characteristic verbal dexterity, and then insists that she sit down so that he may show her “the inmost part” of herself. Frightened that Hamlet intends to attack her, Gertrude cries out and Polonius responds, calling for help from behind the arras. In an unusual moment of spontaneous action, Hamlet stabs the concealed figure, believing it to be Claudius. When he discovers that he has killed Polonius, he is unmoved, merely saying “Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell,” before turning once more to his mother.
Lines 45–105: Gertrude asks what she has done to deserve Hamlet’s anger. He shows her two pictures, one of his father and one of Claudius, “The counterfeit presentment of two brothers,” a visual symbol of the theme of identity. He urges her to look at the picture of his father, “Jove himself,” and to compare it with a picture of Claudius, who is “like a mildewed ear” of corn. He asks her how she could “step” from one to the other, showing his bitterness and disgust. Despite Gertrude’s attempts to stop him, he continues to accuse her, focusing particularly on the sexual aspect of her betrayal. Distressed, Gertrude claims that Hamlet has revealed her “very soul,” which has “such black and grained spots.” As she begs “No more!” the Ghost appears.
Lines 106–208: Hamlet fears that the Ghost has come to “chide” him for not taking revenge on Claudius, and the Ghost urges him to act, claiming that he is there “to whet” Hamlet’s “almost blunted purpose.” As they talk, it becomes clear that Gertrude cannot see the Ghost. Hamlet urges her to “look” as the Ghost leaves them, but Gertrude takes this as a sign of his insanity. Hamlet insists that he is “But mad in craft” and urges his mother to repent of her sins and avoid any further relationship with Claudius. He asks her to keep his feigned madness a secret and she agrees. He leaves, dragging Polonius’ body with him.
Lines 209–249: Gertrude tells Claudius that Hamlet is “Mad as the seas and wind” in a storm, although it is uncertain whether she is lying to Claudius or still believes this to be true. She reports how Hamlet killed Polonius, and Claudius uses this as his excuse to send Hamlet to England. Sustaining his performance of grief at his nephew’s behavior, he orders Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find Hamlet and take Polonius’ body to the chapel.
ACT 4 SCENE 1
Hamlet enters, commenting that Polonius is “safely stowed.” Rosencrantz and Guildenstern come to ask what he has done with the body and Hamlet accuses them of being “sponges” out of which Claudius may squeeze information. He agrees to see the king, but leaves, running, with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern following.
ACT 4 SCENE 2
Claudius contemplates the danger he is in while Hamlet “goes loose,” but says that he cannot “put the strong law on him” because Hamlet is loved by Denmark’s people. He compares sending Hamlet away to ridding himself of a disease, reinforcing previous references to infection/decay. Rosencrantz arrives and reports that Hamlet will not reveal the whereabouts of the body, but that they have managed to get him to come to Claudius. Guildenstern brings Hamlet in and Claudius demands Polonius’ body. Hamlet gives a nonsensical, macabre response, but eventually tells them that they will “nose him” in the lobby, another image of decay that emphasizes the corporeal, rather than spiritual, aspect of death. Claudius sends someone to find the body and, pretending great sorrow, informs Hamlet that he must go to England immediately as a result of his actions. Hamlet apparently agrees and Claudius sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to hurry Hamlet on board the ship. When they have left, Claudius’ soliloquy reveals that he is sending letters to the English, instructing them to kill Hamlet.
ACT 4 SCENE 3
Fortinbras, marching across stage with his army, sends a messenger to tell Claudius that he is
Lines 45–105: Gertrude asks what she has done to deserve Hamlet’s anger. He shows her two pictures, one of his father and one of Claudius, “The counterfeit presentment of two brothers,” a visual symbol of the theme of identity. He urges her to look at the picture of his father, “Jove himself,” and to compare it with a picture of Claudius, who is “like a mildewed ear” of corn. He asks her how she could “step” from one to the other, showing his bitterness and disgust. Despite Gertrude’s attempts to stop him, he continues to accuse her, focusing particularly on the sexual aspect of her betrayal. Distressed, Gertrude claims that Hamlet has revealed her “very soul,” which has “such black and grained spots.” As she begs “No more!” the Ghost appears.
Lines 106–208: Hamlet fears that the Ghost has come to “chide” him for not taking revenge on Claudius, and the Ghost urges him to act, claiming that he is there “to whet” Hamlet’s “almost blunted purpose.” As they talk, it becomes clear that Gertrude cannot see the Ghost. Hamlet urges her to “look” as the Ghost leaves them, but Gertrude takes this as a sign of his insanity. Hamlet insists that he is “But mad in craft” and urges his mother to repent of her sins and avoid any further relationship with Claudius. He asks her to keep his feigned madness a secret and she agrees. He leaves, dragging Polonius’ body with him.
Lines 209–249: Gertrude tells Claudius that Hamlet is “Mad as the seas and wind” in a storm, although it is uncertain whether she is lying to Claudius or still believes this to be true. She reports how Hamlet killed Polonius, and Claudius uses this as his excuse to send Hamlet to England. Sustaining his performance of grief at his nephew’s behavior, he orders Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find Hamlet and take Polonius’ body to the chapel.
ACT 4 SCENE 1
Hamlet enters, commenting that Polonius is “safely stowed.” Rosencrantz and Guildenstern come to ask what he has done with the body and Hamlet accuses them of being “sponges” out of which Claudius may squeeze information. He agrees to see the king, but leaves, running, with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern following.
ACT 4 SCENE 2
Claudius contemplates the danger he is in while Hamlet “goes loose,” but says that he cannot “put the strong law on him” because Hamlet is loved by Denmark’s people. He compares sending Hamlet away to ridding himself of a disease, reinforcing previous references to infection/decay. Rosencrantz arrives and reports that Hamlet will not reveal the whereabouts of the body, but that they have managed to get him to come to Claudius. Guildenstern brings Hamlet in and Claudius demands Polonius’ body. Hamlet gives a nonsensical, macabre response, but eventually tells them that they will “nose him” in the lobby, another image of decay that emphasizes the corporeal, rather than spiritual, aspect of death. Claudius sends someone to find the body and, pretending great sorrow, informs Hamlet that he must go to England immediately as a result of his actions. Hamlet apparently agrees and Claudius sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to hurry Hamlet on board the ship. When they have left, Claudius’ soliloquy reveals that he is sending letters to the English, instructing them to kill Hamlet.
ACT 4 SCENE 3
Fortinbras, marching across stage with his army, sends a messenger to tell Claudius that he is
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