Hamlet is a strategic mastermind. The man knows how to play every character in the book in precise ways, and achieve his goals using everybody else. He sees through every plot against him, calling out Rosencrantz and Guildenstern on their bluffs time and time again. He knew exactly how Polonius would react to his confrontation with Ophelia, and he seems to be one step ahead of everybody in almost every situation. This makes it very hard to believe that when Hamlet is giving the "To be or not to be" speech, he thinks he is alone. I believe Hamlet was very aware of Claudius's presence, as well as Polonius's.
To begin, Hamlet was called directly to the lobby. "we have closely sent from Hamlet hither" (III, i, 29). It is not at all believable that mastermind Hamlet, who was called to be here by the king, would suddenly start spilling his innermost thoughts into the open room. Plenty of the speech was talking about killing others when they inconvenience you, and to just say that out loud when you are well aware you were called to where you are standing; there is no logic behind it. Hamlet uses logic to predict and solve all the problems he faces, and it is unreasonable to think that he suddenly drops this habit in the most suspicious of times. As well, although Hamlet portrayals are led by interpretation, in the video clips we watched Hamlet always seems suspicious of something. Well, except the first one, but he was standing on a cliff there, it is already incredibly inaccurate. In one video, Hamlet is tapping his dagger on the very mirror that Claudius and Polonius were behind. It could be said that this is just happy coincidence, yet Hamlet walked rather far into the room to tap on that one mirror, and it can be assumed that the man knows his own castle, for he was the prince much longer than Claudius was king. In the other video, Hamlet is constantly staring at one specific wall. This one is much less obvious, but the fact that Hamlet, despite his suspicions of that wall, would continue to talk about his thoughts instead of investigate is very suspicious. "Hey! There might be someone here listening! I think I'm going to consider killing myself and others out loud!" It does not seem possible, with everything pointing to observers, for Hamlet to spill all his thoughts.
Continuing forwards, and looking past the soliloquy, Ophelia enters. Hamlet rips her a new one. Hamlet trashes her and potentially calls her a whore, all in front of her father. Speaking of her father, Hamlet specifically asks "Where's your father?"(III, i, 130-131). Ophelia answers that Polonius is home, yet the fact that Hamlet had the suspicion of observance further supports my above points. Hamlet is very distant from Ophelia, and makes himself seem completely uninterested. He denies the love letters, and any love for her. One scene later, Hamlet is playful and sexually flirty with Ophelia. This happens the moment they can talk semi-privately. The way Hamlet talks to her normally when they can't be heard is further proof for his knowledge of observance. Further, Hamlet talks to Ophelia in a way that makes clear their long friendship, and knowledge of each other. Knowledge that Hamlet could have clearly used to see through her lie about her father. Hamlet's denial of the love letters, and especially violent words towards Ophelia after he asks this question could be his very own way of throwing off Polonius, and the kings trust for the man. Hamlet really takes out two birds with one stone.
Finally, Hamlets direct words in the speech can be proof of his knowledge of Polonius and Claudius's presence. Hamlet talks about "Th'oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of dispriz'd love, the law's delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of th'unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin"(III, i, 71-76). Hamlet talks about all these dreadful things that people will do or be, and how it would be easier to kill them. This might just seem like normal human thought, until one realizes that every one applies to Claudius. Th'oppressor's wrong, is Hamlet's frustration of being oppressed for the wrong reasons, and the oppressor oppressing without logic. Hamlet senior, a mighty leader, was killed by Claudius so that a weaker man could take the throne and push Hamlet down and away. The proud man's contumely (contumely meaning offensive or insulting words) could very well be a reference to when Claudius told Hamlet he is not being a man, and to call him father. The pangs of dispriz'd (meaningless) love is quite obviously the whole "Claudius got Gertrude to marry him after 5 seconds of being single" situation. The law's delay could be the lack of justice against Claudius, as well as the bended laws barring Claudius and Gertrude's incest marriage. The insolent office is Claudius being king, and constantly shoving Hamlet down because "I am the guy behind the desk now sucker!". and finally, the spurns that patient merit of th'unworthy takes are the insults that the hard working man take from one who has not earned what he has. This being Claudius standing tall over Hamlet after cheating the throne away from him. Now that all that is finally considered, Hamlet's intentions behind these worlds could very well be that every one applied to Claudius and he plans to kill him. It is a direct threat, disguised as frustrations with the world, and is delivered in a way that could still very well throw the two hidden men off. At least that way, after Hamlet kills Claudius, he can say "I told you it was going to happen, but no you just ignored it.
All this taken into consideration, it is really hard to believe that Hamlet did not know he was being watched. His clever words and delivery of his phrases, as well as the obvious suspicion, and common sense Hamlet possesses, directly points to his knowledge of his observance.
RE: Drew
I found your analysis of Hamlets direct comments very intriguing. I never considered Hamlet throwing off Claudius as to his own ambitions. Your argument about making Claudius think he is no longer interested in anyway of taking the throne was a very good one, and I completely agree with what you said there. I also liked your argument about him calling Claudius a coward. I thought your arguments were good, though I hate you a little bit for finding some really cool less-obvious threats in his speech.
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