia's death. Although she drowned tragically (accident or suicide, I'm not sure), Gertrude describes her death in an unusually beautiful way. I have never heard of someone describing someones death the way she did. Very weird! Gertrude said, "There is a willow grows aslant a brook, That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream; There with fantastic garlands did she come of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples that liberal shepherds give a grosser name, but our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them: There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke; when down her weedy trophies and herself fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide; and, mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up: which time she chanted snatches of old tunes; as one incapable of her own distress, or like a creature native and indued unto that element: but long it could not be till that her garments, heavy with their drink, pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay to muddy death.” (4.7.164-180)
Laertes is the son of Polonius and the brother of Ophelia. Although he is a foil to Hamlet, he is a lot like Hamlet in that his father was also murdered but he handles himself in a different way. He has the mentality of taking action first and to ask questions later, which is the polar opposite of Hamlet. Hamlet mulls over what to do about avenging his father’s death and over analyzes everything.
One of the themes in this act is death. Ophelia dies while Claudius and Laertes devise a plan to kill Hamlet. Laertes states, “I will do't! And for that purpose I'll anoint my sword. I bought an unction of a mountebank, so mortal that but dip a knife in it, where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare, collected from all simples that have virtue under the moon, can save the thing from death this is but scratch'd withal. I'll touch my point with this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly, it may be death.” (4.7.152-161)

DRJ #3: Hamlet, Act III

Boy there is a lot of fireworks in this act. Hamlet plans exactly how he wants the play to be presented in order to prove that Cladius is guilty of accusing his father and succeeds. This remings me of a co-worker I used to work with that was obsessed with trying to get another co-worker fired by trying to prove that she was stealing from the company. She was crazy and frankly had no life.
Gertrude is Hamlet's mother and the wife of King Cladius. In a way she is a antagonist because she causes the main character conflict, but as his mother I don't think she intends to hurt her son. I think she has made some irrational decisions, like marrying her deceased husbands brother, and she seems to be pretty selfish.
One of the themes in Act three is madness. Gertrude expresses madness when she says, "Alas, how is't with you, that you do bend your eye on vacancy and with the incorporal air do hold discourse? Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep;and, as the sleeping soldiers in the alarm, your bedded hair, like life in excrements, starts up, and stands on end. O gentle son, upon the heat and flame of thy distemper
sprinkle cool patience. Whereon do you look?" (Act III, Scene IV)

DRJ #2: Hamlet, Act 2

Hamlet appears to be sick and mentally unstable because of his love for Ophelia. This reminds of me of a friend that I used to know that broke up with her boyfriend and he acted very similar to this. He couldn’t function, was very depressed and felt very lost and empty without her.
Claudius is the antagonist in this story and in a way I think that he causes the conflict intentionally. Claudius is very determined to keep his authority and I believe that even though he may have strong feelings for Gertrude, she was an easy way to get to the throne. How convenient. He definitely looks out for himself and disregards the feelings of others. His attitude and actions bring out Hamlets desire for revenge and shows us the “evil” side of him.
One of the themes in act two is lies and deception. When Polonius tells his servants to spread rumors about his son Laertes he says, “Marry, sir, here's my drift; And I believe, it is a fetch of wit. You laying these slight sullies on my son, as 'twere a thing a little soil'd i' the working, mark you,your party in converse, him you would sound,having ever seen in the prenominate crimes the youth you breathe of guilty, be assured he closes with you in this consequence; ‘Good sir,’ or so, or ‘friend,’ or ‘gentleman,’ according to the phrase or the addition Of man and country.” (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines