HamletHamlet by by

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Act IVAct IV

Hamlet Act IVHamlet Act IV

Scene IScene I Act IV, Scene IAct IV, Scene I

The Queen informs the King that Hamlet The Queen informs the King that Hamlet has killed Polonius in a fit of madnesshas killed Polonius in a fit of madness

He orders Rozencrantz and Guildenstern He orders Rozencrantz and Guildenstern to find the body. to find the body.

Claudius, happy he now has a reason to Claudius, happy he now has a reason to send Hamlet away, tells Gertrude that send Hamlet away, tells Gertrude that they will report Hamlet's crime to his they will report Hamlet's crime to his council. council.

Hamlet Act IVHamlet Act IV Scene IIScene II Scene II opens in another room in the Scene II opens in another room in the

castle, where Rosencrantz and Guildenstern castle, where Rosencrantz and Guildenstern find Hamlet alone. find Hamlet alone.

They confront him, asking "[w]hat have you They confront him, asking "[w]hat have you done my lord, with the dead body? (IV.ii.5). done my lord, with the dead body? (IV.ii.5).

Hamlet, scornfully contemptuous of the two Hamlet, scornfully contemptuous of the two courtiers, calls Rosencrantz a "sponge,” and courtiers, calls Rosencrantz a "sponge,” and is outraged that they dare demand an is outraged that they dare demand an answer from him: "what replication should answer from him: "what replication should be made by the son of a king?" (IV.ii.12-13). be made by the son of a king?" (IV.ii.12-13).

Hamlet – Act IV Scene IIHamlet – Act IV Scene II

They persist and order him to They persist and order him to accompany them back to the King. accompany them back to the King. Hamlet replies: "The body is with the Hamlet replies: "The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body" king, but the king is not with the body" (IV.ii.27-28). (IV.ii.27-28).

Although this makes perfect sense -- Although this makes perfect sense -- Polonius is with the King, Hamlet's Polonius is with the King, Hamlet's father, but Claudius remains alive -- the father, but Claudius remains alive -- the courtiers believe him to be incoherent. . courtiers believe him to be incoherent. .

Hamlet - Act IV Scene IIHamlet - Act IV Scene II

Hamlet agrees to see the King and Hamlet agrees to see the King and runs off stage. He yells out to begin a runs off stage. He yells out to begin a game of hide-and-seek: "hide fox, game of hide-and-seek: "hide fox, and all after" (IV.iii.30-31). The fox is and all after" (IV.iii.30-31). The fox is Polonius, for whom everyone is Polonius, for whom everyone is searching. searching.

Hamlet Act IV Scene IIIHamlet Act IV Scene III

Act IV, Scene IIIAct IV, Scene III In a meeting room in the castle, Claudius In a meeting room in the castle, Claudius sits with his lords, and reports to them that sits with his lords, and reports to them that Hamlet has killed his Lord Chamberlain. Hamlet has killed his Lord Chamberlain.

He tells them that the Prince must be He tells them that the Prince must be exiled to England, but the public, who love exiled to England, but the public, who love Hamlet, must not know the true reason Hamlet, must not know the true reason why he is leaving.why he is leaving.

Rosencrantz brings the guarded Hamlet Rosencrantz brings the guarded Hamlet before the King: before the King:

Hamlet – Act IV Scene IIIHamlet – Act IV Scene III

KingKing: Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius?: Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius? HamletHamlet: At supper.: At supper. KingKing: At supper, where?: At supper, where? HamletHamlet: Not where he eats, but where he : Not where he eats, but where he

is eaten: a certain convocation of politic is eaten: a certain convocation of politic worms are e'en at him. Your worm is your worms are e'en at him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet: we fat all creatures only emperor for diet: we fat all creatures else fat to us, and we fat ourselves for else fat to us, and we fat ourselves for maggots: your fat king and your lean maggots: your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service, two dishes, beggar is but variable service, two dishes, but to one table: that's the end. (IV.iii.17-but to one table: that's the end. (IV.iii.17-25)25)

Hamlet – Act IV Scene IIIHamlet – Act IV Scene III

Hamlet finally tells Claudius that the Hamlet finally tells Claudius that the body is on the stairs that lead into the body is on the stairs that lead into the lobby. lobby.

The King informs Hamlet that he must The King informs Hamlet that he must leave for England, for his own safety. leave for England, for his own safety.

