Hamlet Commentary

Hamlet Commentary

Act 1

Act I. Scene I. - Elsinore. A Platform before the Castle.

Francisco: "'tis bitter cold, / And I am sick at heart."

King Hamlet of Denmark has recently died from poisoning. Denmark is in a state of high alert and preparing for possible war with Young Fortinbras of Norway. A ghost resembling the late King Hamlet is spotted on a platform before Elsinore Castle in Denmark.

The play opens to the solitary scene of Francisco a soldier on guard duty on a platform before Elsinore Castle.

Bernardo, another soldier enters, asking "Who's there?" (Line 1).

Francisco does not reply, demanding identification from the intruder. Bernardo supplies this (Line 3) and Francisco warmly greets Barnardo as his replacement on guard duty. Barnardo tells us that it is midnight and advises his friend to"get thee [go to] bed," (Line 7).

Francisco is happy to do this, thanking Barnardo and saying "'tis [it is] bitter cold, / And I am sick at heart" (it is very cold and I am sick at heart), (Line 8), a line which symbolizes the mood of this play and the state of tension in Denmark.

Before leaving we learn from Francisco that it has been a quiet watch with "Not a mouse stirring" (not a mouse moving), (Line 10).

Francisco hears the approach of two men whom we soon learn are the soldiers Horatio and Marcellus who identify themselves as being loyal to Denmark (Lines 15-16).

Before leaving, Francisco tells Marcellus that Barnardo has relieved him.

Bernardo now meets up with Marcellus and Horatio, Marcellus asking if a certain apparition (The Ghost) seen before on a watch has returned.

Marcellus: "What! has this thing appear'd again to-night?" (Has the thing or the Ghost appeared again tonight?), (Line 21).

Learning from Bernardo that the apparition (The Ghost) has not returned, Marcellus explains the apparition further...

Barnardo explains that "Horatio says 'tis [it is] but our fantasy, [imagination]" but also that Horatio has agreed to sit with the men in case it appears again so Marcellus can prove the apparition is real and not merely fantasy (Lines 23-29).

Barnardo tells the skeptical Horatio to "sit down awhile," (Line 31) as Barnardo begins to tell the story of the apparition (Lines 29-39) when Marcellus notices the Ghost and cries out "Peace!" (Line 40), telling Horatio and Barnardo to look "where it [The Ghost] comes again!" (Line 40).

The Ghost now enters, Barnardo noting that this ghost has "the same figure [appearance], like the king that's dead" (the recently deceased King Hamlet of Denmark), (Line 41).

Marcellus tells Horatio to question the Ghost, after all "Thou [you-Horatio] art [are] a scholar;" he says (Line 42) .

Horatio is reluctant since he says the Ghost "harrows me with fear and wonder" (fills me with fear and wonder), (Line 44), but on Marcellus' urging, Horatio speaks to the Ghost.

Horatio now questions the Ghost, asking "What art [are] thou [you] that usurp'st [disturbs / takes] this time of night, / Together with that fair and war-like form [appearance] / In which the majesty of buried Denmark [King Hamlet of Denmark] / Did sometimes march? by heaven I charge thee [command you], speak!" (Lines 47- 48).

The Ghost does not answer, Marcellus saying it is offended and Bernardo saying that it "stalks [runs] away" (Line 50).

With the Ghost gone, Marcellus and Bernardo notice that the unbelieving Horatio is pale and trembling (Line 53). Bernardo asks Horatio "Is not this something more than fantasy?" (Is this not more than fantasy as you suggested earlier), (Line 54).

Horatio still trembling, says he would never have believed in the Ghost had he not seen it with his own eyes (Line 56) and Horatio mentions that the Ghost not only looked like the now dead King Hamlet but wore the "very armour" that King Hamlet had on when "he the ambitious Norway combated;" (he fought the ambitious Fortinbras, King of Norway) and when King Hamlet "smote the sledded Polacks [Poles] on the ice" (defeated the Poles on the ice), (Lines 60-63).

Marcellus reminds Horatio that the Ghost of the King has appeared twice before, wearing this very armor, Horatio saying that in his opinion, the appearance of the Ghost "bodes some strange eruption to our state" (foretells that something very bad will happen to our country), (Line 68).

Marcellus now sets the context of the play by asking Horatio why their guard duty watches Denmark by night, why weapons are being constructed and being bought and why shipwrights are being made to work on Sunday, against normal custom (Lines 70-78).

Horatio answers that all these actions are happening because Denmark is preparing for war.

Horatio explains that the late King Hamlet fought King Fortinbras of Norway, killing him in single combat and securing for Denmark, Norwegian territory which by agreement fell to King Hamlet since he won the fight and killed King Fortinbras (Lines 80-95).

Now, explains Horatio, Young Fortinbras, the son of the late King Fortinbras and nephew to the current King of Norway, has raised a force of "lawless resolutes," (lawless men) to help him reclaim the lands his father, King Fortinbras of Norway lost by losing the fight against the late King Hamlet of Denmark (Lines 96-100).

Young Fortinbras is not described favorably, being characterized by Horatio as being "of unimproved mettle hot and full," (unlearned, hot-blooded and reckless / rash), (Line 96).

It is this fear of attack, Horatio explains, that is the main reason their watch guards against intruders and the main reason for their preparations for war (Lines 96-108).

Bernardo agrees that it is Young Fortinbras who motivates their preparations for war, noting that the "portentous figure" (The Ghost), did come armed and during their watch (Lines 108-111).

Horatio agrees that it is significant that the Ghost appears now, saying that it is "trouble to the mind's eye" (Line 112) and remembering that such portents did precede Caesar's death, Horatio believing that the Ghost must be a precursor of things to come in Denmark. Just as Horatio finishes this thought, he sees the Ghost reappear (Lines 112-126).

Horatio demands that the illusion stay and not leave as it did before, asking it to speak to him if it can and tell them the future "If thou art privy to thy country's fate," (if you know my country's future), which Horatio hopes their foreknowledge of may avoid, and finally why this spirit exists (Line 132).

Unfortunately a cock crows, the Ghost rapidly moving twice before vanishing once more without saying a word (Lines 139-142).

Bernardo, Horatio and Marcellus all agree the Ghost was about to speak before the cock crowed, Horatio advising that they "impart [tell] what we have seen to-night / Unto [to] young Hamlet;" since as Horatio says, "upon my life [on my life], / This spirit, dumb [silent] to us, will speak to him" (Lines 168-171).

With the morning approaching (daybreak), (Lines 165-168), the three men agree to speak to young Hamlet, Marcellus saying he knows where to find the "young Hamlet" (son of the late King Hamlet and nephew to the current King "most conveniently" to tell him what they have seen (Line 174).

Act I. Scene II. - A Room of State in the Castle.

King Claudius: "How is it that the clouds still hang on you?"

King Claudius who now rules Denmark, has taken King Hamlet's wife, Queen Gertrude as his wife. King Claudius fearing that Young Fortinbras of Norway may invade, has sent ambassadors to Norway to urge the King of Norway to restrain Young Fortinbras. Young Hamlet distrusts King Claudius. The King and Queen of Denmark (Claudius and Gertrude) do not understand why Hamlet still mourns his father's death over two months ago. In his first soliloquy, Hamlet explains that he does not like his mother marrying the next King of Denmark so quickly within a month of his father's death...

Within Elsinore Castle, the current King of Denmark, King Claudius (succeeding King Hamlet) Queen Gertrude (Hamlet's mother), Lord Chamberlain Polonius, his son Laertes, the courtiers Voltimand and Cornelius, Lords and Attendants enter.

The King (Claudius) expresses his grief for King Hamlet's (his predecessor's) death, saying that all in their kingdom grieve and mourn "our dear brother's death" (Line 1), adding that "discretion" (discretion) has "fought with nature" (the natural desire to mourn a loved one) in their suppressing their complete grief of King Hamlet's death (Line 4).

King Claudius, the newly appointed King of Denmark explains that he has taken Hamlet's previous wife, Gertrude as his wife and as "our queen," whilst adding that his court in "Your better wisdoms [judgment]," have "freely gone [allowed] / With this affair [marriage] along:" (Line 16) or have accepted this and now receive King Claudius' thanks.

It is important to note that this marriage would have drawn gasps from Shakespeare's audience since such a marriage would have been viewed as quite incestuous...

Claudius now outlines recent events, reminding all that Young Fortinbras even now in their time of grief has sought back the lands his father lost now that King Hamlet has died (Lines 17-20), Claudius explaining that "young Fortinbras," may be encouraged by the belief that Denmark is now in disarray following King Hamlet's death (Lines 17-28).

Claudius explains that he has written to the leader of Norway who is currently "impotent and bed-rid," (sick and weak / bedridden), (Line 28) to suppress his nephew Young Fortinbras from pushing this issue. Claudius has done this by dispatching Cornelius and Voltimand to Norway, the two men exiting after pledging their loyalty (Line 40).

We learn also of a parallel in that King Hamlet has been succeeded by his brother as has the late King Fortinbras since both their sons are referred to as nephews of the current rulers of Denmark and of Norway.

Turning his attention to Laertes, King Claudius asks Laertes to speak his mind to him (Lines 42-50).

Laertes now asks King Claudius for "Your leave and favour [permission] to return to France;" (Line 52) from where he left willingly and dutifully to witness King Claudius' coronation as the new King of Denmark.

After the King finds that Polonius, Laertes' father has given his permission, (Lines 57-61), Claudius gives his permission for Laertes to leave (Line 63).

Hamlet makes his first observation, suspiciously commenting in an aside (a speech sharing his private thoughts with the audience) that Claudius who referred to him as a "son,-" (Line 64) is "A little more than kin [family], and less than kind" (a little more than family and less than kind), (Line 65).

King Claudius now asks how Hamlet who has recently lost his father (King Hamlet) can still be sad...

King Claudius: "How is it that the clouds still hang on you?" (How is it that you are still gloomy as if dark clouds hang over you?), (Line 66).

Hamlet coyly replies that this is "Not so, my lord;" explaining that "I am too much i' [in] the sun" (it is not so my Lord. I have been in the sun too long), (Line 67).

Queen Gertrude, no doubt sensing the tension, tells her son to "cast thy [your] nighted colour off, / And let thine [your] eye look like a friend on Denmark" (drop your sad outlook and let your eye look like friend on Denmark), telling her son not to "Seek for thy noble father in the dust:" (look for your father in the dust) since Hamlet must realize "all that live must die, / Passing through nature to eternity" (Lines 68-73).

Hamlet agrees too easily, prompting his mother to ask why her husband's death "seems it so particular with thee?" (seems so important to him), (Line 74).

Hamlet now explodes, saying "Seems, madam!" adding "Nay, it is; I know not 'seems'" (Line 76), explaining that his color or mood are "but the trappings and the suits of woe (what happens when you are sad), (Line 86).

It seems only Hamlet appears to be mourning his father's death whilst those around him go on with life as if King Hamlet had never lived, let alone died. Even Queen Gertrude, his mother, feels this way; she married King Hamlet's replacement (King Claudius) almost immediately after King Hamlet, her husband, had died!

The King praises Hamlet as being "sweet and commendable (praiseworthy)" (Line 87) in his nature to mourn his father, but tells Hamlet that his father lost a father and this father, his father, explaining that loss is a part of life (Lines 88-92).

Claudius explains that to grieve for some time is acceptable but to "persever [carry on] / In obstinate [stubborn] condolement [grieving] is a course [action] / Of impious [unbecoming / undignified] stubbornness; " (Line 92) adding that such ongoing grieving is above all else, "unmanly grief:" (Line 93).

King Claudius develops this theme of grieving being "unmanly" for some time before telling Hamlet that his desire to go back to school in Wittenberg will not be granted since it is "most retrograde [the opposite] to our [King Claudius' and company's] desire;" (Lines 112-116).

The Queen (Gertrude, Hamlet's mother) asks Hamlet to stay as well, Hamlet agreeing by saying, "I shall in all my best obey you, madam" (Line 119).

The King is pleased that Hamlet will stay, saying "'tis a loving and a fair reply:" (it is a loving and fair reply) adding that "This gentle and unforc'd [unforced] accord [agreement] of Hamlet / Sits smiling to my heart;" (Line 120-124), the King announcing that a celebration, complete with drinking and "cannon" fire will celebrate and mark this change of heart in Hamlet.

The King and Queen now exit, leaving Hamlet alone to discuss his true feelings in his first soliloquy...

Alone, Hamlet expresses his real feelings about King Claudius and Queen Gertrude, his mother. Hamlet is not happy and wishes he could commit suicide since the "uses of this world" have become "weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable" to him but Hamlet quickly chides himself for such thoughts, they are like weeds in a garden and a sin (Lines 132-136).

Hamlet now explains to us that his father (King Hamlet), unlike the impression we get from King Claudius, is "But two months dead:" (has only recently died), (Line 139).

Hamlet now tells us that King Hamlet was "so loving to my mother / That he might not betweem the winds of heaven / Visit her face too roughly" and yet within a month, a mere month, his very own mother remarried with the current King of Denmark (Claudius), (Line 140).

So angry is Hamlet that he generalizes that all woman like his mother are weak when he says: "Frailty, thy [your] name is woman!" (Line 146).

Hamlet sarcastically and bitterly describes his mother as being "Like Niobe, all tears;" a woman who shed not a tear for her husband but only for her dead children, saying that even this woman would have mourned longer than Gertrude, his mother and the former wife to the now dead King Hamlet (Line 149).

Hamlet cannot believe this, exclaiming "O God! a beast, that wants discourse of reason, / Would have mourn'd longer,-" (O God! a beast that wanted or needed a reason, would have mourned longer) than his mother (Line 151), Hamlet still barely believing that she could so quickly have "married with mine uncle, [married my uncle, King Claudius]", (Line 151).

Hamlet cannot accept this, and still not believing his mother could do this, describes King Claudius as "My father's brother, but no more like my father / Than I to Hercules [regarded as a great man in this time]:" and yet "within a month, / Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears / Had left the flushing in her galled eyes, / She married" (and yet barely had her tears left her eyes when she remarried), (Line 153).

He remarks again on his mother's speedy marriage as being with "most wicked speed, to post / With such dexterity to incestuous sheets" (Line 157).

Hamlet is sure none of this can come to any good but decides to keep his opinions to himself.

Hamlet: "It is not nor it cannot come to good; / But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue!" (Line 158).

Horatio, Marcellus and Bernardo arrive, telling Hamlet of the Ghost they saw.

Before this happens, we get a further insight into Hamlet's troubled nature when Horatio says he came to see King Hamlet's funeral (Line 176). Hamlet sarcastically replies that "I think it was to see my mother's wedding" since the two events happened so close to each other (Line 177).

