Hmlaet Act 4- Analysis

Hamlet

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  • Created by: lauren
  • Created on: 06-06-09 14:45

Act 4 Hamlet- Scene 1,2 and 3 and 4

  • Act 4 Scene 1
  • Gertrude informs Caladious of Polonius' murder "Kills the unseen good old man".
  • She says Hamlet is "mad as the sea and wind when both contend", they decide to "ship him hence".
  • Scene 2/3
  • "The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body, the king is a thing".
  • Claudious explains he cannot put Hamlet throught the law as he is publicly liked to much, he is playing the politician. "Yet we must not put the strong law on him".
  • Hamlet taunts Claudious, and eventually tells him where the body is. "Politic worms are eaten at him". "He will stay till you come". Hamlet is beginning to control the situations over Claudious.
  • Claudious sends R and G to folow Hamlet onto the boat that will ship him to England. "Follow him on foot".
  • Claudious, in his soliloquy reveals his plans to kill Hamlet. "death of Hamlet, Do it England".
  • Scene 4
  • Hamlet meets Frotinbras, who is marching his army across Denmark, he asks the captain what they are doing. The captain tells Hamlet that the Poles and the Norwegians are fighting over a small piece of worthless land. Hamlet is disgusted.
  • Ophelias madness is shown for the first time. She sings a song about love and death. The song makes references to both Hamlet "With true love showers" and about Polonius "Dead and gone lady". This could show that these two men in her life are the ones who have caused her madness. She confusidly sings about death and betrayel.
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Act 4 Scene 5 and 6 and 7

  • Claudious is nervous about Ophelia's appearance, this is the first time in the play when Ophelia has any control over anybody in the play. Usually she is ignored. "Give her good watch".
  • A messenger bursts in to tell Claudious that Laertus is on his way into the castle. "Laeurtes is in a righteous head". "The doors are broken" he says "Oh thou vile King, Give me my father". The King is vile, he has caused most of the problems in the play through his greed.
  • Claudious uses the situation to his advantage, he listens to Laertus "I am guiltless of your fathers death, and am most sensibly in grief for it".
  • Laertus sees Ophelia and dsicovers that she is mad. "Hadst thou thy wits and dist persuade revenge". This makes him more intent on revenge.
  • Hamlet sends a letter to Horatio explaining that he has escaped from the boat to England, having not been killed. Hamlet has pretened to be an ambassador, this shows he still has his wits about him, hes not amd?.
  • Scene 7
  • Claudious explains to Laertus that he has sent Hamlet of to England for him to be killed. He explains that he can not put the law on Hamlet.
  • A messenger gives Claudious a letter from Hamlet, explaining that he has escaped from the ship, and is "naked" and "alone".
  • Claudious and Laertus hatch a plan to kill Hamlet. They decide to add posion to the endge of a foil. "Ill touch my point, it may be death". Claudious has LAertus in the plam of his hand.
  • Claudious desperatly wnat Hamlet dead, so they make another plan. "And that he calls for a drink".
  • Gertrude explains Ophelias death "Your sisters drowned". Laertus says his sister has had to much water so he will not cry.
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Act 5 Scene 1 and 2

  • Two gravediggers discuss the death of Ophelia. One says she should not get a Christian burieal as she has commited suicide, the other says she may not have. "But if the water come to him and drown him".
  • It is a comic scene, and adds light relief to the play.
  • When the digger goes to fetch wine, the other is approached by Hamlet and Horatio.
  • Hamlet discusses death, he talks about different roles of people and the fact that they would all die. This could be Hamlet reasoning with himself over Polonius and Claudious death?
  • Hamlet asks who the grave is for, the quickwitted digger says "One that was a woman sir, but rest her soal shes dead".
  • Ophelias funeral procession comes along, Gertrude explains she wishes Hamlet had married Ophelia, this is not what Polonius thought.
  • Laertus actions over his greif, spur Hamlet on and makes him angry. When Laertus realises its Hamlet "The Devil take thy soal".
  • Leartus and Hamlet start to fight. Hamlet warns him "In me somthing dangerous".
  • Hamlet says that he loves Ophelia, he's not consistent in his love, this links with Hamlet saying not to trust men "We are arranty knaves".
  • Scene 2
  • Hamlet explains to Horatio how he escaped from the ship, pretending he was the ambassador. He describes how he has sent R and G to there deaths. Hamlet is taking control of most people in the play now.
  • Hamlet scruples about killing Claudious have now gone, Hamlet now just thinks that it is a matter of when. "The interums mine."
  • Hamlet regrets the way he treated Laertus at the garve, he realises that he to has lost a father.
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Act 5 scene 2 continued

  • Osric tells Hamlet the king has set up a sword fight between Laertus and Hamlet. Hamlet accepts the challenge "Since he went to France I have been in continued practice". This contrast to what he has said before in a soliloquy about not having done any exercise.
  • It could be revenge that has spurred him on to train again.
  • Hamlet apologizes to Laertus, he accepts the apology, but it cant be real becasue he is still planning on killing Hamlet.
  • Claudious gives Hamlet a pearl if he scores the first or second point, this is becasue the pearl will be in the wine Hamlet will drink which is poisoned.
  • Gertrude drinks to Hamlet, she drinks the poisoned wine. "It is the poisoned cup, it is too late". Gertrude dies, Hamlet says "Treachery seek it out!". The Kings plan is falling apart.
  • Hamlet is scrathed by the foil, Laertus also, Laertus reveals "In thee there is not half an hour of life". "The Kings to blame". Hamlet and Laertus forgive each other.
  • Hamlet atkes action, killing Claudious and making him drink from the poisoned cup.
  • Fortinbras army comes, Hamlet nominates him to be the king,. "On Frotinbras he has my dying voice".
  • Hamlets last words- "The rest is silence".
  • R and G have been killed- a messenger tells of this. Hamlet is given a soldiers funeral.
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Act 4 Key Quotes

  • "Kills the unseen good old man".
  • "Is mad as the sea and wind when both contend". "To ship him hence".
  • "The body is with the King, but the King is not with the body. The Kings the thing".
  • "Yet we must not put the strong law on him".
  • "Politic worms are eaten at him" "he will stay till you come".
  • "Follow him on foot".
  • "Death of Hamlet, do it England".
  • "He is dead and gone lady" "With true love showers".
  • "Give her good watch".
  • "Laertus is a righteous head" "O thou vile king, give me my father".
  • "I am guiltless of your fathers death".
  • "Hadst thou thy wits and dist persuade revenge".
  • "Ill touch my point, it may be death". "And that he calls for a drink".
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Act 5 Key Quotes

  • "But if the water come to him and drown him".
  • "one that was a woman sir, but rest her soal shes dead".
  • "The Devil takes thy soal".
  • "In me somthing dangerous".
  • "The interims mine".
  • "Since he went into France, I have been in continued practice".
  • "It is the poisoned cup, it is too late".
  • "Treachery seek it out".
  • "In thee there is not half an hour of life". "The Kings to blame".
  • "On Frotinbras he has my dying voice".
  • "The rest is silence".
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