Hamlet Act IV notes… just a quick recap.
IV.i
Act IV opens after the killing of Polonius…this is partly why the scenes are shorter, as the action is speeding up…we are in the thick of it now!
The Queen relates the death of Polonius to Claudius
IV.ii
R+G seek out the body…the search is on.
Hamlet also gives out that he knows what R+G are up to (around line 15 +) and calls them sponges…nice.
IV.iii
The search for Polonius’ body continues. This is where we have some great burns, as Hamlet basically ends up telling the King (in a sneaky and funny way) to go to hell (35+).
The King puts his original plot in action to send Hamlet to England (48+)…with one tiny change: his plot is now to be rid of Hamlet for good! He sends along some pleasant letters requesting that the King of England do him a favor and knock of Hamlet (70-end). Yikes!
IV.iv
A peculiar scene that seems to stick out in the midst of all this action…Fortinbras and his army are marching through Denmark and have permission to do so. They go to Polan to fight for a ‘scrap of land’ that is worthless(18+). It seems they are only fighting for honor.
The effect on Hamlet is that he sees Fortinbras and his men as being heroic (48+), as they are willing to give up their lives so freely for honor. This is a huge contrast to his own hesitation to act on his feelings and the growing evidence against Claudius.
Now, Hamlet is for revenge, or nothing:
“O, from this time forth/ My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth!” (IV.iv.67-68).
IV.v
This scene opens with a discussion about Ophelia’s madness…
The King claims that her father’s death is what has caused it (75ish)
Laertes, in secret, has come from France (87) = trouble, and he isn’t happy! In a bold move he overcomes the guards (103-104)
The common people seem to be on Laertes’ side – they call him ‘Lord’ (105) and are calling for him to be crowned king (106-109). This is a drastic move, as it would be considered treasonous to speak so against the current king. Revolution seems to be in the air, which usually includes bloodshed.
Laertes and his supporters go so far as to break in the doors to gain entrance to where the king is…this is truly a violent and dangerous move. The king is in terrible danger of loosing his crown (and perhaps his head!) (111-113), but Laertes dismisses his followers in order to deal with things on his own (113-117)
Claudius, in a brilliant move, begins to recruit Laertes to help acheive his own ends… and claims he is innocent of killing Polonius (157+)
Ophelia enters, which doubles Laertes’ suffering, as he discovers she is insane (165+)
IV.vi
The King, continuing his fancy footwork, gives two reasons for not acting against Hamlet (10+). These being, the Queen loves her son too much and couldn’t live without him (12+), and that the common people are on Hamlet’s side and love him (20+). To act against Hamlet would cause the Queen trouble and would endanger his throne.
Letters from Hamlet arrive…pirates I suppose (see the post entitled “Hamlet and Pirates” for further discussion on this)
The King’s plot= Pose and accidental death (68)
He enlists Laertes to help him (74ish) by puffing up his swordsmandship (110+) and saying Hamlet is envious of him and would love to duel him (112+)
136+ the King takes the temperature of Laertes’ anger…his response is telling (I have pasted my comments to Hurley’s post below to help explore Laertes’ comments…and their significance:)
One quote that really stood out in my head while reading your post was Laertes’ response to Claudius, who asked him how serious he was and what lengths he would go to in order to get revenge (IV.vii.136-138). Laertes’ response is chilling: “To cut his throat in the church” (IV.vii.139).
The weight of Laertes’ resolve is better understood when you know that churches were traditionally held as sacred ground and places of refuge. People could hide in the church to protect their lives, as blood was forbidden to be spilled there. Laertes’ statement that he is willing to spill blood on holy ground is a strong one. I can just hear the audience at the time gasping as he says this…yikes, this guy is serious! ( http://herot.learnerblogs.org/2006/01/24/hamlet-act-4/#comments
They decide to set up a duel (145) using an unbated sword, to which Laertes adds the idea of putting poison on it (155). The king also adds another layer to the plot by saying he will poison a cup of wine as well and get Hamlet to drink from it (171+). They must really see Hamlet as a big-time threat!
The scene ends with the news that Ophelia has drowned (179+). Another blow to Laertes…