Hamlet gives us more imagery of the speed with which one ceremony (the funeral) was replaced by the marriage when he remarks that "the funeral bak'd meats / Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables" (the meat prepared for the funeral did coldly furnish the marriage tables which followed), (Line 180), a line sarcastically suggesting that Gertrude's remarriage following King Hamlet's death was so rapid, the food prepared for the funeral could have served as food for the subsequent marriage.

Hamlet now mentions that he believes he has seen his father in "my mind's eye," (Line 186), Horatio agreeing that King Hamlet "was a goodly king" (Line 186).

Hamlet agrees, and now Horatio describes what he, Bernardo and Marcellus have seen, describing The Ghost as "a figure like your father [the late King Hamlet], / Armed at points exactly," (Line 199).

Hamlet questions Horatio and Marcellus further and decides that if the Ghost is "my noble father's person," (Line 244) he will speak to it. Hamlet tells Horatio and company that he will meet them on the guard platform between eleven and twelve o'clock to see the Ghost.

Hamlet ends the scene, saying "My father's spirit in arms!" fearing "all is not well; / I doubt some foul play:" (Line 255).

Act I. Scene III. - A Room in Polonius' house.

Laertes: "This above all: to thine own self be true...."

Laertes, the son of Lord Chamberlain Polonius, gives his sister Ophelia some brotherly advice. He warns Ophelia not to fall in love with Young Hamlet; she will only be hurt. Polonius tells his daughter Ophelia not to return Hamlet's affections for her since he fears Hamlet is only using her...

Within a room in Polonius' house, Laertes (Polonius' son) is giving Ophelia, Polonius' daughter some brotherly advise.

Laertes warns his sister not to follow her heart with Hamlet too deeply, for as he says, "his will is not his own," (Hamlet does not control himself, King Claudius and Queen Gertrude influence him), owing to his position as Queen Gertrude's son (Line 16).

Laertes adds that Hamlet cannot as "unvalu'd persons do," (common people do) carve out a life for himself "for on his choice depends / The safety and the health of the whole state;" (Line 20).

"Then if he says he loves you," Laertes warns, she should remember that the Prince's wife (Hamlet's wife) will largely be dictated by the King (Claudius), (Line 24).

Laertes therefore reminds Ophelia to be wary and fearful of the loss of honor she could sustain if she should lose her heart and be used, warning her to protect her "chaste treasure" (her virginity), (Line 32).

Laertes now further describes the perils of following one's heart (Lines 24-52), telling her that the "best safety lies in fear:" (Line 43).

Ophelia says she will follow Laertes advise, warning Laertes not to show her the righteous way to live whilst not following his own advise. Laertes tells his sister to "fear me not" (Line 51) announcing that their father, Polonius arrives.

Ophelia:

I shall th'effect of this good lesson keep, / As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother, / Do not, as some ungracious pastors do, / Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven, / Whiles, like a puff'd and reckless libertine, / Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads, / And recks not his own rede" (Lines 45-51)

Polonius now gives his daughter advise suggesting that Ophelia not speak her thoughts (Line 60), nor be vulgar but rather familiar instead (Line 61).

He tells his daughter to "Give every man thine [your] ear, but few thy [your] voice:", telling her to "reserve thy [your] judgment" (Line 69).

Polonius also advises that Ophelia would be wise to "Neither a borrower, nor a lender be;" because "For loan oft loses both itself and friend, [in loans one often loses oneself and friend] / And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry" Laertes warns (Line 76).

Famously, Polonius tells his daughter, "This above all [above all else]: to thine own self be true," (be true to yourself), (Line 78), adding that in his opinion as night follows day, Ophelia "canst not [cannot] then be false to any man" (Line 80).

Laertes must now leave (Line 85), telling his sister to "remember well / What I have said to you" before exiting (Line 85), Polonius wanting to know what this was (Line 88).

Alone with his daughter, Polonius demands to know the truth of any relationship between his daughter (Ophelia) and Prince Hamlet.

Polonius explains that he knows Hamlet has very recently "Given private time to you;" and Ophelia the same (Line 92), asking to know what is going on so he can be sure of his daughter's honor (Lines 88-99).

Ophelia replies that Hamlet has "made many tenders / Of his affection to me" (has spoken sweet words of love to me), (Line 100).

Polonius is not impressed saying "Affection! pooh! you speak like a green girl [innocent naive girl]," asking if his daughter believes Hamlet's "tenders," (words), (Line 101).

Ophelia replies she is not sure, but her father is. He is certain Hamlet merely wishes to "use" his daughter and in doing so Ophelia will "tender me a fool" (make a fool of Polonius), by being used (Line 108).

Ophelia defends Hamlet saying he has "importun'd me with love / In honourable fashion" (Line 111) but Polonius does not believe a word of it, saying Hamlet's "holy vows of heaven" (Line 113) are merely like "springes to catch woodcocks", a lie to catch or seduce his daughter...

Polonius now lays down the law, telling his daughter to keep her distance, ordering her to "be somewhat scanter [less available] of your maiden presence;" (Line 120), nor to believe Hamlet's vows, "for they are brokers [lies]," finally telling Ophelia that he does not want Ophelia to "give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet" since Polonius obviously fears his daughter being made a fool and by the culture of the time, himself being made one as well (Lines 120-134).

Ophelia will not disobey her father saying, "I shall obey, my lord" (Line 136).

Act I. Scene IV. - The Platform.

Hamlet meets the Ghost of his father and follows it to learn more...

Hamlet, Horatio and Marcellus are all on the platform before Elsinore Castle, waiting for the apparition (The Ghost) of King Hamlet to appear once again.

We learn from their conversation that it is just past midnight and that "The air bites shrewdly"; it is a very cold night (Line 1).

A flourish of trumpets is heard along with ordnance (canon fire) being shot off, Hamlet explaining that this noise signals the King's revels or celebrations.

Hamlet describes King Claudius' behavior quite negatively, remarking at how he drinks too much, saying that it would be more honorable to ignore the custom of Danish kings drinking than to maintain such lewd behaviour out of tradition alone.

Hamlet says this himself with the line, "though I am native here [born in Denmark] / And to the manner born,-it is a custom / More honour'd [honored] in the breach [by not performing it] than the observance [performing the custom]" (Line 16).

Hamlet also describes what he imagines to be the less than dignified revels (celebrations) King Claudius and company are enjoying:

"The king doth wake to-night and takes his rouse, / Keeps wassail, and the swaggering up-spring reels; / And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down, / The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out / The triumph of his pledge" (The King wakes up and drinks his toasts in celebration, sings badly and drunkenly dances around, heavily drinking his alcohol, the trumpets finally sounding out the triumph of his pledge in a foolish not triumphant manner), (Lines 8-11).

Hamlet is not impressed with this behavior, arguing that the dancing and drinking "takes / From our achievements," (takes something away from our achievements), giving the Danish a bad name abroad (Line 20).

He likens this to impressive men's reputations, which are reduced by them having one vice (Lines 23- 36).

At this point the Ghost reappears, Horatio telling Hamlet, "Look, my lord, it comes" (Line 38).

Hamlet decides that if the Ghost will speak to him, he will address the Ghost as "Hamlet, / King, father; royal Dane," and excitedly demands answers (Line 45).

Hamlet wanting to know why his father has returned, asks "Say, why is this? wherefore? what should we do?" (Line 58).

The Ghost says nothing, beckoning Hamlet to follow him to as Marcellus says "a more removed [private] ground:", Marcellus telling Hamlet not to follow the Ghost.

Hamlet ignores Marcellus, deciding that since "It [The Ghost] will not speak; then, will I [I will] follow it" (Line 62).

Horatio also tells Hamlet not to follow the Ghost since it may tempt him towards a flood or seek to kill him by leading Hamlet to a cliff (Lines 69-76).

Hamlet however despite the advise of Marcellus (Line 79) and Horatio (Line 81), follows the Ghost since "My fate cries out, / And makes each petty artery in this body / As hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve" (my fate cries out and makes each petty artery in my body as strong as that of a Nemean lion's nerve, a powerful Lion encountered by Hercules), (Line 83).

With the Ghost beckoning, Hamlet asks the men to "Unhand me," (let me go) and Hamlet follows the Ghost, Marcellus and Horatio deciding to follow him (Line 84-86).

Marcellus now remarks that "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" but Horatio is more trusting, saying "Heaven will direct it" (Heaven will take care of things), (Lines 90- 91).

Act I. Scene V. - Another Part of the Platform.

King Hamlet's Ghost: "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder."

Hamlet learns from his father's Ghost that he was poisoned by King Claudius, the current ruler of Denmark. The Ghost tells Hamlet to avenge his death but not to punish Queen Gertrude for remarrying; it is not Hamlet's place to do so and her conscience and heaven will judge her... Hamlet swears Horatio and Marcellus to silence over Hamlet meeting the Ghost.

The Ghost has now led Hamlet away from Horatio and Hamlet impatiently tells the Ghost, "speak; / I'll go no further" (Line 1).

The Ghost now speaks, saying, "Mark me", Hamlet replying that he will (Line 2).

The Ghost explains that time is short for him (Line 3) and that soon he must render or surrender himself to "sulphurous and tormenting flames" since he has been condemned to walk Denmark by night and burn in the flames of Purgatory by day (Line 3).

Nonetheless, the Ghost tells Hamlet to "Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing / To what I shall unfold" (pity me not Hamlet but listen carefully to what I am about to tell you), (Line 5).

Hamlet now tells the Ghost to "Speak; I am bound to hear" (Line 6).

The Ghost agrees, saying "So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear" (so you are to revenge when you hear what I have to say), (Line 7).

The Ghost now announces that "I am thy [your] father's spirit;" (Line 9) explaining that he is "Doom'd [doomed] for a certain term [time] to walk the night, / And for the day confin'd [confined] to fast in fires, / Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature [life] / Are burnt and purg'd away" (Lines 9-13).

The Ghost explains that because he is forbidden, he cannot fully describe the "secrets of my prison-house," (Line 13).

The Ghost of King Claudius tells Hamlet to "List, list, O list! [Listen] If thou [you] didst [did] ever thy [your] dear father love-" (Line 23).

Hamlet, listening, hears the Ghost tell Hamlet to,

"Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder" (Line 25).

The Ghost goes on to describe his murder as "Murder most foul, as in the best it is; / But this most foul, strange and unnatural" (Line 28).

Hamlet pledges to make his revenge if told more (Line 29), the Ghost explaining that as he slept in his orchard, "A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark" was abused, Hamlet explaining that this "serpent" now wears the crown of the man (King Hamlet) he had killed (Lines 33-39).

Hamlet immediately realizes that this is his uncle, now King Claudius, and the Ghost explains that as he was "Sleeping within mine orchard," (Line 60) in the afternoon as he always did, King Claudius referred to as "thy [your] uncle" secured a poison, pouring it into his ears (Line 64) killing him (Lines 64-73).

The Ghost explains that "Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand, / Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd;" (thus as I was sleeping, by my brother's hand was I murdered and deprived of my life, my crown and my wife, Queen Gertrude), (Line 74).

The Ghost tells Hamlet to do something about this, telling Hamlet, "Let not the royal bed of Denmark be / A couch for luxury and damned incest" (let not the royal rule of Denmark remain a place of luxury and incest), (Line 84).

The Ghost also tells Hamlet to "Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive / Against thy mother aught;" (do not let your mind be tainted into seeking revenge against your mother), advising Hamlet instead to leave her punishment to heaven and her own conscience (Line 84-89).

Running out of time (Lines 89-91), the Ghost tells Hamlet "Hamlet, remember me" before exiting (Line 91).

Hamlet resolves to remember the Ghost and to avenge his father's death as asked, saying that he put aside all else but this "commandment" (to avenge his father's death) which he says he will devote his entire "brain," or time to (Lines 92-112).

Hamlet also scorns his mother, calling her "O most pernicious woman!" (Line 105), also scorning King Claudius' behaviour.

Horatio and Marcellus now join Hamlet who continuously refuses to answer their questions as to what has happened (Lines 116-132).

Horatio also notes that Hamlet speaks now in "wild and whirling words," (Line 133).

Hamlet apologizes for this and asks his friends Marcellus and Horatio to not tell anyone "what you have seen to-night" (Line 144), Hamlet wanting them too swear this upon his sword, taking an oath not to tell (Lines 144-148).

Marcellus and Horatio will not agree to this until the Ghost from beneath the platform says "Swear" (Line 149), Horatio quickly saying "Propose the oath, my lord" (Line 152).

Telling Marcellus and Horatio to swear on his sword not to tell anyone what they have seen, Hamlet again is helped by the Ghost saying "Swear" (Line 155), the Ghost repeating this again (Line 161).

Hamlet now decides that should he appear mad, the two men should not give any reason explaining his behaviour (Lines 164-179).

Upon hearing the Ghost say "Swear" again (Line 181), Marcellus and Horatio swear to keep what they have seen a secret (Line 180).

Thanking his friends, Hamlet, Horatio and Marcellus depart, Hamlet reminding the men not to say a word and lamenting that his fate now is to avenge his father's death (Lines 181-188).

Act II

Act II. Scene I. - A Room in Polonius' House.

Polonius tells Reynaldo to spy on his son Laertes in Paris. Polonius learns from his daughter Ophelia that a badly dressed Hamlet met her, studied her face and then abruptly left. Polonius believes that Hamlet's odd behaviour is because Ophelia has rejected him. Polonius decides to tell King Claudius the reason for Hamlet's recently odd behaviour.

This scene occurs several weeks after the action of Act I. We can assume this because Laertes has first arrived in Paris and second, he has been there for sufficient time to require financial assistance (money) from Polonius.

Polonius' father has returned home from Paris. Polonius now home, instructs his servant Reynaldo to travel to Paris where Laertes is and to "Give him this money and these notes," which Polonius supplies since Laertes will soon be in need of money from his father (Line 1).

Polonius also tells Reynaldo that he would do well by him (be well thanked by Polonius) to "make inquiry" or spy (Line 4) on the behaviour of his son Laertes.

Polonius tells Reynaldo to inquire about "Danskers" (Danish people like Laertes) in Paris, telling Polonius to find out what they do, where they gather and asking what they think and know of Laertes and to learn any gossip there may be about his son (Lines 8-16).

Polonius tells Reynaldo to do this by pretending to distantly know Laertes (Line 13-16). In fact Polonius is certain that his son, away from his father, is indulging himself in activities like "drinking, fencing, swearing," and "quarrelling," (Line 25) Reynaldo saying that Polonius dishonors his son by making such accusations (Line 27).

