Month: November 2015

This new act starts with two grave diggers, where Shakespeare is trying to lighten the mood within the play. They are preparing the grave for Ophelia but are discussing the fact that she is being buried in a Catholic cemetery even though she killed herself, which is against the teaching of Catholicism. They say that only the rich are allowed to do these things against god. Hamlet and Horatio enter and the jovial nature of which the grave diggers perform their job disturbs Hamlet. This is characterised when Hamlets has a conversation with one of the grave diggers and the grave digger just throws up some skulls he finds while digging, one turning out to be someone who Hamlet knows. Hamlet discovers that Ophelia is to be buried in one of these graves and interrupts the procession saying that he was the one that only loved her truly, getting into a scuffle with Laertes. It is broken up and Hamlet leaves, where Horatio is sent to look after him. Claudius reminds Laertes of the plan they made earlier.

A messenger arrives with a letter for Claudius from Hamlet saying that he’s coming back to Denmark, Claudius concerned with this, suggests that Laertes to have a duel with Hamlet but plan to cover the tip of Laertes sword with poison. This will cover it up as an accident and clear Claudius of any wrong doing and even if Hamlet is looking like he is winning the battle, that he’ll poison a goblet of wine to make sure. Gertrude then interrupts them and tells of news that Ophelia is dead by sitting on a branch which broke making her fall into the river and drown. It is not specified if this was suicide or poor luck.

Horatio has a letter delivered to him by some sailors from Hamlet, which describes his situation at sea, where pirates captured his boat and he was the only person to be held prisoner; everyone else continued there journey to England. Hamlet says of a story he has to tell Horatio when he gets back to Denmark.

The scene starts with Gertrude, Horatio and a Gentlemen who is trying to convince Gertrude to go speak and see to Ophelia. When Gertrude enters the room, Ophelia sings about the Queen and Polonius showing Gertrude that Ophelia is clearly mad. Claudius enters and Ophelia continues to talk nonsense until she leaves, where Claudius sends Horatio to watch over her. Claudius talks how Polonius dying has poisoned Ophelia’s mind and that they hurried his burial, not giving him a state funeral. Claudius talks about how Laertes has arrived back from France, where people have been spreading rumours about Polonius’s death. A noise is heard, Laertes arrives wanting to avenge Polonius through the blood of Claudius but Claudius talks him out of it, passing the blame onto Hamlet.

This scene starts with Fortinbras asking his captain to go and ask Claudius for permission to go through Denmark, he also says that he is willing to do a favour for Claudius if he grants him permission. The Captain bumps into Hamlet, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz where Hamlet asks the Captain who’s troops they are and where they are headed. The Captain answers that they are Fortinbras and they are headed to invade Poland, where Hamlet ponders if it is the heartland or some Frontier; The Captain replying with “Truly to speak, and with no addition, We go to gain a little patch of ground that hath in it no profit but the name.” Hamlet, now left alone, talks about his inability to act and how young Fortinbras is willing to put his life at risk to do something about his problems.

The scene starts with Claudius talking to some of his attendants about how Hamlet is a danger to everyone and his plans to send him to England. He tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that they must go and get Hamlet to bring him before Claudius. Claudius asks Hamlet where Polonius is and he answers jovially by saying that Polonius is at supper “but where ‘a is eaten”. When asked where Polonius is he answers “In heaven”. Claudius tells Hamlet that he is being sent to England and being sent with note.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern find Hamlet and demand to know where Polonius’s body but he refuses, then they inform Hamlet that Claudius wants to see him. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern take him to Claudius.

Gertrude goes to Claudius and tells him that she thinks that Hamlet is truly mad, Claudius is thankful that he wasn’t the one that was killed. Claudius asks Gertrude where Hamlet is but she can’t answer, so he sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to look for Hamlet and to get Polonius’s body to bury him in the Chapel. Claudius explains why they must send Hamlet away and that people might start suspecting that he is involved.