Hamlet Act 4.1-4.6

In the opening scene of Act 4, the reader experiences Claudius's reaction to the death of Polonius, but his concern is not for the death of his friend and is instead the possible consequences he will face. Although Hamlet is the murder, Claudius is worried that he will be held responisble despite Hamlet (as stated by Gertrude) being a mad man because, as Claudius later says, he is loved by the people of Denmark and therefore will not be harshly punished for his act. However, Claudius is desperate to find the body of Polonius and sends Rosencratnz and Guildenstern to find the body, but when they ask Hamlet, he answers in a series of riddles and words of a mad man. Finally, after teasing Claudius of the bodies location, Hamlet reveals where the body is saying, "But if indeed you find him/not within this month, you shall nose him as you gip up the stairs/into the lobby" (4.3.32-34). In Act 4, Scene 3, Claudius finally reveals that he will send Hamlet to England, somthing that he has been planning and threatening for a long time. It is revealed the the reader that Hamlet is to be killed on arrival to England. This exemplifies the bad relationship between Hamlet and Claudius and how desperate Claudius is to be rid of Hamlet. In Act 4, Scene 4, Hamlet encounters a Captain of Fortinbras's army who is seeking permission to pass through Danish lands on their journey to aquire a invaluable piece of Poland. This encounter causes Hamlet to refelct on the nature of society full of death and blood. He realizes that he has a great cause for bloodshed on order to avend his father's death, but he has failed to act. In his soliliquy, Hamler says, "Oh from this time forth,/My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth" (4.4.65-66). Hamlet's words indicate to the reader that he is more motivated than ever to avenge his father's death. In scene 5, Ophelia is seen as mad following the death of her father, and Laertes is also distraught after hearing of his father's death. People have begun to riot because of the unknown circumstances surrounding the death. Ophelia talks much of death and Claudius promises the either be found guilty of Polonius's death and give up his title, or to be found innocent and help seek revenge (4.5.201-207). There is now more tension and conflict in the play, and I am excited to see what happens in the following acts.