Polonius also tells Reynaldo to let Laertes "ply his music" or watch Laertes closely as he reveals his secret behaviour (Line 73).

Significantly for the play, Polonius' mistrust of his son is echoed later by King Claudius' distrust of his "son" Hamlet (Hamlet's real father was the late King Hamlet killed by Claudius). Later when we see King Claudius using spies on Hamlet to discover his intentions we see a parallel with Polonius, the King Claudius' Lord Chamberlain who does the exact same thing to his son, a reflection perhaps of the suspicion, mistrust and deception and espionage that occurs in this play.

With his instructions made clear, Reynaldo sets off for Paris (Line 75) and now Ophelia, Polonius' daughter enters.

Asking Ophelia "what's the matter?" (Line 74), Polonius quickly learns that as Ophelia was sewing in her closet, Hamlet arrived, his clothes disheveled (a mess), his face as "Pale as his shirt;" his knees knocking and a look so pitiful it was as if Hamlet had just been let out of hell (Lines 80-84).

Ophelia explains further to her father that Hamlet "took me by the wrist and held me hard," (Line 88), then stared and studied her face meticulously before eventually leaving (Line 88-92).

Polonius tells Ophelia to join him in seeing King Claudius since he is now sure why Hamlet is acting so strangely; obviously Hamlet is suffering from rejection by Ophelia or as Polonius puts it, "the very ecstasy of love," (the very actions a rejected and upset lover makes), (Line 102).

Sure of this, Polonius asks his daughter if she has "given him any hard words of late? (said anything upsetting to Hamlet), (Line 107), learning from Ophelia that she has not, but that she did "repel [reject] his letters and denied / His [Hamlet's] access to me" as Polonius had instructed. (Line 108).

Polonius now is certain that rejection by Ophelia "hath [has] made him [Hamlet] mad" saying that he regrets having been so hard on Hamlet by telling his daughter not to see him (Line 111).

Polonius ends the scene by telling his daughter to come along, since they must tell the King why Hamlet is acting so strangely...

Act II. Scene II. - A Room in the Castle.

Polonius: "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't."

King Claudius instructs courtiers and childhood friends of Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find out what is causing Hamlet's strange "transformation;" or change of character. Queen Gertrude reveals that only King Hamlet's death and her recent remarriage could be upsetting Hamlet. We learn more of Young Fortinbra's movements and Polonius has his own theory about Hamlet's transformation; it is caused by Hamlet's love sickness for his daughter Ophelia. Hamlet makes his famous speech about the greatness of man (Lines 321-331). Hamlet plans to use a play to test if King Claudius really did kill his father as King Hamlet's Ghost told him...

At King Claudius' castle, the King joined by Queen Gertrude, courtiers Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and Attendants, warmly welcomes "dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern!" before explaining that he has summoned these two courtiers with great urgency to find out the reason for Hamlet's change of character, which King Claudius describes as " Hamlet's transformation;" (Line 5) .

King Claudius says of Hamlet that since his change of character or transformation, neither Hamlet's "exterior nor the inward man / Resembles that [what] it was" (Line 6), adding that he cannot think of anything but King Hamlet's death that could so profoundly change Hamlet's character.

From King Claudius' urgent concern as to what has changed Hamlet's behaviour, we can assume that King Claudius is worried that Hamlet's change of character makes him less predictable and thus more of a threat that will need to be watched.

Having made his concern for Hamlet's "transformation;" clear, King Claudius reminds Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that they grew up with Hamlet (Lines 10-12), before telling these courtiers who were childhood friends (Line 12) of Hamlet to rest awhile in the his court before departing to learn for King Claudius what is changing Hamlet's character.

Queen Gertrude now reminds the two courtiers that Hamlet "hath much talk'd (often talked)" of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Queen Gertrude adding that "sure am I two men there are not living / To whom he more adheres" (I am sure there are not two men alive, Hamlet more respects), (Line 20).

The Queen tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that if they learn the reason for Hamlet's changed personality, not only will it be for the "supply and profit of our hope," (Line 24) but that the two courtiers "shall receive such thanks / As fits a king's remembrance" or in other words, the two men will be well rewarded for spying on a man that so respects them (Line 25).

Hearing this, Rosencrantz (Lines 26-29) and then Guildenstern (Lines 29-31) pledge their services to their King (Claudius), and agree to spy on their friend.

With the King (Line 32) and then Queen Gertrude (Lines 33-37) thanking the two men, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern depart to spy on Hamlet.

With the two courtiers departed, Polonius enters announcing that King Claudius' two ambassadors Voltimand and Cornelius "Are joyfully return'd [have returned]" (Line 40).

These two ambassadors it will be remembered were dispatched to Norway to ask the King of Norway to restrain his nephew, Young Fortinbras from taking back territories the Danish has gained from King Hamlet's fight against the late King Fortinbras of Norway.

King Claudius is pleased to hear this, telling the Lord Chamberlain (Polonius) that "Thou [you] still hast [have] been the father [source] of good news" (Line 41).

Polonius now tells King Claudius that he does believe that "I have found / The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy" or rather the reason why Hamlet's character has changed (Line 48).

The King wishes to know this but Polonius, ever dutiful, insists that King Claudius first hear from the two ambassadors, saying that "My news [why Hamlet has acted so strangely] shall be the fruit [a metaphor for an accompaniment] to that great feast [the important information from the ambassadors about Young Fortinbras]" (Line 52).

The King now orders ambassadors Voltimand and Cornelius in and King Claudius who is now talking to Queen Gertrude, says that Polonius tells him he knows what the source is of "your son's distemper" (your son's change of character), (Line 54).

Queen Gertrude is sure she already knows, saying it can be nothing else but "His father's death," and significantly "our o'erhasty (very quick / very hasty) marriage" (Line 56).

This line is very significant since it is our first indication that Queen Gertrude herself may be aware that her marriage is disturbing her son Hamlet.

Polonius and Voltimand enter and we learn from Voltimand that the King of Norway first thought Young Fortinbras was amassing his forces against the "Polack;" (The Poles), (Line 63) but quickly learned that Young Fortinbras was preparing to attack King Claudius and Denmark (Lines 60-64).

Despite his "sickness, age and impotence" (Line 66), Voltimand explains that the old King of Norway was able to convince Young Fortinbras not to attack Denmark ever again (Lines 64-72).

The King of Norway was able to do this by convincing Young Fortinbras to pledge "never more [never again] / To give the assay of arms against your majesty" (never to take up arms or fight against King Claudius), (Line 71).

Overcome with joy, Voltimand adds, the King of Norway gave Young Fortinbras "three thousand crowns in annual fee, / And his commission [permission] to employ [use] those soldiers, / So levied [so ready to fight] as before, against the Polack [the Poles];" instead (Lines 72-75).

Voltimand does have one other important piece of news to add however... The King of Norway did ask that Young Fortinbras be given permission to take his troops across Denmark or "Through your [King Claudius'] dominions [territory] for this enterprise [attacking the Poles]," (Lines 78-79).

King Claudius resolves to think it over, giving his permission after he has thought about it further. King Claudius now welcomes his two men home (Voltimand and Cornelius) before the two exit our view.

Polonius now remarks that "This business [the Young Fortinbras problem] is well ended" (over),(Line 85) and now Polonius tells King Claudius and Queen Gertrude that "since brevity is the soul of wit... I will be brief. Your noble son [Hamlet] is mad: / Mad call I it [mad I call it]; for, to define true madness, / What is't [is it] but to be nothing else but mad?" before finishing with the line "But let that go" (Lines 92-94).

Queen Gertrude, noting that Polonius is speaking very articulately ( using many words / verbosely) but is saying little, asks Polonius for "More matter, with less art" (get to the point / more content with less style), (Line 95) or to say more without less waffling or needless elaboration; in other words to just say what he knows.

Polonius naturally claims his innocence, saying "Madam, I swear I use no art at all" (Line 96), before again launching into a long statement which says very little and is almost certainly intended by Shakespeare as an amusing attack on those who are verbose or say a great deal without really saying anything of substance...

In fact all we learn from Polonius' confusing, irritating and overly elaborate speech is that he is certain the cause of Hamlet's madness is his daughter Ophelia (Lines 106-108) not returning Hamlet's love for her (Lines 96-108).

As proof of this theory, Polonius reads a letter from Hamlet, and we see that Hamlet's writing is confused, distorted and not quite poetry but very much wanting to be.

Polonius then reads Hamlet's letter to his daughter Ophelia which was given to him by her:

"To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified [beautiful] Ophelia-" (Line 109) Polonius reads, interrupting to tell us that "the most beautified Ophelia-" phrase is "a vile [terrible] phrase;" (Line 110) before reading more of Hamlet's letter which goes on to say:

"In her excellent white bosom, these &c-" (Line 112) at which point Queen Gertrude asks if such a terrible love letter could truly have come from Hamlet. Learning that it did, Polonius continues:

"Doubt thou the stars are fire; / Doubt that the sun doth move; / Doubt truth to be a liar; / But never doubt I love. O dear Ophelia! I am ill at these numbers: / I have not art to reckon my groans; but that I love thee best, O most best! believe it. Adieu [good-bye]. Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to him, Hamlet" (Lines 115-124).

Having read the letter, Polonius explains again that "in obedience hath [has] my daughter shown me;" (Lines 124-127) this letter whilst explaining that Ophelia has kept him informed of all her dealings with Hamlet.

King Claudius however is curious as to how Ophelia has received Hamlet's love (Line 128). Polonius now asks King Claudius "What do you think of me?" (Line 129) and only after King Claudius tells Polonius that he thinks of him as "a man faithful and honourable" (Line 130) does Polonius explain that he did not approve of any relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia at all.

Polonius explains that he told his daughter "'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star [out of your league / reach];" telling her that "This [the relationship] must not be:'" (Lines 140-141).

Polonius goes on to explain to King Claudius and Queen Gertrude that he told his daughter to "lock herself from his resort," (stay away from Hamlet), (Line 142) which she dutifully did, leading to Hamlet's present distress at being rejected by Ophelia (Lines 143-148).

Thus it is Hamlet's rejection by Ophelia, Polonius argues, that has caused Hamlet's "transformation;" which Polonius describes as the " madness wherein now he raves, / And all we wail for" (the madness which Hamlet currently has and which we all cry and grieve for), (Line 150).

King Claudius asks the Queen if he believes rejection by Ophelia is responsible for Hamlet's "transformation;" to which Queen Gertrude replies, "It may be, very likely" (Line 152).

Polonius hearing this, asks King Claudius and Queen Gertrude when has he ever been wrong, King Claudius and Gertrude agreeing that Polonius has, to their memory, never been wrong yet (Lines 153-156).

Offering his head should he be wrong, Polonius also adds that "If circumstances lead me, I will find / Where the truth is hid, though it were hid indeed / Within the centre" (if given the chance I will find the cause of Hamlet's transformation), (Line 158).

The King is not convinced however and asks Polonius, "How may we try it further?" (How can be sure of your theory?), (Line 159).

Polonius suggests a way to be certain. Polonius knows that Hamlet often walks in the lobby of the castle. Polonius will "loose my daughter to him;" (let Ophelia bump into Hamlet) so Polonius and the King, hiding behind an arras (a tapestry) can see for themselves if Hamlet loves Ophelia, proving Polonius' theory for Hamlet's behaviour.

Offering to give up his service to the state if he is wrong, Polonius, King Claudius' Lord Chamberlain, asks only to be left with a farm and carters (Lines 160-167).

The King, now convinced, decides to act out Polonius' plan...

Before this can happen however, Queen Gertrude spots Hamlet approaching, reading a book as he walks (Line 168).

Wanting to learn more from Hamlet himself, Polonius asks King Claudius, Queen Gertrude and their attendants to leave, which they promptly do, leaving Polonius alone with Hamlet to hopefully learn more (Lines 169-170).

Hamlet now enters reading, which serves as our first opportunity to see the "mad" Hamlet for ourselves since the King Claudius first discussed Hamlet's "transformation;" (Act II, Scene II, Line 5).

Polonius greeting Hamlet, asks him "Do you know me, my lord?" (Line 173). Hamlet replies he does, telling Polonius "you are a fishmonger" (you are a fish-seller), (Line 174).

Polonius answers that he is not, and when Hamlet replies "Then I would you were so honest a man" (I wish then that you were such an honest man), (Line 177), we see that Hamlet is being extremely sarcastic and distrustful of Polonius' intentions and sincerity.

This is because fish mongers were historically portrayed as men of ill repute, keen to sell shoddy merchandise as fresh if given half a chance. Thus for Hamlet to wish Polonius were so honest is for Hamlet to make it very clear to us that he holds Polonius in very low esteem indeed and already suspects Polonius has an ulterior motive...

Hamlet now observes that an honest man is literally one man in ten thousand (Line 181), Polonius agreeing though not realizing that Hamlet is basically saying he doubts Polonius is such a man, another scathing insult.

Hamlet now philosophically says that even "the sun breed [breeds] maggots in a dead dog, being a god kissing carrion,-" (even the sun being close to god, breeds maggots in dirty, decomposing flesh), (Line 185) by which he means even the good can do unsavory acts.

Having made his philosophical point, Hamlet asks Polonius if he has a daughter, though we all know both Polonius and Hamlet know this.

Hamlet warns Polonius teasingly that he should "Let her not walk i' [in] the sun:" adding that "conception is a blessing; but not as your daughter may conceive", telling Polonius "Friend, look to't" (friend, look into this), (Line 189), by which Hamlet is saying his daughter may be at risk of unwanted pregnancy.

Since Hamlet knows Polonius knows he knows his daughter, it is clear Hamlet intends to scare the man he already does not trust. As such the line "Friend" is extremely sarcastic; Hamlet does not consider Polonius a friend at all...

Polonius in an aside or a speech to the audience revealing his inner thoughts, remarks that Hamlet still harps on about his daughter Ophelia.

Polonius is certain this must be true and that Hamlet "is far gone, far gone:" (very mad), (Line 191) but he also remembers that when he was young, he too suffered like this out of love (193-195).

Polonius decides to test Hamlet further, asking Hamlet what he reads. Hamlet vaguely answers "Words, words, words" (Line 196), Polonius asking what is wrong and Hamlet suspiciously asking "Between who?" (Line 198).

Polonius now tells Hamlet that he meant to ask what happens in the book Hamlet is reading. Hamlet now rambles very unintelligibly (making no sense) and convinces Polonius that yes, he is indeed mad (Lines 201-210).

Polonius however is not totally convinced of Hamlet's madness since he famously says in an aside,"Though this be madness, yet there is method in't" (though this is madness, there is method or a purpose in it), (Line 211).

