Day: November 8, 2015

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.