Hamlet: Act 4 Scene 1
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A shaken Gertrude tells Claudius what just happened during
her encounter with Hamlet. While Gertrude thinks there’s still
hope for her son, Claudius is more interested in the matter at
hand. He sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find Hamlet
and get rid of Polonius’s body.
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Hamlet has just hidden Polonius’s body when Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern arrive to handle the situation. When they ask Hamlet
where he has stashed the body, Hamlet refuses to reveal the location,
telling the pair that all their favors for the king will bring them
nothing in the end.
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Rosencrantz and Guildenstern bring Hamlet back to Claudius. Hamlet,
still faking madness, refuses to answer Claudius directly. Instead, he
cleverly insults Claudius, but cloaks his digs in what sounds like
nonsense. Finally, Hamlet drops a hint about the location of the body.
After sending some of his attendants to retrieve it, Claudius tells
Hamlet that he’s being sent to England with Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern. Once Hamlet leaves, Claudius reveals his true plan: as
soon as Hamlet arrives in England, he’ll be put to death by the English
court.
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Fortinbras, the prince of Norway, is on his way to wage war on
Poland. His men and Hamlet cross paths, and Hamlet learns of
Fortinbras’s plans. Hamlet is impressed. He admires Fortinbras’s
commitment and courage, and decides to follow his example. He’ll
avenge his father’s death once and for all.
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Ophelia is not well. A gentleman reveals to Gertrude and Horatio
that she has been wandering around, talking nonsense and singing
songs. Just then, Ophelia enters, acting utterly insane. She sings
songs about death, love, and flowers. Gertrude can not
understand what she’s saying, but Ophelia’s songs hint at Hamlet’s
betrayal and her father’s death. After she leaves, Laertes returns,
demanding to know where his father is. Claudius informs Laertes
that Polonius is dead but swears it wasn’t his fault. Ophelia
reenters, talking and singing nonsense again. Laertes is horrified to
see his sister in such a state, and he vows revenge on his father’s
killer and his sister’s persecutor.
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Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet, which tells him that the prince
is headed home to Denmark. He asks Horatio to deliver some letters
to the king, and Horatio makes plans to seek out Hamlet.
Hamlet: Act 4 Scene 7
Claudius finds out from one of Horatio’s letters that Hamlet is back in
Denmark. He ropes an angry Laertes into yet another plan to get rid
of Hamlet. Laertes and Hamlet will have a duel, but Laertes will be
fighting with a sharpened, poisoned blade, rather than a blunted one.
Just in case the blade and its poison don’t work, Claudius will also
poison a drink and offer it to a thirsty Hamlet during the duel. After
they agree on the plan, Gertrude arrives to inform the king and
Laertes that Ophelia is dead. She was found drowned in a brook,
surrounded by flowers. Laertes grieves over the loss of his sister.
Hamlet: Ophelia Drowns in a Brook
Hamlet: Major Plot Points Established by Act 4
•
Claudius arranges Hamlet's immediate transportation to England and
sends a letter to the English king demanding that he arranges
Hamlet's immediate death.
" Do it, England, / For like the hectic in my
blood he rages, / And thou must cure me."
•
Polonius's son Laertes has returned to Denmark determined to
revenge his father's murder and blaming Claudius.
" Let come what
comes, only I'll be revenged / Most thoroughly for my father."
•
Ophelia is dead. She is found drowned in a brook, surrounded by
flowers.
In Act 4 of Hamlet, a series of dramatic events transpire, including Hamlet's confrontation with Claudius, the discovery of Polonius's body, Ophelia's descent into madness, and Horatio's communication with Hamlet. These scenes reveal the complexity of characters' motivations and the escalating tensions within the play, setting the stage for further twists and turns in the tragic tale of revenge and betrayal.
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Presentation Transcript
Hamlet: Act 4 Scene 1 A shaken Gertrude tells Claudius what just happened during her encounter with Hamlet. While Gertrude thinks there s still hope for her son, Claudius is more interested in the matter at hand. He sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find Hamlet and get rid of Polonius s body.
Hamlet: Act 4 Scene 2 Hamlet has just hidden Polonius s body when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive to handle the situation. When they ask Hamlet where he has stashed the body, Hamlet refuses to reveal the location, telling the pair that all their favors for the king will bring them nothing in the end.
Hamlet: Act 4 Scene 3 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern bring Hamlet back to Claudius. Hamlet, still faking madness, refuses to answer Claudius directly. Instead, he cleverly insults Claudius, but cloaks his digs in what sounds like nonsense. Finally, Hamlet drops a hint about the location of the body. After sending some of his attendants to retrieve it, Claudius tells Hamlet that he s being sent to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Once Hamlet leaves, Claudius reveals his true plan: as soon as Hamlet arrives in England, he ll be put to death by the English court.
Hamlet: Act 4 Scene 4 Fortinbras, the prince of Norway, is on his way to wage war on Poland. His men and Hamlet cross paths, and Hamlet learns of Fortinbras s plans. Hamlet is impressed. He admires Fortinbras s commitment and courage, and decides to follow his example. He ll avenge his father s death once and for all.
Hamlet: Act 4 Scene 5 Ophelia is not well. A gentleman reveals to Gertrude and Horatio that she has been wandering around, talking nonsense and singing songs. Just then, Ophelia enters, acting utterly insane. She sings songs about death, love, and flowers. Gertrude can not understand what she s saying, but Ophelia s songs hint at Hamlet s betrayal and her father s death. After she leaves, Laertes returns, demanding to know where his father is. Claudius informs Laertes that Polonius is dead but swears it wasn t his fault. Ophelia reenters, talking and singing nonsense again. Laertes is horrified to see his sister in such a state, and he vows revenge on his father s killer and his sister s persecutor.
Hamlet: Act 4 Scene 6 Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet, which tells him that the prince is headed home to Denmark. He asks Horatio to deliver some letters to the king, and Horatio makes plans to seek out Hamlet.
Hamlet: Act 4 Scene 7 Claudius finds out from one of Horatio s letters that Hamlet is back in Denmark. He ropes an angry Laertes into yet another plan to get rid of Hamlet. Laertes and Hamlet will have a duel, but Laertes will be fighting with a sharpened, poisoned blade, rather than a blunted one. Just in case the blade and its poison don t work, Claudius will also poison a drink and offer it to a thirsty Hamlet during the duel. After they agree on the plan, Gertrude arrives to inform the king and Laertes that Ophelia is dead. She was found drowned in a brook, surrounded by flowers. Laertes grieves over the loss of his sister.
Hamlet: Major Plot Points Established by Act 4 Claudius arranges Hamlet's immediate transportation to England and sends a letter to the English king demanding that he arranges Hamlet's immediate death." Do it, England, / For like the hectic in my blood he rages, / And thou must cure me." Polonius's son Laertes has returned to Denmark determined to revenge his father's murder and blaming Claudius. " Let come what comes, only I'll be revenged / Most thoroughly for my father." Ophelia is dead. She is found drowned in a brook, surrounded by flowers.