Polonius now asks Hamlet if he will walk out in the open, Hamlet answering "Into my grave?" (Line 214), this line convincing Polonius that Hamlet must be mad and indicating again that Hamlet wants to commit suicide (The first suggestion of this was in Act I, Scene II, Lines 132-136).

Polonius also decides that he must arrange a meeting between his daughter and Hamlet to be sure of Hamlet being lovesick as was planned earlier with the King Claudius.

With Polonius politely leaving Hamlet, Hamlet again makes his desire to die clear when Hamlet tells Polonius he can take nothing from Hamlet more willingly than his life, "except my life, except my life" Hamlet repeats (Line 225).

With Polonius leaving, Hamlet says "These tedious old fools!" (Line 227).

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet's two friends who decided to spy on Hamlet for King Claudius enter, Hamlet greeting them warmly as "My excellent good friends!" (Line 232). Hamlet asks both what news they have, explaining that "Denmark's a prison" (Line 253).

Rosencrantz politely replies that the whole world must then be a prison, but Hamlet tells Rosencrantz that if the world is a prison, Denmark must be one of is worst dungeons (Line 257).

Rosencrantz again politely tells Hamlet that he and Guildenstern do not think so, Hamlet answering that maybe Denmark is not a prison for them.

Hamlet now explains that "there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so:" (there is nothing truly good or bad, it is how you think about something that makes it so) adding that "to me [Denmark] it is a prison" (Line 261) in yet another line that shows us how much Hamlet does not like the current Denmark.

We see here a further progression in Hamlet's unease. When we first meet Hamlet, he wanted to kill himself, (Act I, Scene II). Later in Act I, Scene II, he asked King Claudius to let him return to his school in Wittenburg and now having learned the truth from King Hamlet's Ghost, Hamlet tells us that Denmark is a prison for him.

Rosencrantz tries to brighten Hamlet up, telling him that "your ambition makes it one; 'tis [it is] too narrow for your mind" (Line 262).

Hamlet disagrees, saying that he could be bound within a nutshell and would happily call himself a "king of infinite space," (call himself a king of limitless space, not feeling trapped at all), (Line 264) were it not for his "bad dreams" by which Hamlet means he could be happy if his dreams did not haunt him; ambition does not make him miserable.

Guildenstern tells Hamlet that dreams are ambition since "the very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream" (Line 269), Hamlet answering that "A dream itself is but a shadow" (Line 270).

Tiring of this reasoning, Hamlet asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to meet him at the court, asking both men in friendship what they are doing here at Elsinore Castle (Lines 271-284). Hamlet also tells his two friends that "I am most dreadfully attended" (Line 280), a reference to his visitation by the Ghost of his father.

Rosencrantz lies badly that they are here at Elsinore merely to see him, but Hamlet not believing this, asks if they were sent for, or if they came voluntarily, asking both men to tell why they are here (Lines 286-291).

Guildenstern pretends not to know what Hamlet means, asking Hamlet, "What should we say, my lord?" (Line 292).

Hamlet, however knows his friends are lying, telling them that "there is a kind of confession in your looks which your modesties have not craft enough to colour: I know the good king and queen have sent for you" (there is a confession written on your face which you do not have skill enough to hide; I know the King Claudius and Queen Gertrude have sent for you), (Line 293).

Rosencrantz now plays innocent, asking, "To what end, my lord? (For what reason has the King and Queen sent for us), (Line 298).

Hamlet tells them that out of friendship, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern should tell him and after some hesitation, Guildenstern finally comes clean and tells Hamlet that they were sent for (Lines 299-305).

Hamlet realizing that King Claudius and Queen Gertrude sent Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on him, tells his two friends that he has "lost all my mirth, foregone all custom of exercises;" by which Hamlet means he has lost his way and interest in life and has forsaken (stopped) most of his normal routines in life, such is his disinterest in life (Line 313).

Hamlet continues his famous speech, explaining that "the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory;" explaining that the sky which he describes as " this most excellent canopy, the air," and as "this majestical roof fretted [embellished / adorned, improved] with golden fire," appears to Hamlet as nothing more than "a foul and pestilent [vile, unsavory, disease ridden] congregation [mixture] of vapours" (Lines 311-321).

Having made clear to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, that he sees all the beauty of the world (such as the sky with the sun) as filth, Hamlet now famously denounces (rejects) the wonders of man, saying that man, the "paragon of animals!" (the pinnacle, zenith, best of creation) holds no interest for Hamlet any more, adding that this includes woman...

Hamlet:

What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! how infinite in faculty [intelligence]! in form [appearance], in moving, how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension [fear] how like a god! the beauty of the world [the beautiful one in the world]! the paragon of animals [the zenith and leader of all animals]! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? [The ultimate creation from dust- a biblical reference] man delights not me; no, nor woman neither, though, by your smiling you seem to say so" (Lines 321-331)

From this very famous set of lines we can see Hamlet describing man as the ultimate work, noble in reason, infinite in his intellectual potential, express and admirable whilst moving, angelic in action, and fearful like a god.

On top of all this, Hamlet describes all of mankind's greatest attributes, adding that mankind is the "paragon of animals!" and yet to Hamlet, mankind, that ultimate creation from dust by biblical reference, holds no interest for Hamlet anymore.

Hamlet is so sick and weary of the world that mankind with all its wondrous potential, interests Hamlet no more, nor woman for that matter. The last line suggests Hamlet knows his friends are not taking him seriously in his rejection of woman, since he notes that his friends are smiling...

Rosencrantz now denies that he was laughing at Hamlet and so Hamlet asks him why he laughed at him, when he said, "'man delights not me?'" (Line 335).

Rosencrantz explains that if man does not interest Hamlet anymore than he will surely not be interested to know that several actors on their way to Elsinore, these actors offering their services to him (Lines 336-340).

Hamlet, however is far from disinterested, enthusiastically telling Rosencrantz that he will welcome them all, especially "He that plays the king" (the man who plays the king), (Line 341).

Rosencrantz now tells Hamlet that these actors are "tragedians of the city" (Line 350) and Hamlet quickly learns that these actors whom Hamlet remembers used to be held in high regard, now travel from place to place since as Rosencrantz explains, such actors are now out of fashion. Child actors who "berattle the common stages,-" (Line 367), (attack the old type of play) are now all the rage. As a result of this most normal plays no longer are performed.

Hamlet remarks that today's times are indeed strange; where people would "make mows" (grimace, snigger), disrespecting Claudius when King Hamlet ruled, now they throw twenty, forty, fifty and one hundred ducats for King Claudius' picture, another sign of the changing face of Denmark from Hamlet's point of view (Lines 388-394).

Guildenstern now announces the arrival of the players to Hamlet (Line 395), Hamlet telling Guildenstern and Rosencrantz that like the actors, they are welcome with him at Elsinore. Hamlet also lets on to them that he is not really mad, telling the two courtiers, his friends that "my uncle-father [King Claudius] and aunt-mother [a less than warm name for his mother] are deceived" [tricked], (Line 403).

Though Hamlet says "I am but mad north-north-west:" Hamlet adds that "when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw" by which Hamlet means though he may appear mad at times, he is really quite normal, his madness is just an illusion (Lines 405-407).

Polonius now enters, greeting Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and Hamlet.

Hamlet shares small talk about plays with Polonius but again Hamlet leads Polonius on, by deliberately saying the line "One fair daughter and no more, / The which he loved passing well" (Line 436), a comment which has Polonius say in an aside "Still on my daughter" (Line 437), Polonius' line meaning Polonius thinks Hamlet is still obsessed with his daughter Ophelia...

Four or five players from the company of actors now arrive, Hamlet enthusiastically welcoming them and discussing specifics about acting which show Hamlet to have a keen interest and knowledge of acting and the theater (Lines 459-461).

Significantly, Hamlet asks for one of the actors to give "a passionate speech" or to recite some lines from a play (Line 461) so Hamlet may have "a taste of your quality;" (get an idea of the actor's skill), (Line 460).

The First Player asks Hamlet which speech he would like (Line 462), Hamlet answering that he cannot quite remember in what play it occurred before remembering that the speech he liked was "Aeneas' tale to Dido;" (Aeneas' story to Dido from Virgil's Aeneid), (Line 477) which talks about Priam's slaughter (Lines 463-480), Hamlet recalling the opening lines, before rehearsing part of it (Lines 481-496).

Note: Hamlet also shows us his knowledge of theater by praising the play for its scenes being "set down with as much modesty as cunning" and adding that the scene in another man's opinion lacked sauciness described as "sallets" or anything else that would earn it praise, yet in Hamlet's opinion is still good if not universally liked (Line 465) and (Lines 467-468)

Returning to the play, Hamlet recites the scene with such skill that Polonius remarks on how "well spoken;" (well performed), Hamlet's recital was (Line 497).

Knowing the lines of the speech (a play derived from Aeneas' tale to Dido from Virgil's Aeneid, the epic about the Trojan war), the First Player recites the speech in which Aeneas tells Dido about how Priam was slaughtered by Phyrrus who was the son of Achilles, famous for his Achilles heal (Lines 499-527).

Polonius complains at the length of this recital, Hamlet telling the First Player to continue which the First Player does. The First Player now recites lines about "the mobled queen-", this immediately gaining Hamlet's attention and enthusiasm (Line 533).

This is because the "mobled queen-" described was King Priam's Queen Hecuba, who grieved terribly at the loss of her husband. Since Hamlet resents his own mother not mourning his father and her husband, King Hamlet, this strikes a chord in Hamlet as the First Player recites the lines about Hecuba's grief (Lines 536-549).

Polonius noting that Hamlet's face has changed color and that Hamlet "has tears in's [in his] eyes" tells the First Player to stop (Line 551).

The First Player stops and after Hamlet instructs Polonius to see to the Player's accommodations, (Lines 553-549), Hamlet asks if the First Player could perform the play "The Murder of Gonzago?" (Line 570).

Learning that the First Player can, Hamlet arranges for the play to be performed with a "dozen or sixteen lines," provided by Hamlet (Lines 567-576).

Hamlet now bids friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern goodnight (Line 581) and alone through soliloquy reveals his deepest thoughts to us.

Alone Hamlet reveals "what a rogue and peasant slave am I [I am]:" (Line 584) that this actor has in acting out Hecuba's grief, felt more for a person he does not even know than what Hamlet can (Lines 585-600).

Next Hamlet chides himself for not acting against what King Claudius has done, instead saying nothing and asking himself whether he must then be a coward or even a villain because of his inaction (Lines 606).

Hamlet continues chiding himself for some time before remembering that "I have heard, / That guilty creatures [like King Claudius] sitting at a play / Have by the very cunning of the scene [realism of the scene] / Been struck so to the soul that presently / They have proclaim'd their malefactions [been struck to their conscience to declare their sins];" Hamlet adding that "For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak / With most miraculous organ" (Lines 625-630).

Hamlet having now decided that a play can make the guilty proclaim their sins, decides that "I'll have these players [actors] / Play something like the murder of my father / Before mine uncle;" (I will have these players act out a play very similar to my father's death in front of King Claudius), where Hamlet will watch for a reaction from King Claudius since any reaction should prove King Claudius did murder his father (Line 632).

Hamlet now is certain of his plan, saying "I know my course" if King Claudius acts in a guilty way to the scene (Line 634).

Nonetheless Hamlet is cautious, not totally trusting that the Ghost is right and remembering that "The spirit that I have seen / May be the devil:" (Line 635), after all the devil has been known "To assume a pleasing shape;" with which it can lead Hamlet on to damn him (Line 636).

Hamlet ends the scene, famously saying "the play's the thing / Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king" (the play is the devise I'll use to catch King Claudius' conscience, revealing whether he killed my father or not), (Line 641).

