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Hamlet Act 4 Analysis

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Hamlet Act 4 Analysis
Act 4: The Queen goes and tells Claudius that Hamlet is truly mad and that he killed Polonius. Claudius tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to go find Hamlet and asks where he hid the body. Because Rosencrantz and Guildenstern betrayed Hamlet, he refuses to tell them where Polonius’body is. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern take Hamlet to see Claudius. Hamlet even refuses to tell Claudius where the body is, and Claudius tells Hamlet that he will be sending him to England for safety. Claudius sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to Hamlet to make sure he leaves for England that night. Hamlet, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern run into Fortinbras’ captain. The captain tells them that Fortinbras wishes to conquer a small portion of Poland. Meanwhile, Ophelia …show more content…
Laertes enters the palace demanding to see the King because he believes that it was Claudius who murdered Polonius. The queen assures Laertes that Claudius did not murder him. Claudius says it was Hamlet who murdered his father. A messenger comes to Horatio and hands him a letter from Hamlet. The latter states Hamlet will return due to a pirate encounter, but Rosencrantz and Guildenstern continued to England. After receiving a letter about Hamlet returning to Denmark, Claudius decides to take advantage of Laertes’ rage. Claudius gives Laertes permission to go ahead and carry his revenge against Hamlet. Claudius wants to make sure that Hamlet dies, so he plans to have the two do a fencing match. Laertes will poison the tip of his sword and Claudius will prepare a drink of poison if the poisoned sword does not work. The queen enters with news of Ophelia's …show more content…
The two of them find it quite odd that she is given a Christian burial if she drowned herself. Hamlet and Horatio are in a churchyard and find skulls, Hamlet talks about what it means to leave behind a legacy. The Queen, King, and Laertes enter the graveyard for the procession of Ophelia. Laertes jumps into the grave to grieve over his sister and even holds her dead body in his arms. Hamlet makes a statement about how Laertes is feeling, then Hamlet jumps into the grave and the two fight. Laertes and Hamlet are separated then Hamlet claims that he truly did love Ophelia. Claudius tells Laertes that he must be patient. Back at the palace, Hamlet reveals to Horatio that he found out the reason why he was being sent to England, the reason is Claudius wants him dead. However, Hamlet sent Rosencrantz and Guildenstern there in his place. Osric finds Hamlet and tells him that Laertes wishes to have a sword match with him. A lord enters and confirms if Hamlet will have the sword play with Laertes and Hamlet does confirm he will. Horatio tells Hamlet that he will lose the match, but Hamlet reassures him by saying he has had more practice than Laertes. Before the sword play, Hamlet apologizes to Laertes. Laertes tells him that he does accept his apology but has to carry out his revenge for his family. The Queen wants to toast to Hamlet and unknowingly takes the poisoned drink and
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