Hamlet slyly replies that he knows the Hamlet slyly replies that he knows the King's real purpose for sending him King's real purpose for sending him away, but he nonetheless gladly obliges away, but he nonetheless gladly obliges and bids farewell to his mother. . and bids farewell to his mother. .

Hamlet – Act IV Scene Hamlet – Act IV Scene

When Hamlet exits the room, the King When Hamlet exits the room, the King demands that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern demands that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern follow the Prince closely, and they rush off.follow the Prince closely, and they rush off.

Claudius is now alone to reveal his sinister Claudius is now alone to reveal his sinister plan: he will send letters to England, a plan: he will send letters to England, a country "raw and red/After the Danish country "raw and red/After the Danish sword" (IV.iii.60-61), threatening war unless sword" (IV.iii.60-61), threatening war unless they assassinate Hamlet when he lands on they assassinate Hamlet when he lands on British soil. British soil.

Hamlet – Act IV Scene IVHamlet – Act IV Scene IV

On his way to England, Hamlet meets On his way to England, Hamlet meets a captain in the army led by a captain in the army led by Fortinbras, the Prince of Norway. Fortinbras, the Prince of Norway.

Hamlet asks the Captain where they Hamlet asks the Captain where they are going and who commands the are going and who commands the troopstroops

The Captain tells him that Fortinbras The Captain tells him that Fortinbras is leading his men to capture a "little is leading his men to capture a "little patch of ground/That hath in it no patch of ground/That hath in it no profit but the name" (IV.iv.18-19). profit but the name" (IV.iv.18-19).

Hamlet – Act IV Scene IVHamlet – Act IV Scene IV

Hamlet is impressed by the idea of so many Hamlet is impressed by the idea of so many soldiers preparing to die for an soldiers preparing to die for an inconsequential piece of land, and he inconsequential piece of land, and he admires their resolve. admires their resolve.

He longs to be more like Fortinbras and his He longs to be more like Fortinbras and his men -- they do not lament and waste time men -- they do not lament and waste time pondering when honor is at stake, they act.pondering when honor is at stake, they act.

Hamlet vows that, if he must still think at Hamlet vows that, if he must still think at all, he will think only bloody thoughts. all, he will think only bloody thoughts.

Hamlet – Act IV Scene VHamlet – Act IV Scene V

Scene V opens back at the castle in Scene V opens back at the castle in Elsinore, where Hamlet has been Elsinore, where Hamlet has been gone a few days. gone a few days.

The Queen, Horatio, and a gentleman The Queen, Horatio, and a gentleman are discussing poor, tormented are discussing poor, tormented Ophelia, who has shattered under Ophelia, who has shattered under the strain of her father's death and the strain of her father's death and Hamlet's cruelty and has gone Hamlet's cruelty and has gone completely insane. completely insane.

Hamlet – Act IV Scene VHamlet – Act IV Scene V

Ophelia enters the room and begins to Ophelia enters the room and begins to sing a song about a dead lover and sing a song about a dead lover and another about Saint Valentine's day. another about Saint Valentine's day.

The King has arrived and speaks gently The King has arrived and speaks gently to Ophelia. She leaves, mumbling good to Ophelia. She leaves, mumbling good night to the court, and the King asks night to the court, and the King asks Horatio to follow her. Horatio to follow her.

Hamlet – Act IV Scene VHamlet – Act IV Scene V

A messenger enters and reports to A messenger enters and reports to Claudius that he save himself, for Claudius that he save himself, for Laertes has heard of Polonius' death Laertes has heard of Polonius' death and holds the King responsible. and holds the King responsible.

He has raised a rebellion, and his He has raised a rebellion, and his men are crying "Choose we; Laertes men are crying "Choose we; Laertes shall be king!" (IV.v.104). shall be king!" (IV.v.104).

Hamlet – Act IV Scene VHamlet – Act IV Scene V

Suddenly, the doors burst open and Suddenly, the doors burst open and Laertes rushes into the castle. Laertes rushes into the castle.

He holds his Danish rebels at bay He holds his Danish rebels at bay and speaks to Claudius alone: "O and speaks to Claudius alone: "O thou vile king/Give me my father!" thou vile king/Give me my father!" (IV.i.112-13). But Claudius knows (IV.i.112-13). But Claudius knows how to control the young and how to control the young and impetuous Laertes, and soon directs impetuous Laertes, and soon directs Laertes' rage towards Hamlet.Laertes' rage towards Hamlet.