Act III. Scene I. - A Room in the Castle.
Hamlet: "To be, or not to be: that is the question...."
The King's spies, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report to King Claudius on Hamlet's behaviour. Hamlet is eager for King Claudius and Queen Gertrude to watch a play tonight which Hamlet has added lines to. King Claudius and Polonius listen in on Hamlet's and Ophelia's private conversation. Hamlet suspects Ophelia is spying on him and is increasingly hostile to her before leaving. King Claudius decides to send Hamlet to England, fearing danger in Hamlet since he no longer believes Hamlet is merely lovesick. The King agrees to Polonius' plan to eavesdrop on Hamlet's conversation with his mother after the play to hopefully learn more from Hamlet.
Within a room in at Elsinore Castle, King Claudius, accompanied by Queen Gertrude, Polonius and Ophelia, asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to explain further why Hamlet "puts on this confusion, / Grating so harshly all his days of quiet / With turbulent and dangerous lunacy?" (Why Hamlet acts as if he is mad), (Lines 1-4).
King Claudius' comment above that Hamlet is "putting on" a display of madness, clearly tells us that King Claudius no longer completely believes Polonius' theory that Hamlet is lovesick; instead it suggests Claudius knows Hamlet's lunacy is an act...
Rosencrantz pledges what he has seen, saying of Hamlet that "He does confess he feels himself distracted;" (Hamlet does confess to feeling distracted), (Line 5), Rosencrantz adding however that Hamlet will not tell him the "cause" of his distraction (Line 5).
Guildenstern backs up Rosencrantz, telling King Claudius that Hamlet has avoided giving explanations for his behaviour, but "with a crafty madness," (a cunning madness), instead "keeps aloof, / When we would bring him on to some confession / Of his true state" (keeps aloof, when we try to ask him his true mental state), (Lines 8-9).
Queen Gertrude now questions Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Line 10), learning that Hamlet did receive (welcome / greet) Guildenstern and Rosencrantz "Most like a gentleman" (politely like a gentleman), (Line 11).
The Queen also asks of Hamlet's general activity (Line 15), learning that Hamlet was enthusiastic and happy at the arrival of the players (actors) in the court, Rosencrantz saying that "there did seem in him a kind of joy" (Line 18).
Polonius now adds that Hamlet "beseech'd" or urged him to "entreat" or request that King Claudius and the Queen watch the play to be acted for Hamlet tonight.
King Claudius, who now seems very wary of Hamlet's emotional state, is very pleased to hear his nephew is happy again, saying "With all my heart; and it doth much content me / To hear him so inclin'd" (it pleases me with all my heart to hear that Hamlet is so inclined), (Line 24).
King Claudius now tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to "give him [Hamlet] a further edge, / And drive his purpose on to these delights" by which Claudius means for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to encourage Hamlet to follow this acting interest of his since it appears to make Hamlet happy (Line 25).
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern now depart, King Claudius asking his wife, Queen Gertrude to also leave since as Claudius explains, he and Polonius have arranged for Ophelia to meet Hamlet at which point the two men will hide so they can eavesdrop on Hamlet's and Ophelia's conversation to learn if Hamlet's behaviour is the result of "the affliction of his love" (Hamlet is lovesick), (Line 36) or not (Lines 29-37).
Queen Gertrude leaves, telling Ophelia that she wishes that her "good beauties be [are] the happy cause / Of Hamlet's wildness [madness];" in which case Queen Gertrude hopes and tells Ophelia that "I hope your virtues / Will bring him [Hamlet] to his wonted [normal] way again," (Line 39).
Ophelia respectfully replies to the Queen, "Madam, I wish it may" (Madam, I hope it does), (Line 41).
With the Queen now exiting, Polonius tells Ophelia where to walk, whilst Polonius and King Claudius hide behind an arras (a tapestry wall).
Polonius tells his daughter Ophelia to "Read on this book;" (Line 44) or be reading a book since Polonius explains reading a book "may colour / Your loneliness" or rather make it more convincing when Hamlet finds her (Line 45).
Polonius now mentions that under the guise of devotion, one can often do tasks (such as making Ophelia spy on Hamlet) that are evil and wrong which he likens to sugaring over or making less offensive, the devil.
Polonius: "We are oft [often] to blame in this, / 'Tis [it is] too much prov'd [proved], that with devotion's visage [face / appearance] / And pious action [devoutly religious or virtuous action / doing something with the guise that it is holy] we do sugar o'er [over] / The devil himself (we do sugar over or cover up / disguise the most vile, horrid things which of course are represented as devil-like)" (Lines 46-49).
King Claudius' conscience is now awakened by Polonius's remark since King Claudius in an aside to himself, agrees with Polonius' sentiment that one can commit wrong with all the right actions (Line 50), King Claudius explaining that "The harlot's [prostitute's] cheek, beautied with plastering art [made beautiful with makeup], / Is not more ugly [is not uglier] to the thing that helps it / Than is my deed [killing King Hamlet] to my most painted [false, hypocritical] word:" before exclaiming the weight of his guilt with the line "O heavy burden!" (O! how heavy is the burden of my guilt!), (Lines 52-54).
Hearing Hamlet coming, Polonius tells the King that they should withdraw or hide from view behind the arras before Hamlet sees them (Line 55).
Hamlet now enters and alone, speaks his third soliloquy, the famous " To be, or not to be:" soliloquy. Beginning with the lines "To be, or not to be: that is the question:" (Line 56), Hamlet asks himself whether it is more noble in the mind to suffer "The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune," or to "take arms [fight] against a sea of troubles [a mountain of worries]," and by fighting or opposing them, to then end those worries (Lines 56-61).
Next he asks the question of whether to die or to sleep (Lines 64-90) pondering philosophically the difference between the two, before noticing Ophelia (Line 88).
Ophelia and Hamlet cordially greet each other (Lines 91-93) before Ophelia tells Hamlet that she has "remembrances of yours," (letters) that she says she had longed to "re-deliver;" (return) to him (Lines 94-96).
Hamlet pretends that he never sent them but Ophelia reminds him that he knows very well that he sent them to her. Ophelia now remarks on how those remembrances contained "words of so sweet breath compos'd [made of such sweet, beautiful phrases], (Line 98).
She tells Hamlet to deny this no further since as she says "Rich gifts wax poor [are made poor] when givers [like Hamlet] prove unkind" (Lines 100-101).
Hamlet, realizing that Ophelia is acting very cordially and unusually starts to indicate his distrust of Ophelia by saying "Ha, ha! are you honest?" (Line 103), Ophelia gasping "My lord!" (Line 104) before Hamlet then asks "Are you fair?" (Line 105) these being very rude questions to ask a lady and questions more appropriate to a man inquiring about a prostitute in this time...
We can sense that Hamlet already distrusts Ophelia and may be wondering who may be listening in to his conversation...
Ophelia now asks Hamlet what he means, Hamlet answering that "if you be honest [if you are honest] and fair, your honesty should admit no discourse to your beauty" (Line 109).
Ophelia asks Hamlet whether beauty could have any better commerce than honesty, Hamlet answering that beauty and honesty form a paradox (Lines 111-116) before telling Ophelia that "I did love thee [you] once," (Line 117).
Ophelia replies that Hamlet certainly made her believe so and now Hamlet beginning to feel enraged, tells her it was a lie, "I loved you not" (Line 122).
Ophelia replies that she "was the more deceived" (Line 123) before Hamlet tells Ophelia to go to a nunnery; men such as Hamlet are not to be trusted.
Hamlet now asks her whether she would she be "a breeder of sinners?" Hamlet saying that he has committed acts that would make it better if his mother had not given birth to him (Lines 124-128).
Hamlet now says that he is proud, revengeful and ambitious, telling Ophelia that "We [men] are all arrant [aimless] knaves (fools / barbarians), all [of us];" (Line 132) before telling Ophelia to "believe none of us" and to go to a nunnery (Line 133).
Now in a line which clearly shows us that Hamlet totally distrusts Ophelia, Hamlet out of the blue, asks Ophelia "Where's your father?" (Line 135).
Ophelia who knows exactly where Polonius is, lies saying Polonius is "At home, my lord" (Line 136).
Hamlet,clearly realizing that Ophelia has betrayed him and must be working on King Claudius' behalf, insults King Claudius by saying " Let the doors be shut upon him, that he may play the fool nowhere but in's [in his] own house" before curtly saying "Farewell" to Ophelia. (Lines 136-139).
Note: The fact that Hamlet finishes his initial conversation to Ophelia quickly after asking about Polonius suggests Hamlet is angry at being betrayed by Ophelia since he wishes his so- called love to leave his sight immediately. Additionally, Hamlet's insult of King Claudius was so offensive and declamatory in its syntax that we must conclude its purpose is for Hamlet to prove to his spies that he knows they are there...
Hamlet now directly insults Ophelia, telling her that he would give her a plague as a dowry should they marry and that no matter how pure she is, she will not escape "calumny", telling her again to go to a nunnery but in a tone suggesting less that it is advise and more that it is an order (Lines 141-144).
Hamlet now adds that if Ophelia must marry then she should marry a fool, "for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them" before again telling her to go to a nunnery (Line 145).
Ophelia asks the heavenly powers to restore Hamlet or return him to normal, Hamlet launching another blistering attack on Ophelia, who he now clearly sees as having betrayed him by working for Claudius.
Hamlet tells Ophelia that "god hath [has] given you one face, and you make yourselves another:" adding "you jig [a ludicrous ballad], you amble, and you lisp, and nickname God's creatures," before Hamlet tells Ophelia that he will not take it, and to leave his sight immediately, since he tells Ophelia that she "hath made me mad" (Line 155).
After denouncing all marriages, Hamlet leaves, leaving Ophelia to mourn "what a noble mind is here o'er-thrown [overthrown]:" (Line 159) or as she later says, "Blasted with ecstasy:" (Line 169) which used to be so ordered and authoritative (Lines 160-161).
With Hamlet gone, King Claudius and Polonius emerge from the arras, with King Claudius certain that Hamlet is not in love, adding that what Hamlet said "Was not like madness" (Line 173).
King Claudius notices that Hamlet's so called madness may very well be an illusion, since he remarks that "There's something in his soul / O'er [over] which his melancholy [sadness / depression] sits on brood;" and adding that he has no doubt that "the hatch and the disclose [the real reason for his behaviour] / Will be some danger;" (will be dangerous to him), (Lines 174-176).
Certain that the real cause of Hamlet's behaviour poses a threat to him, King Claudius decides that to prevent any danger to his person by sending Hamlet away to England where distance alone should make him less of a threat than he is to King Claudius here in Denmark.
King Claudius:
I have in quick determination / Thus set it down: he shall with speed to England, / For the demand of our neglected tribute: / Haply the seas and countries different / With variable objects shall expel / This something-settled matter in his heart, / Whereon his brains still beating puts him thus / From fashion of himself.
(I have decided to send Hamlet to England in return for those neglected tributes that have not been paid to me there. Hopefully this change of location shall settle the problem in Hamlet's heart, which his thinking about is only worsening, putting him at odds with his normal character), (Lines 177-182)
King Hamlet now asks Polonius what he thinks of his idea, Polonius answering that he still feels that "The origin [the cause] and commencement [beginning] of his [Hamlet's] grief / Sprung [came] from neglected love [Ophelia's rejection of Hamlet]" (Line 185).
Polonius now scolds Ophelia since he is still certain she is the true cause of Hamlet's behaviour before suggesting that King Claudius may "do as you please;" (Line 189).
Polonius does however, receive King Claudius' permission to have Queen Gertrude speak with Hamlet after the play so that Polonius can learn more for the King by listening in to their conversation (Lines 187-195).
King Claudius ends the scene by both giving Polonius permission to spy on his wife and nephew's (Hamlet's) conversation and by warning of the danger, complacency represents...
King Claudius: "It shall be so [you, Polonius have my permission]: / Madness in great ones [Hamlet] must not unwatch'd go [Madness in great ones should not go unwatched]" (Lines 195-196).

