Act 4
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tell Claudius that Hamlet will not tell them where the body is.
- Hamlet continues to feign madness when he enters giving riddles about the body of Polonius.
- Hamlet informs the Claudius that if he cannot find Polonius he will soon smell him.
Who does hamlet meet in Act 4 Scene 4?
Who does Hamlet meet in Act 4 scene 4? He talks to the captain. What effect does this meeting have on Hamlet? Makes him feel like a coward and renews his resolve to get revenge on Claudius for killing his father. What does Claudius plan for Hamlet when he sends him to England?
What happened at the end of Scene 4 in Hamlet?
The ghost suddenly appears, and Horatio urges Hamlet to address it. Hamlet begins speaking to the apparition, begging to know if it truly is the ghost of his father. He asks the ghost to tell him why it has chosen to leave its tomb and wander the grounds of Elsinore in full armor. In response, the ghost motions for Hamlet to follow it.
What is the main theme of Act 4 in Hamlet?
What is the theme in Act 1 of Hamlet?
- Action and Inaction. Hamlet is part of a literary tradition called the revenge play, in which a person—most often a man—must take revenge against those who have wronged him.
- Appearance vs. Reality.
- Women.
- Religion, Honor, and Revenge.
- Poison, Corruption, Death.
What is Act 3 Scene 4 of Hamlet?
Summary: Act III, scene iv. In Gertrude’s chamber, the queen and Polonius wait for Hamlet’s arrival. Polonius plans to hide in order to eavesdrop on Gertrude’s confrontation with her son, in the hope that doing so will enable him to determine the cause of Hamlet’s bizarre and threatening behavior. Polonius urges the queen to be harsh with Hamlet when he arrives, saying that she should chastise him for his recent behavior.
Who dies in Act 4 of Hamlet?
Summary and Analysis Act IV: Scene 7. Claudius confirms that Hamlet killed Polonius, though seeking to take Claudius' life. Laertes can't understand why Claudius didn't punish Hamlet for such capitol crimes.
Who drowns in Act 4 of Hamlet?
The image of Ophelia drowning amid her garlands of flowers has proved to be one of the most enduring images in the play, represented countless times by artists and poets throughout the centuries. Ophelia is associated with flower imagery from the beginning of the play.
What happens in Act 4 Scene 4 Hamlet?
Summary: Act IV, scene iv The captain informs them that the Norwegian army rides to fight the Poles. Hamlet asks about the basis of the conflict, and the man tells him that the armies will fight over “a little patch of land / That hath in it no profit but the name” (IV.
What happens at the end of Act 4 Scene 4 Hamlet?
He questions a captain and learns that the Norwegians plan to wage war over a worthless patch of land in Poland. Hamlet lingers behind Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to reflect on the fact that these Norwegians and Poles are willing to die over land worth virtually nothing to anyone.
Who is to blame for Ophelia's death?
Gertrude, The Queen of Denmark, is responsible for Ophelia's death. By looking at Gertrude's over protective relationship with Hamlet, her lack of initiative on the situations around her in a time of tragedy, as well as her vivid account of Ophelia's death, evidence that…show more content…
Was Ophelia's death an accident?
Some see Ophelia's death as an accident; others see it as a suicide resulting from the accumulation of a series of unfortunate events: her rejection by her boyfriend, her father's murder, and her possible pregnancy.
What happened in Act 4 Scene 5 of Hamlet?
Summary and Analysis Act IV: Scene 5. A court gentleman reports that Ophelia has become pitiably insane. Gertrude refuses to see the girl, but Horatio points out that Ophelia's mental state may attract undue attention to herself and the crown. Gertrude then agrees to speak with Ophelia.
What Happens in Hamlet Act 4 Scene 2?
Summary and Analysis Act IV: Scene 2 When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern finally find the Prince and ask him for Polonius, he bewilders them with answers that seem to be riddles. He tells them that sharing information with mere sponges and parasites of the court is beneath him, the son of a king.
What Happens in Hamlet Act 4 Scene 6?
Summary: Act IV, scene vi In the letter, Hamlet says that his ship was captured by pirates, who have returned him to Denmark. He asks Horatio to escort the sailors to the king and queen, for they have messages for them as well. He also says that he has much to tell of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
What have we learned about Claudius in Act 4?
