Act 3 Scene 3/4

Hamlet has finally committed his first at of violence by killing Polonius. At the beginning of Scene 3, Hamlet does not kill Claudius, but only so that his sword can "know...a more horrid hent" (93). Hamlet is now ready to use violence to avenge his father's murder. Hamlet does not hesitate to kill the man he hears behind the curtains during his conversation with his mother, which turns out to be Polonius. The language in Hamlet has not been positive since Claudius ran out on the play which made Hamlet happy. Gertrude asks Hamlet, "Thou wilt not murder me," (3.4.26) and Hamlet bets that the man behind the curtain will be "dead for a ducat" (3.4.29). Hamlet cares so little about killing this man that he is willing to bet that he will kill him. Hamlet and his mother seem unusually calm considering Hamlet has just killed Polonius and a ghost just visited them. "I'll lug the guts into the neighbor room. Mother, good night indeed" (3.4.235-236). My typical "good night" does not include anything about lugging guts anywhere, but Hamlet says this nonchalantly as if it were normal. Since Hamlet does not even seem phased by his action, he will probably have no problem killing Claudius or anyone else who makes him mad later in the book.

There is a shift in the good guy/bad guy in my opinion. Claudius is beginning to feel remorse for killing his brother, and while "words without thoughts never to heaven go," at least Claudius tried to send his words and thoughts to God (3.3.102-103). Hamlet, meanwhile, was the victim at the beginning of the play, but has become so heartless through the course of events that I consider him to now be the "bad guy." He is being mean to everyone he talks to, except his good friend Horatio. Horatio is a logical person and also the only person towards whom Hamlet is now friendly. I think this shows that one should rely on logic over emotions, because Hamlet's emotions have made him go crazy.