Hamlet Act 4 Summary Act 2 1 Character

Hamlet Act 4 Summary

Act 2. 1 Character List �Gertrude �Claudius

Scene 1 Details �Gertrude tells Claudius about her encounter with Hamlet; she says that Hamlet is crazy & has killed Polonius. �Claudius notes Hamlet could have killed him. �Claudius tells Gertrude that they must ship Hamlet to England & find a way to explain Hamlet’s actions to the court & people. �He calls Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, tells them about the murder, & sends them to find Hamlet.

Act 4. 2 Character List �Hamlet �Rosencrantz �Guildenstern

Scene 2 Details �Hamlet hides Polonius’ body �Rosencrantz and Guildenstern show up and ask Hamlet what he has done with the body. �Hamlet refuses to give them a straight answer.

Act 4. 3 Character List �Claudius �Hamlet �Rosencrantz �Guildenstern

Scene 3 Details �Hamlet is forced to reveal the location of Polonius’s body. �The king tells Hamlet that he must leave at once for England, & Hamlet enthusiastically agrees. � Claudius sends Rosencrantz & Guildenstern to make sure Hamlet boards the ship.

Scene 3 Details �Alone, Claudius hopes England will obey the sealed orders he has sent with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The orders call for Prince Hamlet to be put to death.

Act 4. 4 Character List �Fortinbras �Captain �Hamlet

Scene 4 Details �Prince Fortinbras is on his way to attack Poland, orders captain to ask for permission to travel through Denmark. �The captain encounters Hamlet; Hamlet asks about the basis of the conflict, and the man tells him that the armies will fight over “a little patch of land / That hath in it no profit but the name” (IV. iv. 98– 99).

Scene 4 Details �Hamlet marvels that human beings are able to act so violently and purposefully for so little gain. � Disgusted with himself for having failed to gain his revenge on Claudius, Hamlet declares that from this moment on, his thoughts will be bloody.

Act 4. 5 Character List �Gertrude �Ophelia �Claudius �Horatio �Messenger �Laertes

Scene 5 Details �Gertrude & Horatio discuss Ophelia who has gone crazy with grief. �Gertrude doesn’t want to see Ophelia, but agrees to. �Ophelia enters and sings strange songs. � Claudius says that Ophelia’s grief stems from her father’s death & Laertes leaving for France. �Laertes returns from France with a mob of commoners. �Laertes furiously storms into the hall wanting to avenge his father’s death.

Scene 5 Details �Claudius attempts to calm Laertes & Gertrude defends Claudius �Ophelia reenters & Laertes is enraged about his sister’s state. �Claudius says that Laertes’ desire for revenge is a credit to him, so long as he seeks revenge upon the proper person. �Claudius wants to tell Laertes his version of events & encourages Laertes revenge on Polonius’ killer: “Where th’ offence is, let the great axe fall” (IV. v. 213).

Act 4. 6 Character List �Horatio �Sailors

Scene 6 Details �Sailors deliver a letter to Horatio from Hamlet. �Hamlet says that his ship was captured by pirates, who have returned him to Denmark & he has news about Rosencrantz & Guildenstern. �Horatio takes the sailors to the king to deliver a message & then follows them to find Hamlet.

Act 4. 7 Character List �Claudius �Laertes �Gertrude

Scene 7 Details �Claudius & Laertes are discussing Polonius’ death when a messenger gives them news of Hamlet’s return. �Claudius & Laertes plan how to kill Hamlet: poisoned tip sword or a poisoned cup of wine as backup �Gertrude announces that Ophelia has committed suicide by drowning �Laertes is overcome with grief & leaves; Claudius tells Gertrude that he is afraid Laertes’ rage will be reawakened with this news & difficult to control.