The new information we have learned about Claudius in Act 4 is that he is much more strategic than previously thought as. Before we thought that Claudius wasn't very prepared to what might happen if he had gotten caught in his lie, but we have now come to realize that he is very intelligent.
Who discovers Juliet's body?
The NurseThe Nurse discovers Juliet's corpse-like body and shares the news with her parents. Summary: The Nurse finds Juliet, apparently dead. Hearing the commotion the Nurse makes, Capulet and Lady Capulet enter, horrified to find their daughter in such a state.
What is Hamlet's tone in Act 4 Scene 4?
Hamlet's tone shifts from conflicted to determined throughout the duration of the soliloquy. At first he feels that “all occasions do inform against me, and spur my dull revenge” (IV, iv, 32-33). He means to say that he feels as if everyone and everything is acting against him.
What happened in Act 4 Scene 5 of Hamlet?
Summary and Analysis Act IV: Scene 5. A court gentleman reports that Ophelia has become pitiably insane. Gertrude refuses to see the girl, but Horatio points out that Ophelia's mental state may attract undue attention to herself and the crown. Gertrude then agrees to speak with Ophelia.
What Happens in Hamlet Act 4 Scene 6?
Summary: Act IV, scene vi In the letter, Hamlet says that his ship was captured by pirates, who have returned him to Denmark. He asks Horatio to escort the sailors to the king and queen, for they have messages for them as well. He also says that he has much to tell of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
How did Polonius death affect Ophelia?
This line directly references an older man and because of this detail, Polonius's death has obviously taken its toll on Ophelia's psyche, causing her to spout such wild and woeful songs. Further explicit references to Ophelia's father, such as “I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died.
What happened to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
When their ship is attacked by pirates, Hamlet returns to Denmark, leaving Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to die; he comments in Act V, Scene 2 that "They are not near my conscience; their defeat / Does by their own insinuation grow." Ambassadors returning later report that "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead."
Why does Hamlet think Hamlet must be sent away from Denmark?
Hamlet must be sent away from Denmark, he thinks, not as punishment for committing murder but because he represents a danger to Claudius.
What does Gertrude say to Claudius after she confronts Hamlet?
When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern exit, she tells Claudius about her encounter with Hamlet. She says that he is as mad as the sea during a violent storm;
What does Hamlet say about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern appear and ask what he has done with the body. Hamlet refuses to give them a straight answer, instead saying, “The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body” (IV.ii.25–26). Feigning offense at being questioned, he accuses them of being spies in the service of Claudius.
What is the first scene of Act IV?
The short first scene of Act IV centers around Gertrude’s betrayal of her son, turning him in to the king after having promised to help him. While she does keep her promise not to reveal that Hamlet was only pretending to be insane, the immediate and frank way in which she tells Claudius about Hamlet’s behavior and his murder of Polonius implies that she sees herself as allied to the king rather than to her son. Whether Gertrude really believes Hamlet to be mad, or has simply recognized that her best interest lies in allying herself with Claudius regardless of what she believes, is impossible to determine from this scene and is largely a matter of one’s personal interpretation of the events. Whatever the case, it is Gertrude’s speech to Claudius that cements the king’s secret plan to have Hamlet executed in England.
What is the trait that constantly interfered with his ability to take revenge on Claudius?
His sensitive, reflective nature —the trait that constantly interfered with his ability to take revenge on Claudius—now disappears in the wake of its violent opposite: a rash, murderous explosion of activity. Hamlet leaps to the conclusion that Claudius is behind the arras, or else he simply lashes out thoughtlessly.
What does Claudius say about Hamlet?
He inquires after Hamlet's health but clearly remains primarily concerned with his own well being. "My soul is full of discord and dismay," he says. He will act quickly on the news, but he is clearly fearful.
What does Gertrude tell Hamlet?
He worries what he will tell his subjects; Gertrude tells him that Hamlet is contrite and has promised to dispose of the body. The King resolves to banish Hamlet quickly and calls to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. He tells them what has happened and bids them bring Hamlet to him.
What is the scene in Act IV?
Act IV: Scene 1. Claudius, flanked by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, finds Gertrude and questions her as to Hamlet 's whereabouts. She asks to be left alone with the King and, after Rosencrantz and Guildenstern leave, she agitatedly tells him that she has seen a horror. Claudius wants to know what happened and asks after her son's welfare.
