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Horatio is overwhelmed by Hamlet’s warmth, but Hamlet insists that Horatio is a loyal companion, a level-headed man, and a morally good person. Hamlet tells Horatio that, because of all these things, he is entrusting him with a secret. Tonight, Hamlet reveals, the actors are going to perform a play. Hamlet has written a new scene which ...
- Gertrude
Hamlet ’s mother, Claudius ’s wife, and the Queen of...
- The Ghost
The ghost appears to Hamlet as his father, though alternate...
- Characters
Prince of Denmark, son of the late King Hamlet and Queen...
- Act 3, Scene 1
Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, and...
- Themes
Hamlet is part of a literary tradition called the revenge...
- Symbols
All Characters Hamlet Claudius Gertrude Polonius Ophelia The...
- Gertrude
Bidding Claudius and Gertrude “good night,” she leaves the hall. Claudius asks Horatio to follow Ophelia and keep an eye on her. After Horatio leaves, Claudius tells Gertrude that Ophelia has fallen victim to the “poison of deep grief” in the wake of her father’s death and Hamlet’s departure for England. Grief is seen as a “poison ...
Hamlet Commentary - Act IV. Act IV. Scene I. - A Room in the Castle. King Claudius: "My soul is full of discord and dismay." King Claudius speaks with his wife, Queen Gertrude. He learns of Polonius' murder which shocks him; it could easily have been him. Queen Gertrude lies for her son, saying that Hamlet is as mad as a tempestuous sea. King ...
May 31, 2020 · ‘O, my offence is rank’ is an important moment in Shakespeare’s Hamlet not just because it confirms Claudius’ guilt – something we have probably long suspected, despite Hamlet’s fears over the veracity of the Ghost’s account. It is important because Hamlet offers a picture of Claudius’ state of mind, as someone ‘sorry not sorry’, repentant yet unable to repent.
- Act IV Scene 5
- Act IV, Scene 6
- Act IV, Scene 7
- Analysis
Queen Gertrude, Horatio, and a Gentleman enter. On Horatio’s advice,Gertrude reluctantly agrees to speak with Ophelia, who has been requesting anaudience. The Gentleman informs the queen that Ophelia’s condition is pitiful;she frequently mentions her father, but her words are jumbled and nonsensical.Ophelia walks in singing a song, oblivious to the...
Some sailors approach Horatio, claiming to have a letter for him. Horatio issurprised to see that the letter is from Hamlet. Hamlet explains that his shipto England was attacked by pirates, who have now returned him to Denmark. Inhis letter, Hamlet tells Horatio that the sailors also have letters for theking. He instructs Horatio to oversee the del...
Claudius and Laertes enter, discussing Polonius’s death. Laertes now agreesthat Claudius is not at fault but wonders why he did not openly punish Hamlet.Claudius explains that he loves Gertrude and cannot bear to upset her bypunishing her only son. He also says that it would be risky to publicly accuseHamlet, since he is so well-loved by the people...
These scenes reveal Ophelia’s tragic fate: she has been driven mad by theloss of her father and eventually dies as a result of her madness. UnlikeHamlet, Ophelia’s mental breakdown is neither pretense nor ambiguous.Throughout the play, Ophelia is dominated by the male figures in her life:Hamlet, Polonius, and Laertes. Raised to be passive and obedi...
CLAUDIUS. Come, Gertrude, we’ll call up our wisest friends, And let them know both what we mean to do And what’s untimely done. So dreaded slander— Whose whisper o’er the world’s diameter, As level as the cannon to his blank, Transports the poisoned shot—may miss our name And hit the woundless air.
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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 ...
