Reflections on 'Hamlet' Act 4

At the start of this act, the Queens report to the King that Hamlet has killed Polonius, and that he will "draw apart" the body, which is very, very grim. She does however, try and defend her son against the King's actions. saying that it was Hamlet's "madness" that caused him to kill Polonius, and that it was not out of spit or vengeance. This implies that something really is wrong with Hamlet, but weather there really is or not is still a mystery - the Queen could simply be saying this as she wants to protect her son from the King's ways. However, this causes the Queen to have a nasty dilemma - Does try and defend her son because she loves him, or does she have to be loyal to the King and let him do what he wishes to her son?

In scene 2, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have come to take Hamlet to the King, but this simple task is no way of avoiding Hamlet's puzzling nature. He knows that they have been ordered by the King to do so, so he says that Rozencrantz is nothing more than a "sponge" that does exactly what the King tells him to do and "soaks up the King's countenance, his rewards, his authorities". He is saying that the King will only use them when needed, and when he is done with them, he will be "squeezing" them and eventually, they will be "dry again" meaning useless. Weather Hamlet is actually mad or not, he is certainly puzzling.

Hamlet then proceeds to paint a grim, horrifying picture to the King in scene 3: He tells him that the body of Polonius is "at supper" for a "convocation of politic worms". The King soon decides that he has had enough of Hamlet's behavior and that he must be sent away "with fiery quickness". With Hamlet now gone, for what at the moment seems for good, The devises a plan to have Hamlet killed as soon as he arrives in England ("cicatrice looks raw and red after the Danish sword...The present death of Hamlet"). With this in mind, the King feels that now he can relax and essential get back to reality, away from all of Hamlet's episodes ("Everything is sealed and done"). Or so he thinks...

At the very start of scene 4, we learn that the King is very soon going to have to deal with another problem - Fortinbras, who, along with many others that he has assembled, will "march over his Kingdom". This is revenge for a much minor incident that took place towards the start of the play. Nevertheless, this will still create a problem for the King, and upon learning this, Hamlet once again realizes how weak he has been in contrast to him. Hamlet complains that he has had the mental ability all along to slay the King, but he has never had any of the will power ("one part wisdom and ever three parts coward"). He compares himself to what action Fortinbras has taken, describing his army as being "mass and charge" and that Fortinbras himself is a "delicate and tender prince". For an audience, this picture would show clearly how weak and still Hamlet has been, as it being compared to someone actually dealing with one of their problems.

In scene 5, tragedy is instantly recognized when Ophelia arrives. It appears that since the death of her farther, she has began acting in a mental manner, much like Hamlet, with the Queen even describing that when she speaks, she only does it in "half sense" and that "her speech is nothing." When she arrives, she breaks into song, for reasons that the King and Queen cannot work out. Tragically, the King orders that she must be spied on ("Follow her close"), and this is tragic because he has resorted to this method once again, creating the impression that no one can be trusted under his watch. This is followed by the sudden return of Laertes, who is looking for answers concerning his father's death - this of course, creates another problem for the King to deal with. Even more worryingly for him, Upon return, Laertes has been embraced by the people ("'Choose we! Laertes will be King!'") meaning that they are sick of Claudius and want him out. Laertes asks where his farther is, to which the King responds with no sympathy whatsoever "Dead". However the Queen adds quickly "but not by him". Is she doing this to defend the King? Is Laertes another person seeking revenge? This is certainly becoming a dominant theme, which instantly poses a sense of tragedy as clearly, everyone is either seeking vengeance or has to be spied upon, which creates the impression that no one can be trusted as well.

In act 6, Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet, alerting him that after "two days old at sea" their ship was seized by pirates and Hamlet became their prisoner. However, Hamlet has manged to strike some sort of agreement with them ("I am to do a good turn for them") and is now heading back to Denmark. While Hamlet relies on brains rather than muscle most of the time he is on-stage, when he is off-stage, however, it seems like he has had to take quite a physical strain in order to escape from the pirates. However, as we are still in debate as to weather Hamlet is mad or not, this could simply be him exaggerating. As for Ronsencrantz and Guildensterne, Hamlet reveals that they are still on the boat on "their course for England". Again this applies that Hamlet has been very sneaky to escape without them noticing, but what does this mean for these two? are they to arrive in England and meet the same fate that the King set out for Hamlet? (to be killed upon arrival) Tragedy looks certain for these two characters.

At the start of act 7, we learn that Claudius has convinced Laertes to take action against Hamlet for killing Polonius and driving Ophelia to insanity ("My revenge will come"). This is instantly followed by two separate letters arriving - one for the King and one for the Queen. In the King's letter, which is from Hamlet, he says to the King that he will make a "sudden and more strange return. the King, clearly bothered and baffled by this, gives final orders for Laertes to kill Hamlet, enhancing Laertes's pride. To further to chances of successfully killing him, Laertes says that he will "anoint" his sword with poison. This seems to be a recurring prop in the play - it was first used to kill King Hamlet, and now it appears that Hamlet's life is going to end in the same manner. The King, fully aware of this, which is quite ironic really, suggests that to increase their chances, he will place poison in the wine, which will be used when Laertes and Hamlet dual. They are surrounding him with it, which is supposedly tragic is it creates the picture that Hamlet will not be able to escape from it.

Suddenly, however, more tragedy is created for Laertes to deal with, as the Queen has entered, announcing that Ophelia has "drowned", committing suicide. As well as being tragic for Laertes, This is also tragic for Ophelia - She had constantly been pushed back by both her farther and her brother, telling her to stay away from Hamlet, plus she has been a central subject to Hamlet's acts of madness, and finally, she has had to deal with the loss of her farther. She wanted an escape from her tragic reality. This poses a question, however, of who was it that gave her the final push to end her life - was it Hamlet, with his mad, disturbing and manipulative nature towards her? or was the death of her farther (caused by Hamlet) simply too much to take? Either way, her death sparks tragedy for her and for those who care about her most.