Act III
Act III. Scene II. - A Hall in the Castle.
Queen Gertrude: "The lady doth protest too much, me-thinks."
The play Hamlet had added lines to is performed. The mime preceding the play which mimics the Ghost's description of King Hamlet's death goes unnoticed.
The main play, "The Murder of Gonzago" is performed, causing King Claudius to react which convinces Hamlet that his uncle did poison his father King Hamlet as the Ghost previously had told him...
Hamlet pretends not to know that the play has offended King Claudius. Hamlet agrees to speak with his mother in private...
The scene opens with Hamlet speaking with several players (actors) who will soon perform the evening's play. Hamlet urges these players to speak their lines with subtlety, "trippingly [gently] on the tongue;" instead of shouting them out bluntly like a town crier (Line 1).
Hamlet also urges the actors to gesticulate (use hand motions) lightly (Line 3), telling the actors to "acquire and beget a temperance [maintain self-restraint, or a moderation in their acting] that may give it [their performance] a smoothness" (Line 7) since this will better depict a "whirlwind of passion," in Hamlet's opinion (Line 5).
This advise and Hamlet's comments that "I would have such a fellow whipped [I would have someone whipped / beaten] for o'er-doing (overdoing / overacting) Termagant;" (a play), (Line 15), suggest that Hamlet is something of a connoisseur, if not an well-informed patron of theater.
Hamlet now tells the players to avoid overacting (Line 17), the First Player pledging to do so (Line 18).
Hamlet now goes on giving out advise, telling the players (actors) not to be too tame either and instead to "let your own discretion [judgment] be your tutor: suit [match] the action to the word, the word to the action;" (Lines 19-20).
Note: In Hamlet telling the actors how to match actions to words to make them believable, one cannot help but notice a certain irony that Hamlet who is also playing a role (madness) is advising the players on how they too can be more convincing in their own performances...
Hamlet continues his advise (Lines 20-40), telling the actors above all else to "o'erstep not the modesty of nature [do not overstep or go beyond the modesty of nature / do not be unrealistic];" since as Hamlet explains, "anything so overdone is from the purpose of playing [anything so overdone is away from the purpose of playing or acting]," and will only make the "judicious grieve [upset people who know theater];" and the "unskilful [ignorant] laugh," (Line 30).
Since Hamlet is hoping to flush out his uncle's (King Claudius) guilt with the player's performance, it is obvious that Hamlet would want the play to be subtle and not overdone; Hamlet needs a realistic play to get a response from his uncle, not a laugh.
After some further discussion (Lines 41-51) the players (actors) leave, and now Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter.
Hamlet asks "will the king [King Claudius] hear this piece of work [will the king watch the play]?" (Line 52), Polonius telling Hamlet that the King will watch the play as will Hamlet's mother Queen Gertrude before leaving (Lines 52-54).
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern now leave when Hamlet asks them to tell the players to prepare the play or to quote Hamlet, "make haste" (make speed, work quickly), (Line 54).
Horatio, Hamlet's trusted friend from the very first act (remember the guard platform at Elsinore Castle?) arrives, Hamlet immediately praising his one truly trustworthy friend (Line 60).
Horatio modestly plays down Hamlet's compliments and Hamlet now pledges that "bless'd [blessed] are those / Whose blood and judgement are so well co-mingled / That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger / To sound what stop she please," (blessed are those whose body and judgement are so well mixed that they are not able to be influenced by fortune as are most others), (Line 73).
Hamlet also adds that if knew such an honorable man, he would " wear him / In my heart's core, aye, in my heart of heart, / As I do thee (you, Horatio)", (Line 77).
Having finished complimenting Horatio as a man of good judgement, Hamlet tells his friend that "There is a play to-night before the king; [tonight the king will watch a play]" (Line 80).
Hamlet also explains that within the play he has added some lines in which "One scene of it comes near the circumstance / Which I have told thee of my father's death:" (one scene in the play closely re-enacts what I have told you about how my father, King Hamlet died), (Lines 80-82).
Hamlet now tells his trusted friend Horatio that when he sees the actors take to the stage, he should "Observe mine uncle;" (watch my uncle, King Claudius), (Line 85).
Hamlet explains that "if his occulted guilt / Do not unkennel in one speech, / It is a damned ghost that we have seen," (if my uncle's guilt does not reveal itself in one specific speech of the play, then it was a damned or evil Ghost that we saw, and what the Ghost told us is not true), (Lines 86-88).
Hamlet also adds that he too, will be watching King Claudius' expression during the play and that after it, he and Horatio will together decide whether King Claudius killed his father or not...
With the play about to begin, Hamlet bids his friend to take his place, telling his friend that for their plan to work, "I must be idle:" (I must be unassuming / I must lay low), (Line 95 and Lines 90-96)
King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Polonius the Lord Chamberlain, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and "Others" now enter to watch the play...
Immediately upon entering, King Claudius asks Hamlet how he is. Hamlet replies "Excellent, i' faith;" (excellent, I believe), (Line 100), hiding his true feelings from King Claudius.
In what now becomes a very obvious war of words, King Claudius replies to Hamlet, "I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet; these words are not mine" (you are telling me nothing with this answer, Hamlet), (Line 101).
Hamlet replies to the King "No, nor mine now" and asks Polonius if it is true that he once acted "i' (in / at) the university," (Line 105).
Polonius replies, that yes he did once act, Hamlet asking in what play?
Polonius answers that he acted in Julius Caesar (Line 109) which is a clear in-joke to viewers of this play, since Shakespeare had previously performed Julius Caesar at the Globe.
Further laughter ensues for the audience, when Polonius says "I was kill'd [killed] i' (in) the Capitol; Brutus killed me" (Line 109-110).
Viewers of this play would remember that the actor playing Polonius, played Caesar in Julius Caesar. Besides the in-joke that the actor who plays Polonius says in this play that he previously played Julius Caesar, we have the further irony that just as the actor playing Polonius was Julius Caesar, the actor playing Brutus is considered likely by many to have played Hamlet in this play, a character who will ultimately be killed by Polonius (who played Caesar in Julius Caesar).
Returning to the play, Hamlet makes another in-joke by saying to Polonius, "It was a brute [pun on Brutus who the actor playing Hamlet likely played] part of him to kill so capital a calf there" (Line 111).
Learning that the players (actors) are ready, Queen Gertrude asks Hamlet to "sit by me" (Line 116).
Tellingly, Hamlet declines; we already know from his soliloquies that Hamlet distrusts his mother almost as much as his "uncle", King Claudius.
Hamlet now insults his mother by saying "No, good mother [sarcasm], here's metal more attractive" (Line 117).
Noticing Hamlet's hostility, Polonius asks Claudius whether he noticed this (Line 119) and Hamlet takes his place at Ophelia's feet after asking her, "Lady, shall I lie in your lap? [An insult to Ophelia's virtue, continuing Hamlet's prostitute theme earlier in the play]" (Line 120).
Ophelia, insulted by this question, tells Hamlet "No, my lord" (Line 121), Hamlet pretending that what he really meant was "I mean, my head upon your lap?" (Line 122).
Ophelia replies "Ay, my lord" (Line 124) and now Hamlet continues to attack Ophelia by innocently asking, "Do you think I meant country matters?" (Did you think I was talking about intimate matters / sex?), (Line 124).
Ophelia, keen to maintain her virtue and reputation, politely replies "I think nothing, my lord" (Line 125).
Hamlet now moves in for the kill, offhandedly replying "That's a fair thought to lie between maids' legs" (that is a good thought to have between a women's legs, a very vulgar remark whose imagery shows Hamlet has no respect at all for Ophelia whom he sees as a prostitute for selling her soul to King Claudius and using his affection for her for profit in spying on him), (Line 126).
Ophelia replies to this remark "What is, my lord?" (Line 128), Hamlet replying with the word "Nothing" (Line 129).
Ophelia now tells Hamlet that he is "merry," (Line 130). Hamlet agrees, saying why should he not be, his own mother looks so cheerful, after his father died but two hours ago (Lines 133-136).
Ophelia reminds Hamlet and the audience, that King Hamlet actually died two months ago (Line 137). Hamlet now sarcastically complains that it has been two months and his father's memory has not yet been totally forgotten. This will not do, he says and he now adds that there must be some hope now that a great man's reputation (King Hamlet) could actually last half a year beyond his death...
The "dumb-show" or short play preceding the main play begins (Line 147).
In this "dumb-show" or short play, the King and Queen in the short play enter, very lovingly showing their affection for one another... The two embrace each other, the Queen kneeling to make a protestation or declaration of love to the King.
The King lifts her up, placing his head upon her neck, and the King is laid gently upon a bank of flowers where he falls asleep. The Queen noticing her King asleep, gracefully leaves.
Now another man enters. He takes the King's crown off his head, kisses the crown and pours poison into the King's ears and then leaves.
The Queen returns and finding her King dead, "makes passionate action" or declaration of her grief.
The Poisoner now returns and attempts to woo or court the Queen with gifts. She rejects these to begin with, but eventually "accepts his [the Poisoner's] love."
Note: Though this play mirrors King Hamlet's death at the hands of King Claudius, neither King Claudius nor Queen Gertrude make any response to it. The reason suggested is that King Claudius is a man able to keep his emotions in check and that Queen Gertrude not knowing that King Hamlet was poisoned can not see any similarity to her own situation. While it is true Queen Gertrude is married to King Claudius, King Hamlet's murderer, only in Act III, Scene IV do we realize that Queen Gertrude had no idea that her previous husband (King Hamlet of Denmark)) was murdered by her current husband (King Claudius of Denmark).
The play ended, Ophelia asks Hamlet "What means this, my lord?" (What was the play about?), (Line 147).
Hamlet replies that the "dumb-show" which mimics King Claudius' and Queen Gertrude's behaviour is a "miching mallecho; it means mischief" (it is about scandalous deeds, it is about mischief and wrongdoing or evil), (Lines 148-149).
The Prologue (a person, like a narrator) now enters and Hamlet tells Ophelia who does not understand the meaning of the play, that the Prologue, "this fellow:" will explain to all, Ophelia wondering if the argument or plot of the main play has been foreshadowed or revealed by the "dumb-show" she has just watched (Line 150).
Hamlet also adds that the Prologue will also tell Ophelia whatever she chooses to show him (Lines 155-157).
Ophelia, annoyed, tells Hamlet that "You are naught, you are naught" and says she will watch the play instead (Line 158).
The Prologue speaks, saying "For us and for our tragedy, / Here stooping to your clemency, / We beg your hearing patiently" (Lines 160-163).
Hamlet wonders if this Prologue has any meaning (Line 164) to which Ophelia replies "'Tis [it is] brief, my lord" (it is brief / short my lord), (Line 165).
Hamlet agrees saying "As woman's love" (Line 166), a clear insult to Ophelia and Queen Gertrude who so quickly shifted her love from one man to another (Queen Gertrude shifting love her from King Hamlet to King Claudius and Ophelia her loyalty from Hamlet to King Claudius).
With the Prologue finished, the main play called "The Murder of Gonzago" is performed...
The plot is almost the same as the "dumb-show" with a King and Queen again declaring their love and devotion for each other. Interestingly the Player Queen (actor playing the Queen) pledges to never remarry (unlike Queen Gertrude!) should she lose her King and husband (Lines 228-235).
Hearing this Hamlet says "If she should break it now!" (Line 236) after the Player King tells his Queen that her words of loyalty are "deeply sworn" (deeply pledged), (Line 237) before the King excuses himself to go to sleep (Lines 167-241).
Note: The Player Queen in declaring her loyalty to her King is making the very same pledge of loyalty, Hamlet believes his mother has broken in remarrying. In Hamlet's eyes his mother should have stayed a widow after his father (King Hamlet) died and not remarried. It is this unspoken pledge that Hamlet believes his mother has broken that Hamlet cannot forgive his mother for...
The play now is interrupted by Hamlet who slyly asks his mother, Queen Gertrude, "Madam, how like you this play?" (Madam, how do you like this play / what do you think of it?), (Line 241).
Queen Gertrude now famously answers "The lady doth [does] protest too much, me-thinks [I think]" (Line 242), a line that suggests Queen Gertrude is starting to realize that the play is echoing her own behaviour in remarrying after her first husband's death.
As far as Queen Gertrude is concerned, this Queen is protesting far too much and we can sense she does not appreciate her life being mirrored by this play since she seeks to downplay the Player Queen's loyalty in the play which is clearly an embarrassment to her own...
To make this point absolutely clear, Hamlet now replies to his mother "O! but she'll keep her word" (O! but she will keep her word to be loyal and remain a widow unlike you), (Line 244).
King Claudius now interrupts this charming little mother-son conversation to ask Hamlet if he knows this play well and if it in any way is offensive or insulting, Hamlet replying that it is not offensive and that the players "poison in jest;" (poison or offend jokingly) and that the play has no offensiveness at all (Lines 245-248).
Satisfied with Hamlet's lie, King Claudius asks Hamlet what the play is called. Hamlet replies that it is called "The Mouse-trap" which is really a description for what Hamlet hopes this play will do; catch a mouse (King Claudius with his guilt as proof that he killed Hamlet's father) and shame his mother (Line 250).
Hamlet now explains the plot to King Hamlet, saying that the murder happens in Vienna, the Duke's name is Gonzago, his "loyal" wife, Baptista. Hamlet cheekily tells the King that this play is a "knavish (cunning / nasty) piece of work:" but says this should not matter since the play's action (murder) should not touch or bother "we [Hamlet sarcastically means King Claudius and Queen Gertrude] that have free souls," (Line 256) should it?
The play now continues with the Player (actor) playing Lucianus entering the stage. Hamlet tells the King that Lucianus is a nephew to the "king" in the story just as Hamlet is a nephew to King Claudius.
Ophelia tells Hamlet that "you are a good chorus, my lord" (Line 259) by which she means he is a good commentator / guide for the play.
Hamlet returns the compliment by nastily remarking that he could interpret her love "if I could see the puppets dallying", a clear reference to the fact he knows Ophelia does not love without shadows listening in (King Claudius, Polonius and Queen Gertrude).
Ophelia politely remarks that Hamlet is "keen, my lord," (Line 262) to which Hamlet again insults Ophelia by crudely replying "It would cost you a groaning to take off my edge [to reduce my spite]" (Line 264).
Having finished his spiteful remarks, Hamlet beckons the actor playing Lucianus to "Begin, murderer;" and to "leave thy damnable faces [stop smirking]," and begin his part of the play (murdering Gonzago), (Lines 266-269).
"Lucianus" now recites his lines, which describe him poisoning Gonzago by pouring poison into his ear as he sleeps (Lines 270-275).
Hamlet who is continuing his running commentary of the play, explains to all that Lucianus is now poisoning Gonzago in the garden whom. Hamlet also adds that now we will see how "the murderer gets the love of Gonzago's wife" (how the murderer, a clear parallel to King Claudius gets the love of Gonzago's wife, a parallel of course to Queen Gertrude), (Line 280).
This last line finally rouses King Claudius since Ophelia announces that "The king rises" a sure sign that he is displeased.
Hamlet, enjoying all this and feigning innocence says "What! frighted with false fire?" (What, was King Claudius frightened by a fictitious story or false fire?), (Line 282).
Queen Gertrude asks her husband how he is and Polonius fearing the King is upset calls for the play to end (Lines 283-284).
King Claudius meanwhile ushers his first words since realizing the play mirrors his own killing by saying "Give me some light: away!" a clear sign that King Claudius is alarmed and seeking to be as far a way as possible from his current feelings (Line 285).
Lights are called for, everyone leaving except for Hamlet and Horatio who now alone, can compare notes on what they thought of King Claudius' behaviour (Lines 287-301).
Hamlet, certain that King Claudius did kill his father, tells Horatio that "I'll take the ghost's word for a thousand pound" (Line 302), asking Horatio if he "Didst perceive?" (Line 303) or also notice King Claudius' reaction to the play?
