Act IV
Scene 1
Frantic after her confrontation with Hamlet, Gertrude tells Claudius about her encounter with Hamlet and says that he is as mad as the sea during a violent storm and also tells
Claudius that Hamlet has killed Polonius

Claudius thinks about how he will handle this crisis without damaging Denmark
(Claudius is selfish, concerned about his reputation)

He tells Gertrude they must send Hamlet to England at once
Scene 2
 Hamlet just finished disposing of Polonius’ body

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern asks Hamlet what he has done with the body
 Hamlet doesn’t give them a straight answer and accuses them of being spies

Hamlet allows R & G to escort him to Claudius
Scene 3
 Hamlet reveals that Polonius’ body is under the stairs in the lobby

King tells Hamlet that he must leave for England immediately and Hamlet agrees

Claudius hopes that England will obey his orders and kill Hamlet when he arrives
Scene 4

Hamlet runs into Fortinbras in Denmark as Fortinbras makes his way to attack
Poland

Hamlet is amazed that human beings are able to act so violently and purposefully for little gain (Fortinbras doesn’t have good reason to attack Poland)

Hamlet is disgusted with himself for having failed to gain his revenge on
Claudius, now declares that his thoughts will be bloody
Scene 5

Gertrude and Horatio discuss Ophelia because Ophelia seems to have gone mad
 Ophelia’s grief stems from her father’s death

Laertes has secretly sailed back from France with a mob of commoners who call him Lord

A furious Laertes storms in to avenge his father’s death

Claudius attempts to soothe him

 Gertrude tells Laertes that Claudius is innocent in his father’s death

When Ophelia enters and is obviously insane, Laertes plunges into a rage again
 Claudius seconds Laertes’ desire to achieve justice in Polonius’ death
Scene 6

Sailors bring a letter from Hamlet telling the King that his ship was captured by pirates and that he has returned to Denmark
Scene 7
 Claudius and Laertes discuss Polonius’ death

Claudius explains why he didn’t punish Hamlet for the murder (because the commoners and the Queen love his so much and didn’t want to upset either of them)

Laertes is pleased to hear that Hamlet has returned to Denmark because this gives him an opportunity to avenge his father’s death
 Claudius agrees that Laertes deserves to avenge his father’s death because
Hamlet’s erratic behavior is now a threat to the King’s reign

Hamlet has been jealous of Laertes use of a sword, so he will be tempted into a duel with Laertes, which gives Laertes a chance to kill Hamlet

Laertes will use a sharpened sword instead of the traditional dull fencing sword, also he will poison the tip of it so a scratch will kill him

As a backup plan in case Hamlet wins the sword fight, the King will put poison in the celebratory wine

Ophelia mad with grief, has drowned in the river