Act 4, Scene 1 Summary

Gertrude informs Claudius that Hamlet has gone mad and has slain Polonius. Claudius is worried that they will be blamed for Polonius’ death because they let Hamlet stay in the castle in such a maddened state. Claudius takes stock of this and decides to immediately send Hamlet to England. Claudius asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find Hamlet and bring back Polonius’ dead body to the chapel. Claudius informs Gertrude that it is time to seek advice from their friends about how to inform everyone of Polonius’ death.

Act 4, Scene 1 Analysis

After hearing about Polonius’ death and Hamlet’s madness, Claudius wants to get rid of Hamlet immediately. However, Gertrude’s apparent love for her son holds him back. Claudius compares Hamlet to a disease that is spreading rapidly. Further, Claudius is aware that Hamlet is the only one who knows about his sins, and that he could pass this information to others as well.

Gertrude’s love and concern for Hamlet are unclear. Although she claims to care about his health, she does not hesitate to share the secret about Polonius’ murder. It is also unclear whether she is complicit in Claudius’ decision to murder King Hamlet.

Act 4, Scene 2 Summary

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ask Hamlet about Polonius’ body, but he taunts them and calls them names and does not give a direct answer. He calls them cronies of the king and then runs away bidding them to chase him.

Act 4, Scene 2 Analysis

Hamlet, at this point, is able to see through his friends’ and family’s ulterior motives. He is also not afraid to let them know of this.

Act 4, Scene 3 Summary

Claudius lets his advisors know that, since Hamlet is beloved in Denmark, he will not jail him and will only send him to England. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern bring in Hamlet. Claudius asks about the whereabouts of Polonius’ body, but Hamlet uses clever wordplay and does share any concrete information. Claudius asks his attendants to look for the body even as Hamlet evades answering questions directly. Claudius announces that Hamlet must be sent away to England for his own safety. Hamlet bids Claudius farewell by calling him his mother, since he believes that his mother and Claudius have united to become one.

In a succeeding monologue, Claudius reveals that he has asked the king of England to kill Hamlet on sight. The king of England owes him a favor, and he’s calling it in by asking for Hamlet’s death.

Act 4, Scene 3 Analysis

This is the final attempt by Claudius to get rid of Hamlet and legitimize his claim to the throne. However, he is prudent to not harm Hamlet in front of his subjects; instead, he summons the king of England, his ally, to do the deed. Many critics believe that Hamlet’s descent into madness begins soon after he kills Polonius.

Act 4, Scene 4 Summary

The scene begins with Fortinbras’ army marching through Elsinore. Fortinbras asks his captain to approach the king of Denmark and remind him of the pact to let him pass through Denmark as he marches toward Poland. The captain encounters Hamlet, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern and shares the reason for his army’s arrival at Elsinore. The captain adds that the piece of land they intend to capture is actually quite worthless. Hamlet ponders the waste of resources on pointless wars. However, his encounter with the captain and the army inspires him to take action, and he decides to actively pursue his goal of avenging his father’s death.

Act 4, Scene 4 Analysis

Hamlet is inspired by Fortinbras’ commitment to action and his command over the army. It leads him to ponder more about the need for action to achieve his goal. In weighing the willingness of the Norwegian soldiers to lay down their lives for a worthless piece of land against his own inability to act, he sees that he has been too hesitant.

Act 4, Scene 5 Summary

Gertrude, Horatio, and other court attendants are informed that Ophelia has become mad and wants to meet Gertrude. Although hesitant, Gertrude agrees to meet Ophelia. She thinks that Ophelia’s madness is a sign that something terrible is about to happen. Ophelia enters singing a love song about a dead man. She doesn’t respond to Gertrude’s enquiries. When Claudius asks Ophelia about her state of mind, she tells a tale about a baker and his daughter who turns into an owl. Claudius believes that her father’s death has driven her mad. Ophelia comments that she cannot stop thinking about her father’s body being laid on the “cold ground.” She promises to let her brother know and leaves the court as she continues to sing a tune. Gertrude entrusts Horatio with the duty to observe her closely, and Claudius concludes that Hamlet’s departure and her father’s demise have brought her to this state.

Following a loud noise, a messenger brings in the news that Laertes has taken up arms with the support of the masses, who demand that Claudius be dethroned. Laertes enters the court and vows to take revenge for his father’s unjust murder. He states that only a bastard would remain calm in the face of his parent’s death. Claudius attempts to calm Laertes down by telling him that he did not murder his father; he requests Laertes to treat Claudius as a friend. Laertes is further enraged on seeing Ophelia’s state and is passionately moved by her songs and grief. Claudius promises to stand by Laertes’ side and agrees to aid him in exacting revenge.

Act 4, Scene 5 Analysis

Gertrude’s reaction toward Ophelia’s madness is a testimony to the stigma and alienation imposed on those with mental health conditions. Ophelia’s songs highlight themes such as the unpredictability of the future, death, grief, and unrequited love. Laertes’ fury and action are in contrast with Hamlet’s slow introspection even when he knows that his uncle is responsible for his father’s death.

Claudius wants to claim the throne without having to do the dirty deed of killing Hamlet himself. He attempts to make a pawn out of the grieving Laertes.

Act 4, Scene 6 Summary

Horatio receives a letter from two sailors who have come with a missive from Hamlet. In it, Hamlet states that the ship on which he was being taken to England was attacked by pirates, who have now captured him. He requests that the sailors be allowed to take a message to the king which would lead to his release. He also mentions that he has a lot to tell Horatio, especially about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who are on their way to England.

Act 4, Scene 6 Analysis

This scene uses the deus ex machina technique, a plot device which uses divine intervention to change the course of a narrative. In this case, this intervention by pirates has led to a diversion from what would have been Hamlet’s death at the hands of the king of England.

Act 4, Scene 7 Summary

Claudius convinces Laertes that he did not kill Polonius. He tells Laertes that he hasn’t been able to ensure justice by persecuting Hamlet because both Getrude and the subjects of Denmark love him. Laertes promises that these reasons would not deter him from seeking revenge. Claudius reads Hamlet’s letter for him informing them about Hamlet’s arrival at Denmark sans any possessions. Laertes prepares himself to meet his father’s murderer. Claudius provokes him and suggests that he could engage the murderer in a fencing duel to seek revenge. Laertes responds positively to Claudius’ idea and says that he is ready to kill Hamlet in any setting.

Together, Claudius and Laertes hatch a plan where the subjects would talk highly of Laertes’ fencing skills making Hamlet want to invite Laertes to a duel. Laertes suggests that he would poison the tip of the rapier to kill Hamlet. Additionally, Claudius suggests that they should poison the refreshment to ensure Hamlet’s death irrespective of the duel’s outcome. Gertrude enters with news of Ophelia’s drowning. Laertes leaves to grieve his sister’s death and promises that he would be ready to seek revenge shortly.

Act 4, Scene 7 Analysis

Claudius’ hypocrisy can be compared to the authenticity displayed by Laertes in this scene. Hamlet’s letter to Claudius is indicative of a new scheme he might have up his sleeve. Claudius sees another opportunity to use Laertes as a pawn to fulfill his scheme of killing Hamlet.

Laertes’ comment that he would not hesitate to kill Hamlet even in a church stands in contrast to Hamlet’s decision to let Claudius live while the latter had been praying. This further highlights Hamlet’s inaction in contrast to Laertes’ decisiveness. Ophelia’s drowning, too, stands out when contrasted with Hamlet’s ponderings about suicide.