With Horatio confirming that King Claudius did react to the part of the play where the poisoning happened, a clear sign of guilt, a jubilant (happy) Hamlet calls for music (Lines 304-312).
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, King Claudius' spies we will remember, enter, telling Hamlet that King Claudius is "in his retirement marvellous distempered" (King Claudius having left is extremely angry), (Line 317).
Hamlet pretends not to understand, asking the two courtiers if Claudius is distempered or angry "With drink, sir?" (Line 319).
Guildenstern replies no, King Claudius is distempered "with choler", a type of sickness to which Hamlet tells Guildenstern that he would be better off telling this to King Claudius' doctor (Line 320).
Guildenstern also tells Hamlet that his mother, Queen Gertrude has sent for him and would like to speak with him in private in her closet before Hamlet goes to bed, Hamlet deliberately pretending not to understand or comply with Guildenstern's request on his mother's behalf (Lines 329-350).
Before leaving, Rosencrantz tells Hamlet that "you once did love me" (Line 355), Hamlet making it fairly clear that he no longer trusts him (Line 356).
Nonetheless when Rosencrantz asks Hamlet what the cause is of his "distemper?" (anger or madness in this context), Hamlet deceives his so-called friend by saying he lacks "advancement" or has no ambition, a message he clearly wants King Claudius to receive (Line 361).
Rosencrantz asks how a man who has "the voice of the king himself for your succession in Denmark?" can lack ambition but Hamlet replies with a baffling proverb instead, denying Rosencrantz any further information (Lines 362-365).
Several Players (Line 366) with recorders (musical instruments) arrive and Hamlet takes the opportunity to humiliate his so-called friend Guildenstern.
Hamlet does this by repeatedly asking Guildenstern to play upon a pipe or play an instrument. Guildenstern repeatedly refuses, saying he cannot play until Hamlet in rage tells his so called "friend" that 'Tis [it is] as easy as lying;" (it is as easy as lying which you already do), (Line 379).
Guildenstern protests that he does not have the skill to play but Hamlet tells him "You would play upon me; [you would use me] you would seem to know my stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery [you would try to learn all my secrets]; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, ex-cellent voice, in this little organ, yet cannot you make it speak" (Lines 386-395).
Finishing his insult, Hamlet asks Guildenstern if he thought he was easier to play than an instrument before telling him "Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret [worry, vex, annoy, harass] me, you cannot play upon me [use me]" (Line 396).
Polonius now enters, telling Hamlet that Queen Gertrude wishes to speak with him and urgently; Hamlet confusing Polonius by talking about a cloud and arguing over what it looks like before agreeing to seeing his mother (Lines 401-409).
Happy that Hamlet will see his mother, Polonius leaves followed by Guildenstern and Rosencrantz, leaving Hamlet once again alone to voice his thoughts...
Again in soliloquy, Hamlet urges himself to be firm in his purpose and not to let mercy, pity or love cloud his resolve to punish his mother, though he later says he will not physically harm her.
Hamlet tells himself, "O heart! lose not thy nature; let not ever / The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom; / Let me be cruel, not unnatural; / I will speak daggers to her [I will hurt her], but use none [but I will not physically hurt her];" before exiting (Lines 417-419).
Act III. Scene III. - A Room in the Castle.
King Claudius of Hamlet: "I like him not...."
King Claudius admits his growing fear of Hamlet and decides to send him overseas to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in order to protect himself. Alone, King Claudius reveals in soliloquy his own knowledge of the crime he has committed and realizes that he cannot escape divine justice...
Within a room in the castle, King Claudius expresses his feelings about Hamlet to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. " I like him not," (Line 1) he says, adding that he does not feel it is safe anymore to have Hamlet so close to them "To let his madness range [continue]" (Line 2).
By these lines we can clearly see that King Claudius' prudent concern about Hamlet has grown to fear following the play and it is a fear King Claudius is reluctant to show his subjects, hence the understatement.
Fearing Hamlet, King Claudius therefore tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that "I your commission will forthwith dispatch [I will send you away], / And he [Hamlet] to England shall along with you [and I will send Hamlet away with you to England]" (Line 4).
King Claudius finishes his thought by saying "The terms of our estate may not endure / Hazard so dangerous as doth hourly grow / Out of his lunacies" (our hold or reign may not endure the danger or is not safe from the threat that grows by the hour from Hamlet's increasing lunacy or madness. He is unpredictable and we are safer without him), (Lines 4-6).
Guildenstern pledges loyally "To keep those many many bodies safe / That live and feed upon your majesty" (we will keep safe the many many people who rely and benefit from your rule), (Line 8).
Rosencrantz echoes this support by likening the King to a very large "massy wheel," to which many many lives are attached to its massive spokes. If that wheel were to break, many others who benefit from the King will also suffer, Rosencrantz eloquently saying "The cease [end] of majesty [a King or Queen's rule] / Dies not alone," (Line 15).
Finishing his pledge of loyalty, Rosencrantz adds that "Never alone / Did the king sigh, but with a general groan" (Line 23) a reference again to the influence the King has on his subjects such as Guildenstern and Rosencrantz who both "live and feed" upon King Claudius' majesty or rule (Line 10).
King Claudius wishes Rosencrantz and Guildenstern a speedy voyage, both men now exiting (Lines 24-26).
Polonius enters, telling King Claudius that Hamlet is now on his way to his mother's (Queen Gertrude's) closet or private chamber. Polonius tells King Claudius that he will hide behind an arras or hanging tapestry to hear what the two will say.
Polonius also compliments King Claudius by remarking how wisely King Claudius had said that Hamlet is likely to be truthful to his mother. Compliments complete, Polonius departs to take up his hiding position, promising to reveal all to King Claudius later (Lines 27-35).
With Polonius alone, King Claudius reveals his thoughts to us in his soliloquy. We quickly learn that King Claudius is a troubled man, saying "O! my offence is rank, it smells to heaven; / It hath the primal eldest curse upon't [upon it]; / A brother's murder!" (Line 36).
By this King Claudius means his crime is vile, foul-smelling and undeniably evil since his crime is the same as that committed by the first ever murderer, Cain who was cursed for murdering his brother by God.
King Claudius now goes on to lament that he cannot pray since "My stronger guilt defeats by strong intent;" (Line 40) by which King Claudius means he cannot pray since his guilt prevents him from praying which is what he wants to do.
King Claudius however realizes now that prayer can redeem him; God does not deny forgiveness to those who pray for it. Encouraged by this thought, King Claudius asks himself how he should start his prayer... "'Forgive me my foul murder?'" he asks himself, unsure (Line 52).
However King Claudius now realizes that simply praying for forgiveness will not redeem him; to be forgiven he must reverse as much as possible the harm he has done as well (restitution).
But King Claudius knows that "I am still possess'd [I still have] / Of those effects for which I did the murder, / My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen" (Lines 55), asking himself whether he can be pardoned yet still enjoy the fruits of his sin (his reign, his ambition and Queen Gertrude). Significantly King Claudius also does not say he actually wants to give these up.
King Claudius also mentions that unlike life where justice can be bought, in heaven, he cannot so easily alter his destiny...
Realizing that he cannot undo everything he has done (murdering King Hamlet for example) and that he would not want to give up what he now has (Queen Gertrude and his reign), King Claudius despairs, saying "O wretched state! O bosom [breast / chest/ heart] black as death!" before crying out in desperation and fear "Help, angels! make assay;" before telling his "stubborn knees;" to bow or kneel (Lines 65-68).
Next, King Claudius begs his heart "with strings of steel" to instead "Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe" before finally realizing his fate is now out of his hands and hoping "All may be well" (I hope everything will be okay) (Lines 68-72).
Have totally expressed his fear of impending doom to his audience, King Claudius retires and kneels in preparation for prayer...
Hamlet now enters, noticing that King Claudius is kneeling in prayer. Hamlet explains to us that "Now might I do it pat," (now I could kill him) but that he will not.
Hamlet explains that his father, King Hamlet was murdered in his sleep and so could not make his peace with god and instead died "full of bread, / With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May;" (Line 80).
Explaining that because of the way King Hamlet died, he has no idea if his father is in heaven or not, Hamlet decides not to kill King Claudius now; to truly avenge his father, he must make sure King Claudius goes straight to hell.
If Hamlet kills King Claudius at prayer, he risks sending his father's murderer to heaven (Line 74).
Hamlet now heads off for his mother's closet or private bedchamber. King Claudius rises and advances towards Hamlet, saying "My words fly up, my thoughts remain below:" (my words come out but my thoughts do not) adding that "Words without thoughts never to heaven go" (Line 97).
Act III. Scene IV. - The Queen's Apartment.
Hamlet: "Mother, you have my father much offended."
Queen Gertrude attempts to scold her son but Hamlet instead scolds his mother for her actions. Queen Gertrude cries out in fear, and Polonius echoes it and is stabbed through the arras ( subdivision of a room created by a hanging tapestry) where he was listening in to Hamlet and Queen Gertrude. Hamlet continues scolding his mother but the Ghost reappears, telling Hamlet to be gentle with the Queen. For her part, Queen Gertrude agrees to stop living with King Claudius, beginning her redemption....
The scene opens to Polonius telling Queen Gertrude to scold Hamlet for his recent behaviour whilst Polonius will listen from behind the arras, his hiding place.
Hamlet now calls out "Mother, mother, mother!", Polonius hiding from view as Hamlet nears (Line 5).
Hamlet now arrives, asking his mother, "what's the matter?" (Line 8).
Queen Gertude replies "Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended" (Hamlet, you have greatly offended your father, a reference to King Claudius), (Line 10).
Hamlet matches his mother's tone, telling her "Mother, you have my father much offended" (Mother, your actions have offended my dead father, King Hamlet), (Line 11).
The Queen ignores this telling Hamlet "you answer with an idle tongue" (Line 12) but Hamlet replies "Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue" (Line 13).
The Queen tells Hamlet, "Why, how now, Hamlet! (Hamlet, behave yourself!), but Hamlet asks his mother again what's wrong (Line 13).
Queen Gertrude asks Hamlet if he has forgotten who she is. Hamlet replies no, he has not, and he rudely describes her as "the queen," and "your husband's brother's wife;" (Line 16).
Hamlet also makes clear his shame by saying "And,-would it were not so!-you are my mother" (and though I wish you were not, you are my mother!), (Line 16).
The Queen prepares to leave but Hamlet insists she sit down until as he says, he can "set you up a glass / Where you may see the inmost part of you" (set up a mirror so that you can see what you are doing and see what you really are), (Line 20).
The Queen, panicking, asks Hamlet "thou wilt not murder me?" (You will not kill me, will you?), (Line 21).
Panicking further, Queen Gertrude cries "Help, help, ho!" (Line 22).
Polonius from behind the arras, forgets that he is hiding and echoes Gertrude's cries, shouting "What, ho! help! help! help!" (Line 23) until Hamlet notices the sound, draws out his sword, and stabs Polonius through the arras (hanging tapestry, forming a wall) after shouting "How now! a rat? Dead, for a ducat [modern equivalent, a dollar], dead!" (Line 23).
Polonius, stabbed, says "O! I am slain" (O! I am dead), (Line 24).
The Queen asks what Hamlet has done, Hamlet asking, "is it the king?" that he has killed (Line 26).
Still thinking he has stabbed King Claudius, Hamlet agrees with his mother that the stabbing was indeed "A bloody deed! almost as bad, good mother, / As kill [killing] a king, and marry [marrying] with his brother", the first time Hamlet has truly spelt out to his mother why he disrespects her (Line 27).
Queen Gertrude is surprised, our first indication that she did not know that King Hamlet was murdered (Line 29).
Lifting up the arras and discovering he has killed Polonius not the King Claudius, Hamlet finds the time to insult Polonius, the Lord Chamberlain, calling him "Thou [you] wretched, rash, intruding [interfering] fool," (Line 31).
Queen Gertrude now asks Hamlet what she has done to him, to earn such hatred from Hamlet's tongue (Line 39).
Hamlet answers by saying it was such an act "That blurs the grace and blush of modesty, / Calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose / From the fair forehead of an innocent love / And sets a blister there," and "makes marriage vows / As false as dicers' oaths;" (Lines 40-45).
The Queen asks what Hamlet means and Hamlet tells his mother to look at two pictures, one which is of King Hamlet, the other King Claudius (Lines 56-63).
Hamlet describes each one differently, using glowing, affectionate and respectful terms for King Hamlet and negative terms for King Claudius.
Hamlet chides Queen Gertrude for marrying a man, barely half the man King Hamlet was, asking her how she could possibly call her marriage with King Claudius love, Hamlet saying "You cannot call it love," (Line 68).
He ruthlessly asks his mother what she could possibly have seen in King Claudius, Queen Gertrude pleading for Hamlet to stop his merciless scolding (Lines 68-88).
Hamlet continues, finally accusing his mother of lustfulness, when he describes her actions in vivid, vulgar and detailed terms...
Hamlet: "Nay, but to live / In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, / Stew'd in corruption, honeying and making love / Over the nasty sty,-" (Line 91).
The Queen begs Hamlet to stop, telling him "These words like daggers enter in mine [my] ears;" (Line 94), Hamlet now describing King Claudius to Queen Gertrude as "A murderer, and a villain;" (Line 96) and a man not nearly as great as King Hamlet before the Ghost of King Hamlet reappears.
Hamlet believes the Ghost has reappeared to scold Hamlet for his delay in avenging his murder but the Ghost has other goals and in particular is worried for Queen Gertrude.
The Ghost tells Hamlet to stop his merciless attacks, saying that he has appeared to "whet thy [your] almost blunted purpose" (remind Hamlet of what he must do to King Claudius), (Line 110) and tells him to "Speak to her [Queen Gertrude], Hamlet" (Line 114).
Queen Gertrude thinks her son is mad (Line 105). Hamlet does as the Ghost says, speaking gently with his mother who asks Hamlet to "Upon the heat and flame of thy [your] distemper [madness] / Sprinkle cool patience" (Line 122).
This peace however is quickly destroyed by Hamlet's frantic attempts to show his mother the Ghost which she does not see (Lines 124-134), this only causing Queen Gertrude to further believe her son is truly mad...
Queen Gertrude explains her son's vision of the Ghost as a hallucination or "ecstasy" (Line 139), (Lines 136-138) but Hamlet tells her it is not madness; he is normal (Lines 140-141).
Hamlet now tells his mother to listen to him and to "Assume a virtue," [become virtuous again], Hamlet telling his mother to "go not to mine uncle's [King Claudius'] bed;" and to not share his bed ever again but instead to sleep separately from him (Line 159).
Looking now at Polonius' dead body (Line 173), Hamlet expresses regret, saying "I will bestow him, and will answer well / The death I gave him" (Line 176).
Famously saying "I must be cruel only to be kind:" (Line 178), Hamlet now asks his mother not to tell King Claudius anything that he has said except that should King Claudius ask of him, to reply that Hamlet is essentially "not in madness, / But mad in craft" (Lines 181-196).
Queen Gertrude now assures Hamlet that she will not reveal a word to Claudius (Line 197).
Hamlet tells Queen Gertrude that he must now go to England, surprising his mother with this news and telling her that "my two schoolfellows [Rosencrantz and Guildenstern], / Whom I will trust as I will adders fang'd," (my two school friends whom I would trust as much as adders or fanged snakes ready to strike), are trying to lead him to "knavery" (Line 205) or wrongdoing (Line 202).
Assuring his mother that he will instead "blow them at the moon" (Line 209) or punish them, Hamlet he wishes his mother goodnight after announcing that he will dispose of the Lord Chamberlain's (Polonius') body: "I'll lug the guts into the neighbour room" (Line 212).
The scene ends with gruesome sight of Hamlet dragging Polonius' body off to the neighbouring room...