Hamlet- Act IV Scene VHamlet- Act IV Scene V

From outside the meeting room Laertes From outside the meeting room Laertes hears footsteps. hears footsteps.

It is his sister, Ophelia, and he greets her It is his sister, Ophelia, and he greets her with a outpouring of grief, vowing that with a outpouring of grief, vowing that her "madness shall be paid with weight.”her "madness shall be paid with weight.”

Ophelia replies with a nonsensical song Ophelia replies with a nonsensical song and gives her brother some violets.and gives her brother some violets.

Hamlet – Act IV Scene VHamlet – Act IV Scene V

Laertes, overcome with sorrow, cries Laertes, overcome with sorrow, cries "Do you see this, O God?.”"Do you see this, O God?.”

The King offers his condolences once The King offers his condolences once more and then suggests to Laertes more and then suggests to Laertes that he focus on sweet revenge. that he focus on sweet revenge.

They move to another room to They move to another room to discuss a course of action, and the discuss a course of action, and the scene comes to a close. scene comes to a close.

Hamlet – Act IV Scene VIHamlet – Act IV Scene VI

A sailor brings Horatio a letter from A sailor brings Horatio a letter from Hamlet. He writes of his capture by pirates Hamlet. He writes of his capture by pirates on his way to England. on his way to England.

These "thieves of mercy" have released These "thieves of mercy" have released the Prince, on the condition that he will the Prince, on the condition that he will repay them when he returns to Denmark. repay them when he returns to Denmark.

Hamlet finishes the letter by asking Hamlet finishes the letter by asking Horatio to come to him at once, and to Horatio to come to him at once, and to ensure that the King receive letters ensure that the King receive letters intended only for him. intended only for him.

Hamlet - Act IV Scene VIHamlet - Act IV Scene VI

Finally, Hamlet writes that Finally, Hamlet writes that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have continued their course for England. continued their course for England.

Horatio grants the sailor permission Horatio grants the sailor permission to take the letters to the King, to take the letters to the King, imploring him to return swiftly, so imploring him to return swiftly, so that they can meet with Hamlet at that they can meet with Hamlet at once. once.

Hamlet – Act IV Scene VIIHamlet – Act IV Scene VII

The King and Laertes meet to discuss The King and Laertes meet to discuss Hamlet.Hamlet.

The King tells Laertes that he cannot The King tells Laertes that he cannot harm the Prince directly, out of respect harm the Prince directly, out of respect and concern for his beautiful Queen, and concern for his beautiful Queen, who loves Hamlet above all else.who loves Hamlet above all else.

Moreover, Claudius cannot enrage the Moreover, Claudius cannot enrage the people of Denmark, who adore the people of Denmark, who adore the Prince and would surely rise up in Prince and would surely rise up in protest.protest.

Hamlet – Act IV Scene VIIHamlet – Act IV Scene VII

So the King proposes that they arrange a So the King proposes that they arrange a fencing match between Laertes and Hamlet, fencing match between Laertes and Hamlet, and that Hamlet, thinking it is for sport, will and that Hamlet, thinking it is for sport, will use a blunt sword, while Laertes will use his use a blunt sword, while Laertes will use his own military sword. own military sword.

To ensure Hamlet's death, Laertes will To ensure Hamlet's death, Laertes will anoint the tip with a poison "So mortal, that anoint the tip with a poison "So mortal, that but dip a knife in it/Where it draws blood, no but dip a knife in it/Where it draws blood, no cataplasm so rare/ ... can save the thing cataplasm so rare/ ... can save the thing from death/That is but scratch'd withal". from death/That is but scratch'd withal". (IV.vii.142-45). (IV.vii.142-45).

Hamlet – Act IV Scene VIIHamlet – Act IV Scene VII

The King then suggests that a goblet full of The King then suggests that a goblet full of poisoned wine be set out for Hamlet to drink poisoned wine be set out for Hamlet to drink in case he becomes thirsty during the match. in case he becomes thirsty during the match.

Suddenly, they hear noise outside the door. Suddenly, they hear noise outside the door. The Queen enters with the news that The Queen enters with the news that Ophelia has fallen off a willow tree branch Ophelia has fallen off a willow tree branch and drowned. and drowned.

Laertes tries to fight his emotion, but storms Laertes tries to fight his emotion, but storms out of the room. out of the room.

The King, worried that Laertes will act in The King, worried that Laertes will act in haste and ruin the plan, rushes to follow him. haste and ruin the plan, rushes to follow him.