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Point: This scene advances the plot because we find out that Hamlet is betrayed by his mother who tells Claudius about the murder of Polonius first hand. It also shows readers Claudius’ fear of Hamlet and the possibility that he might know the truth of the murder of his father. This is the reason why he later sends Guildenstern and Rosencrantz to spy on Hamlet and see what he is really up to. This scene also shows us that Hamlet might have lost it and might have become insane. It is also possible that Hamlet might be going insane because Ophelia rejected him in obedience to her father, so he might have killed Polonius because he could have thought that Polonius was standing in his way to Ophelia. From this scene is where many readers start to think if madness is really taking over Hamlet’s mind or if he is still pretending to be mad. Act 4: Scene 1Advances the plot
Proof: “Oh, this is terrible! It would’ve happened to me if I’d been there. His wildness is a threat to all of us—to you, to me, to everyone. How will we deal with this violent deed? I’m the one who will be blamed for not restraining and confining this mad young man. But I loved him so much I didn’t want to think about what I had to do. So, like someone suffering from a nasty disease who refuses to divulge his condition and lets it infect him to”. –Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 1.
Analysis: Claudius says that Hamlet’s condition is terrible and that he is a threat to all of Denmark, in reality Claudius being the manipulative politician that he is, he is looking after his own interests and not really the interests of anyone else. The characters in the play such as Gertrude assume that Claudius is trying to save Hamlet from his “madness” and genuinely cares for Hamlet, but in reality Claudius is in fear of Hamlet, he sees him as a threat to his power and tries to get rid of him. So the readers then truly learn the nature of Claudius who is a selfish and ambitious man trying to only save his own soul and power at the cost of others.
Point: In this scene, Gertrude hurries to Claudius who is conferring with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to tell him about what had happened with Polonius. Gertrude stays true to her promise to Hamlet and does not reveal that he is pretending to be mad—in fact she is doing the opposite. After learning what has happened, Claudius fears for his life and sees Hamlet as a threat and decides that Hamlet must be shipped to England at once. DEVELOPS IRONY
Proof: Claudius: What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet? Gertrude: Mad as the sea and wind when both contend which is the mightier... Claudius: His liberty is full of threats to all— To you yourself, to us, to everyone. Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answered? It will be laid to us, whose providence Should have kept short, restrained 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. Gertrude: O'er whom his very madness, like some ore Among a mineral of metals base, Shows itself pure.
Analysis: When Claudius asks Gertrude how Hamlet is, she replies by telling him that Hamlet has gone mad, even though she knows the truth and that Hamlet in fact is not mad, she does not reveal this to Claudius. This hidden truth is also known to the audience. Claudius is shocked at the news of Polonius’ death. He feels as though he is guilty of not taking care of Hamlet and his madness when he could, before it was too late. He says he loved him and did not want to think about what he had to do. He kept Hamlet’s “condition” secret and let it grow more dangerous and dangerous. This creates conflict as well adds emphasis to the level of irony presented in this particular situation. As a result, Claudius feels with no exception the need to send Hamlet to England.
Point: The important information that we find out in this scene is that Hamlet founds out that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have betrayed him. And he mockingly calls Rosencrantz a sponge that soaks up everything the king tells him to do or say. Act 4: Scene 2PRESENTS USEFUL INFORMATION
Proof: Hamlet: “Ay, sir, that soaks up the king's countenance, hisrewards, his authorities. But such officers do theking best service in the end: he keeps them, likean ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, tobe last swallowed: when he needs what you havegleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, youshall be dry again.”
Analysis: In this scene the important information that we learn is the double sided nature of Hamlet which can be both vicious and kind. Hamlet seems slow and contemplating to take the life of Claudius but he was really quick to the life of Polonius and then denies the murder to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. This is the main reason why Claudius decides to send Hamlet to England. The other important information in this scene is that Hamlet figures out that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were indeed spies to the king; this is ironic because Hamlet is not able to figure out if Claudius truly killed his father, but quickly figures out the betrayal of both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Point : In this scene, Hamlet is somewhere in Elsinore, disposing the body of Polonius. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive and approach Hamlet, diligently obeying the king’s commands and asks Hamlet what he has done with the body. They also tell Hamlet that Claudius wants the body to be brought back and taken to the chapel. Hamlet gives them a hard time using clever wordplay and language and irritates them. He describes Rosencrantz as a sponge, that he is essentially being used and is the king’s pet. Claudius will report and order Rosencrantz to carry out a command and he will blindly obey and accept and once he gets what he wants out of him, he squeezes him like a sponge and he’ll be dry again. REVEALS OPPOSITION OR LOYALTY TO AN IMPORTANT CHARACTER
Proof: 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.
Analysis: Hamlet uses a metaphor to describe Rosencrantz and suggests that he is a sponge. He is essentially being used and is the king’s pet. Claudius will report and order Rosencrantz to carry out a command and he will blindly obey and accept and once he gets what he wants out of him, he squeezes him like a sponge and he’ll be dry again. This is what would be known as a suck up or a person who tries to please someone above them in status to essentially feel good about themselves and highly of themselves. Hamlet is sarcastically revealing his new feelings for his “seeming” friends. The relationship and situation between Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern illustrates the opposition to an important character in this scene.