Does Hamlet shield her son?
She never attempts to shield her son in any meaningful way and describes in inflammatory detail how he killed "the unseen good old man.". Even knowing what Hamlet believes about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern does not cause her to entreat the King to find an alternative to sending her son to England with the pair.
What happens in Act 1 of Hamlet?
Act I. The play begins on a cold night with the changing of the guard. King Hamlet has died, and his brother Claudius has taken the throne. However, for the past two nights, the guards (Francisco and Bernardo) have seen a restless ghost resembling the old king wandering the castle grounds.
What is the purpose of Act 2 of the book Hamlet?
Act II. Polonius sends a spy, Reynaldo, to Franc e to keep an eye on Laertes. Ophelia enters and tells Polonius that Hamlet entered her room in a mad state, grabbing her wrists and staring wildly into her eyes. She also adds that she has cut off all contact with Hamlet.
What does Claudius do in the murder of Gonzago?
During the performance of The Murder of Gonzago, Claudius stops the action just after the scene in which poison is poured into the king's ear. Hamlet tells Horatio he is now certain that Claudius murdered his father. In the next scene, Claudius attempts to pray in church, but his guilt prevents him from doing so.
What happens at the wedding of Claudius and Gertrude?
The next morning, the wedding of Claudius and Gertrude, the wife of the late king, takes place. When the room clears, Hamlet soliloquizes on his disgust at their union, which he views as a betrayal of his father at best and, at worst, incest. Horatio and the guards enter and tell Hamlet to meet the ghost that night.
Why does Hamlet believe that the performance scheduled for the next night will make Claudius show his guilt?
He decides he must figure out if the ghost is truly his father or if it is a specter leading him to sin without reason. Because the play depicts of a king who kills his brother and marries his sister-in-law, Hamlet believes that the performance scheduled for the next night will make Claudius show his guilt.
What is Hamlet suspicious of?
Hamlet is suspicious of them, and he evades their questions. Soon, a theatre troupe arrives, and Hamlet requests that the following night they perform a certain play, The Murder of Gonzago, with a few passages inserted written by Hamlet. Alone on stage, Hamlet voices his frustration about his own indecisiveness.
Who killed Hamlet?
The ghost says that he was murdered by Claudius, that Claudius put poison in his ear while he slept, and that Gertrude slept with Claudius even before his death. The ghost orders Hamlet to avenge the murder, but not to punish his mother. Hamlet agrees. Later, he informs Horatio and Marcellus, one of the guards, ...
What does Claudius tell his advisers?
Claudius tells some of his advisers that while Hamlet is a dangerous presence in Elsinore, he is beloved by the people—Claudius can’t do anything to Hamlet that might upset Denmark’s subjects. He plans to make sending Hamlet away to England look like it is something he’s been planning for a long time.
What is Claudius concerned about in Hamlet?
Active Themes. Claudius says that he is concerned for Hamlet ’s “safety, ” and so has decided to send him away to England. Hamlet bids Claudius farewell, calling him “dear mother.”. When Claudius tells Hamlet that he is his father, Hamlet insists that in marrying his mother, Claudius joined his flesh with hers.
Who tells Claudius that Hamlet is outside under guard?
Rosencrantz enters and tells Claudius that while Hamlet refuses to divulge where he has buried Polonius, he is outside under guard. Claudius orders Hamlet be brought inside, and Guildenstern brings him in. Claudius asks Hamlet directly where Polonius is, and Hamlet replies that he is “at supper.”. Claudius asks where he is eating, ...
Who orders the attendants to search for Polonius?
Claudius , growing even angrier as Hamlet continues to taunt him, demands to know where Polonius is. Hamlet replies that Polonius is in heaven—but if his body isn’t found within a month, the residents of Elsinore may begin to smell him in the main hall. Claudius orders his attendants to search for the body.
Does Claudius intend to kill Hamlet?
Claudius reveals that he does actually intend to have Hamlet killed, but by cowardly means that will ensure he’s not implicated in the murder. Active Themes. Get the entire Hamlet LitChart as a printable PDF. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof.".
Does Hamlet take revenge on Claudius?
Hamlet continues taunting and ridiculing Claudius until the last moment—but doesn’t take any decisive action against him. Hamlet is not suited to revenge in the traditional sense—what he does best is chipping away at the man’s honor bit by bit. Active Themes.
