Shakespeare’s Act Four: Where problems spiral out of control and grow wildly more complex and difficult to overcome

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 well-being 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 AnalysisPuns, 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.