Shakespeare’s Act Four: Where problems spiral out of control and grow
wildly more complex and difficult to overcome
HAMLET ACT 4
Act Four
 As a reminder, Act Three is the turning point
of the play, whereas Act Four is where the
characters’ fates are bound to their
unavoidable outcomes.
 As we look at the scenes in this act, ask
yourself: In what way do each of the
characters solidify their place in destiny?
Today’s Objectives
 Analyze Shakespeare’s use of
AMBIGUITY and puns and humor
(SPONGES & WORMS).
4.1 Analysis

QUEEN GERTRUDE
Ah, my good lord, what have I seen to-night!
KING CLAUDIUS
What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet?
QUEEN GERTRUDE
Mad as the sea and wind, when both contend
Which is the mightier: in his lawless fit,
Behind the arras hearing something stir,
Whips out his rapier, cries, 'A rat, a rat!'
And, in this brainish apprehension, kills
The unseen good old man.
KING CLAUDIUS
O heavy deed!
It had been so with us, had we been there:
His liberty is full of threats to all;
To you yourself, to us, to every one.
Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answer'd?
It will be laid to us, whose providence
Should have kept short, restrain'd and out of haunt,
This mad young man: but so much was our love,
We would not understand what was most fit;
But, like the owner of a foul disease,
To keep it from divulging, let it feed
Even on the pith of Life. Where is he gone?
Note:
As a reminder, the acts and
scenes follow each other without
interruption; with that in mind,
realize that mere moments after
Hamlet drags Polonius' body off
the stage, Claudius and his
entourage walk on.
Question: Is Queen Gertrude more
concerned about Hamlet’s wellbeing or her own in this exchange?
What leads you to this conclusion?
Sentence Frame:
When Claudius hears what Hamlet
has done, he warns “_________.”
His statement implies _________.
4.1 Analysis

Let’s pause for a moment of deeper analysis:

These actions make Gertrude more ambiguous (Shakespeare intentionally
builds in ambiguity to keep the audience’s attention).

Is she protecting her son by saying that he has gone completely mad in
killing Polonius and is therefore, not responsible for his actions, or does
she realize Claudius’ guilt regarding the death of King Hamlet and is
protecting herself?

If she were truly wishing to protect her son, she would ask the King not to
exile him with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as keepers.

Claudius is concerned about his rule being undermined and it is interesting
to note this quotation ‘His (Hamlet’s) liberty is full of threats to all’. This
statement clearly ties Gertrude to him. If he falls, so will she. However, he
still cannot have Hamlet harmed in Denmark, and exile is the only
alternative. At least now he has an excuse to punish Hamlet in that he has
murdered Polonius.
4.2 Analysis
Puns, Puns, and more Puns

HAMLET
That I can keep your counsel and not mine own.
Besides, to be demanded of a sponge! what
replication should be made by the son of a king?
ROSENCRANTZ
Take you me for a sponge, my lord?
HAMLET
Ay, sir, that soaks up the king's countenance, his
rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the 
king best service in the end: he keeps them, like
an ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to
be last swallowed: when he needs what you have
gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge,
you shall be dry again.
ROSENCRANTZ
I understand you not, my lord.
HAMLET
I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a
foolish ear.
In one of the more humorous scenes in
the play, Hamlet is once again spied on
by his old childhood friends. Here we
see that all past loyalties are over and
Hamlet has nothing but contempt for
his old companions.
Hamlet insults Rosencrantz by calling
him a _________, which means
_____________. It is significant
because __________.
4.3 Analysis: Worms for Everyone
KING CLAUDIUS
Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius?
HAMLET
At supper.
KING CLAUDIUS
At supper! where?
HAMLET
Not where he eats, but where he is eaten: a certain
convocation of politic worms are e'en at him. Your
worm is your only emperor for diet: we fat all
creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for
maggots: your fat king and your lean beggar is but
variable service, two dishes, but to one table:
that's the end.
KING CLAUDIUS
Alas, alas!
HAMLET
A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a
king, and cat of the fish that hath fed of that
worm.
KING CLAUDIUS
What dost you mean by this?
HAMLET
Nothing but to show you how a king may go a
progress through the guts of a beggar.
KING CLAUDIUS
Where is Polonius?
HAMLET
In heaven; send hither to see: if your messenger
find him not there, seek him i' the other place
yourself. But indeed, if you find him not within
this month, you shall nose him as you go up the
stairs into the lobby.
4.3 Analysis: Worms for Everyone
 The humorous banter between Hamlet and his rivals is carried over from
the previous scene when he takes on the king.
 In a sense, we can see that Hamlet is on a complete high from the course of
the past two hours! He has…
 Successfully trapped the king
 Exposed the king’s deeds
 Murdered one of the king’s most trusted allies
 And turned his mother’s love for Claudius around
 Aside from the obvious humor, what truths about life does Hamlet make in
this scene? Why do you think Shakespeare included this scene?
 Hamlet’s banter with King Claudius reveals several truths about life,
including ______________ and _______________. Shakespeare likely
included this scene in order to _____________________.
4.3 Analysis: Worms for Everyone
 Here’s a brief summation of Hamlet’s pun-laden point:
 A fisherman may fish with a worm that has feasted on the
body of a king, which is then eaten by a fish, which the
fisherman eats. Therefore, the fisherman has in fact eaten
a king, and so the king passes through the stomach of a
fisherman/beggar.
 Only the worm reigns supreme!
 The worm, the king, and the beggar are all equal, and they
will all die, and, yes, Hamlet is in fact saying that the King is
a worm.
Today’s Objectives
 Analyze Shakespeare’s insults (Are
you my mommy?), pointless battles
(Waterloo anyone?), and insanity
(Um, Ophelia? Those aren’t really
flowers, honey).
4.3 Analysis: For England and other Insults

KING CLAUDIUS
Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety,-Which we do tender, as we dearly grieve
For that which thou hast done,--must send thee hence
With fiery quickness: therefore prepare thyself;
The bark is ready, and the wind at help,
The associates tend, and every thing is bent
For England.
HAMLET For England!
KING CLAUDIUS Ay, Hamlet.
HAMLET Good.
KING CLAUDIUS So is it, if thou knew'st our purposes.
HAMLET I see a cherub that sees them. But, come; for
England! Farewell, dear mother.
KING CLAUDIUS Thy loving father, Hamlet.
HAMLET My mother: father and mother is man and wife; man
and wife is one flesh; and so, my mother. Come, for England!
 Again, imagine the gall that Hamlet has in this scene.
 Questions: What does Claudius say to Hamlet and how does Hamlet respond?
What sort of insult does Hamlet pay Claudius?
4.3 Analysis: For England and other Insults
 Hamlet gives a passing insult to Claudius, saying ‘farewell
mother’ because a man and wife are of one flesh, and therefore
Claudius is indeed Hamlet’s mother. Claudius merely wishes to be
rid of Hamlet and urges Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to hurry
him to England.
 The audience is in no doubt now that Claudius is the total villain,
but the audience may be wondering at this point if Hamlet has
gone from playing mad to actually going mad.