Act IV

Act IV. Scene I. - A Room in the Castle.
King Claudius: "My soul is full of discord and dismay."
King Claudius speaks with his wife, Queen Gertrude. He learns of Polonius' murder which shocks him; it could easily have been him. Queen Gertrude lies for her son, saying that Hamlet is as mad as a tempestuous sea. King Claudius, now scared of Hamlet, decides to have Hamlet sent away to England immediately... He also sends courtiers Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to speak with Hamlet to find out where Hamlet has hidden Polonius' body so they can take it to the chapel.
King Claudius notices that Queen Gertrude is troubled, saying, " There's matter [a reason] in these sighs," (Line 1) and asks her to tell him why she is troubled...
Queen Gertrude asks Guildenstern and Rosencrantz to leave her and King Claudius in private (Line 4) and King Claudius asks Gertrude "How does Hamlet?" (How is Hamlet?), (Line 6).
Queen Gertrude keeps her word to Hamlet by not telling King Claudius about Hamlet's true mental state.
Instead Queen Gertrude tells Claudius that Hamlet is as "Mad as the sea and wind, when both contend / Which is the mightier" (mad as the sea and wind when they fight each other), (Line 7). This of course causes tempestuous rough, confused seas, a fitting metaphor for madness.
Queen Gertrude goes on to mention that "In his lawless [without reason/ lawless] fit," Hamlet heard noises behind the arras in her closet and whipping out his rapier (sword), cried "'A rat! a rat!' / And, in his brainish apprehension, kills [killed] / The unseen [hidden] good old man [Polonius]" (Lines 8-11).
King Claudius is quite shaken by this, after all as he says, he could have been the dead had he been hiding behind the arras (Lines 12-13).
King Claudius is now more worried than ever about Hamlet's menace, saying that "His liberty [freedom] is full of threats to all; / To you yourself [Queen Gertrude], to us, to every one" (Line 14).
King Claudius now wonders "how shall this bloody deed be answer'd?" (How will I explain Polonius the Lord Chamberlain's death?), (Line 16).
King Claudius now regrets that he did not restrain "This mad young man [Hamlet]:" (Line 19) earlier and asks now "Where is he gone?" (Line 23).
Queen Gertrude replies that Hamlet has gone "To draw apart the body he hath kill'd"; Hamlet has left to remove the Polonius' body. Queen Gertrude also adds that "he weeps for what is done" (Line 27).
King Claudius has heard enough... He tells Queen Gertrude that he will "ship him hence;" (send Hamlet away to England at once) and calls out for Guildenstern who is waiting patiently nearby (Line 30).
King Claudius now tells both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that Hamlet has killed Polonius and is dragging his body from Queen Gertrude's closet. He tells them both to find Hamlet and "speak fair," (Line 36) or gently to him, without provoking him. Then, the two courtiers are to bring the Lord Chamberlain's (Polonius') body to the chapel.
The two men leave, and King Claudius tells Gertrude that they must "call up our wisest friends; / And let them know both what we mean to do [what we intend to do], / And what's untimely done:[what has happened]" (Lines 38-39).
King Claudius ends the scene a troubled man; "My soul is full of discord [disagreement] and dismay" (Line 44).
Act IV. Scene II. - Another Room in the Same.
Hamlet refuses to tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern where Polonius' dead body is hidden. He calls Rosencrantz and Guildenstern lapdogs, revealing his true awareness that they are not his friends. Hamlet agrees to see King Claudius.
Hamlet starts the scene by saying the words, "Safely stowed" by which he means he has just finished stowing away Polonius' dead body (Line 1).
Hearing noise, Hamlet notices the two courtiers (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern) approaching (Line 4).
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter, asking Hamlet where Polonius' body is and what he has done with it (Line 5).
Hamlet replies that he has "Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis kin" by which he means he has buried it and placed it where he believes it belongs (Line 6).
Rosencrantz asks again where Polonius' body is so that they can take it to the chapel but Hamlet again refuses... He also makes it very clear now just how little he trusts them, when he says they should not believe "That I can keep your counsel and not mine own" (that I can follow your advise and not my own instead), (Line 11).
Hamlet then calls Rosencrantz and Guildenstern sponges which he says, "soaks up the king's countenance, his rewards, his authorities" by which he means he considers them to be the King Claudius' lapdogs (Line 16).
Having called Rosencrantz and Guildenstern lapdogs, Hamlet now tells them that they will ultimately merely be used by King Claudius like sponges (Lines 16-23).
Rosencrantz now again asks where Polonius' body is, but Hamlet refuses to budge; he will however go with the two courtiers to see King Claudius instead (Lines 24-32).
Act IV. Scene III. - Another Room in the Same.
King Claudius: "He's loved of the distracted multitude...."
Hamlet continues to refuse to tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern where Polonius' body is. Hamlet is brought before King Claudius. The two exchange words, clearly circling each other, each aware that the other is a threat. Hamlet tells King Claudius where Polonius body is. King Claudius ominously tells Hamlet to leave for England "for thine especial safety...." With Hamlet gone, King Claudius reveals his plans for Hamlet to be killed in England, freeing King Claudius from further worry from this threat...
King Claudius opens this scene voicing his fears of Hamlet. He discusses how he has sent his two courtiers, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to seek the whereabouts of Polonius' body and he also explains "How dangerous is it [it is] that this man [Hamlet] goes loose [is free]!" (Line 2).
King Claudius however, has a problem. He cannot simply "put the strong law on him:" (Line 3) or silence Hamlet because as he says, "He's loved of the distracted multitude [the masses / public love him],"(Line 4). Instead King Claudius decides again that sending Hamlet overseas would be the wisest, safest course of action (Lines 4-10).
Rosencrantz now enters and tells King Claudius that they still have not found Polonius' body. Angered, King Claudius asks that Hamlet be brought before him, Guildenstern bringing Hamlet before King Claudius (Lines 11-16).
Hamlet and Guildenstern now enter and King Claudius asks Hamlet where Polonius' body is.
Hamlet defiantly replies "At supper" (Line 18) which Hamlet later explains is "Not where he [Polonius] eats, but where he is eaten:" a reference to Polonius having been buried.
To spell this out crystal clear, Hamlet goes on to sarcastically explain that "a certain convocation of politic [prudent / wise / sensible] worms are e'en [eating] at him [Polonius]" (Line 20).
Hamlet continues this theme of worms, confusing King Claudius (Lines 21-33) and when the King again asks Hamlet where Polonius' body is, Hamlet replies "In heaven;" cheekily asking him to send his messengers (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern) there to check this (Line 35).
Hamlet now finally lets on where Polonius really is by saying "if you find him not [if you do not find him] within this month [within a month], you shall nose him [smell his rotting body] as you go up the stairs into the lobby" (Line 40).
King Claudius immediately dispatches "Attendants" to check this, and now King Claudius tells Hamlet that "for thine especial safety," (for your special safety), (Line 43), he must be sent away to England "With fiery quickness:" (very quickly), (Line 46).
King Claudius is very keen for this to happen and we can see this from the imagery he uses when he says "The bark is ready [the boat is ready], and the wind at help [the winds are favorable], / The associates tend, and every thing is bent [prepared] / For England", King Claudius' words almost trying to will Hamlet to leave since so many things are waiting for Hamlet to give the word yes and go to England not least of which is Hamlet's death which would relieve Claudius no end (Line 48).
Hamlet enthusiastically replies "For England!", indicating he will do as King Claudius says and Hamlet farewells his mother (Lines 49-52).
King Claudius adds "Thy loving father, Hamlet" (and your loving father, King Claudius haven't you forgotten Hamlet?), (Line 53).
Hamlet replies to this cryptically before leaving (Line 54).
With Hamlet gone, King Claudius tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to make sure Hamlet boards the bark (boat) tonight since a great deal counts on him being on that bark, King Claudius explains (Lines 57-60).
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern now leave and King Claudius makes it very clear what awaits Hamlet in England... Hamlet will be killed there allowing King Claudius to breath easy again (Lines 61-70).
Act IV. Scene IV. - A Plain in Denmark.
Young Fortinbras marches his army across Denmark to fight the Polish. Hamlet laments that he does not have in him the strength of Young Fortinbras, who will lead an army into pointless fighting, if only to maintain honor. Hamlet asks himself how he cannot fight for honor when his father has been killed and his mother made a whore in his eyes by becoming King Claudius' wife.
Young Fortinbras, who is leading his army across a plain in Denmark, tells one "captain," (Line 1) to greet the Danish King (King Claudius) to ensure that he still has permission to march across Danish territory as King Claudius had earlier promised (King Claudius' and the King of Norway's compromise to let Fortinbras cross Denmark to fight against Poland instead of Denmark occurred in Act II, Scene II).
Fortinbras now exits with several soldiers (Lines 1-8).
Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter, greeting Young Fortinbras' Captain. They quickly learn that the forces the Captain commands are Norwegian and are being sent to fight the Polish.
They also learn from the Captain that these forces are led by Young Fortinbras, nephew to the King of Norway (just like Young Hamlet is nephew to King Claudius; dualism of fate?), (Lines 9-16).
When Hamlet asks the Captain what land or frontier they are fighting for (Line 16) he is appalled to learn that the land in question is "A little patch of ground / That hath [has] in it no profit [value] but the name" (Line 19), in other words what the Norwegians are fighting for is not for valuable land but merely honor and glory instead; their fight which will be bloody will also be largely pointless.
The Captain even explains that he would not even farm the land he will soon fight for (Lines 16-22).
Hamlet replies that the Poles will not fight for it but the Captain assures him that a garrison already protects this worthless land (Line 24).
After Hamlet thanks the Captain, he promptly exits and with Hamlet again alone (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have departed ahead), Hamlet again questions what man is (Lines 31-44), and Hamlet shows his envy for this army led on it's bloody mission "by a delicate and tender prince [Young Fortinbras], / Whose spirit with divine ambition puff'd / Makes mouths at the invisible event," (Lines 48-50).
Clearly Hamlet wishes he was a little more like Young Fortinbras, showing an envy not seen since Hamlet belittled (scolded / criticized) himself for lacking the passion of an The First Player in Act II, Scene II.
Hamlet berates (criticizes) himself by explaining that while Young Fortinbras is willing to risk his all by "Exposing what is mortal and unsure / To all that fortune, death and danger dare," in fighting the Poles for just "an egg-shell" (Lines 51-53) a metaphor for the worthless land, because it is a matter of honor, when Hamlet has had his father murdered and "a mother stain'd," (metaphor for being corrupted by her relationship with King Claudius), (Line 57), yet he does nothing or as Hamlet puts it, "let all sleep [ignores this]," yet here, Hamlet can see twenty thousand men fighting and dying for something that is worthless simply because it is a matter of honor.
Realizing that he has obviously lacked the will to fight against what is wrong, Hamlet decides that "from this time forth [from now on], / My thoughts be bloody [my thoughts will be bloody], or be nothing worth!" (Line 66).
Act IV. Scene V. - Elsinore. A Room in the Castle.
Laertes: "Give me my father."
The death of Polonius (killed by Hamlet) leaves its mark on Ophelia who becomes mad from the grief of losing her father. Laertes storms King Claudius' castle, demanding to see his father and wanting justice when he learns his father has been killed. King Claudius remains calm, telling Laertes that he too mourned his Polonius' loss...
The scene opens to a Gentleman telling Queen Gertrude that Ophelia wishes to speak with her. Queen Gertrude refuses and the Gentleman explains that Ophelia is no longer quite normal; "She is importunate, indeed distract:" he says (Line 2).
The Gentleman tells Queen Gertrude that "She [Ophelia] speaks much of her father;" (Line 4) or talks alot about her father but that she " speaks things in doubt, / That carry but half sense:" (she says things that make no sense), (Line 7).
Horatio, however, believes Queen Gertrude should speak with her, if only because "she may strew [spread] / Dangerous conjectures [ideas / thoughts] in ill-breeding [common] minds" or in other words, her rambling's though mad, could create dangerous suspicions in some people's minds (Lines 14-15).
Realizing Horatio has a point, Queen Gertrude lets Ophelia speak with her. Significantly, Queen Gertrude in her only moment alone in this play reveals that "To my sick soul, as sin's true nature is, / Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss:" (Line 17) by which Queen Gertrude means her soul is now sick as sin truly is and that each new event seems to be a precursor to some great loss, an important foreshadowing of the misery to come in this play (Lines 17-20).
Ophelia now enters with the Gentleman, and immediately upsets Queen Gertrude by asking "Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark?" (Line 22) before singing three verses of a song Queen Gertrude does not understand (Lines 23-32), the first of which (Lines 23-26) relates to how a women should know true love, the second a reference to her dead father Polonius (Lines 28-33) and the third another reference to her dead father Polonius (Lines 34-40).
King Claudius now enters and greets Ophelia warmly (Line 41) but Ophelia continues with her incomprehensible rambling's which are now about love (Lines 42-66), prompting King Claudius to ask "How long hath she been thus?" (how long has Ophelia been like this?), (Line 67).
Ophelia now again speaks, making more sense by saying she must be patient and saying she has no choice but to weep that they must lay her father "i' the cold ground" (in the cold ground / bury him), (Line 70).
Ophelia explains that her brother, Laertes will soon know the bad news and she thanks all present for their good counsel but then lapses into mad speech again by saying "Come, my coach!" before saying goodnight and exiting (Line 73).
King Claudius now tells his aides to follow her closely and keep an eye on her, whilst he comments that Ophelia's grief has sprung like a fountain from her father's death (Polonius).
King Claudius now remarks philosophically that when sorrow comes, it comes not in spies but in battalions (when it rains it pours). King Claudius recalls recently events, referring first to Ophelia's father Polonius being slain, Hamlet's departure, the people now talking, full of doubt, confusion and fear, and mentioning the haste with which Polonius was buried.
Claudius relates how Ophelia has in grief "Divided from herself and her fair judgement," (gone mad), (Line 85) and that her brother Laertes who has secretly returned from France is being angered by persistent rumors about his father's death. King Claudius tells Gertrude that all this worries him (Lines 75-84).
A noise is heard and King Claudius orders his switzers or what we would call today bodyguards (mercenary guards) to protect him by guarding his door (Line 97).
A Gentleman instead enters, announcing that Laertes and his "rabble" (Line 102), (a mob) have broken into the castle and will soon break in to the King's room at Elsinore Castle... Even worse, Laertes' rabble have cried out "'Laertes shall be king, Laertes king!'", a clear threat to King Claudius' reign of Denmark(Line 108).
With another loud noise, the door to King Claudius' room breaks and Laertes faces King Claudius (Lines 110-112). With his supporters outside the chamber in guard, Laertes says "Give me my father" (Line 115).
Queen Gertrude urges Laertes to calm himself (Line 116).
Dismissing his fellow Danes, Laertes and King Claudius speak in private, Laertes first demanding to be see his father (Line 125) and then demanding to know how his father died after King Claudius tells him, Polonius is "Dead" (Line 126).
The two men speak, King Claudius telling Laertes he is not his enemy, he too mourned Polonius' loss, Queen Gertrude telling Laertes, King Claudius did not kill him (Lines 128-152).
Ophelia now interrupts the meeting by entering and again sings incomprehensibly, again mourning her father (Lines 153) and she gives out rosemary and pansies to imaginary people (Lines 174-176), while Laertes watches and then says that his sister is now "A document in madness, thoughts and remembrance fitted" (she is truly mad), (Line 177).
Ophelia continues singing, giving out fennel and columbines, daisies and violets but says "they withered all when my father died" (Line 184) a clear metaphor that her hopes and happiness symbolized by the flowers all died in her when her father died, a man described as having a beard which "was as white as snow" (Line 194).
Laertes continues to watch this gruesome fall from sanity by his sister, revealing his own grief for his sister Ophelia (Lines 187-188 and Line 201).
King Claudius now tells Laertes to check King Claudius' sincerity with his friends; if he can prove King Claudius was involved, he will give up his kingdom, otherwise, Laertes should join him in seeing justice done (punishment made) for the man (Hamlet) who killed Polonius (Lines 202-212).
Laertes ends the scene revealing his determination to punish that man (Hamlet) who robbed his father of life and decent burial (Lines 212-216).
King Claudius agrees, saying, "where the offence is let the great axe fall" , the two men exiting together (Line 218).
Act IV. Scene VI. - Another Room in the Same.
Horatio is greeted by sailors who have news from Hamlet. Horatio follows the sailors to learn more....
Horatio is greeted by sailors bearing letters for him. Realizing these can only be from Hamlet, Horatio welcomes the sailors in and Horatio reads Hamlet's letter, telling him the ship Hamlet was sailing to England on, was attacked by pirates. Hamlet boarded the pirate's ship but ended up becoming a prisoner (Line 18). The pirates treated Hamlet well however, returning him to Denmark in return for Hamlet doing them "a good turn" or a favor for them in the future (Line 20).
Hamlet instructs Horatio to send the other letters contained with this one to King Claudius and to meet him as quickly as possible; he has a great deal to tell his friend, "I have words to speak in thine [your] ear [that] will make thee [you] dumb [silent, amazed];" (I have words to tell you that will amaze you or make you dumb or silent with surprise), (Line 26).
Hamlet explains that the sailors will lead Horatio to him. He also mentions that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have continued on their way to England and that he has much to tell Horatio about them.
Horatio agrees to leave at once with the sailors to meet his friend...
Act IV. Scene VII. - Another Room in the Same.
King Claudius: "The queen his mother / Lives almost by his looks...."
King Claudius explains to Laertes that Hamlet killed his father, Polonius. Deciding they have a common enemy, they plot Hamlet's death at a fencing match to be arranged between Laertes and Hamlet. Laertes learns of his sister Ophelia's death by drowning...
King Claudius tells Laertes to trust him as a friend, telling him that the man who killed "your noble father" has also tried to kill him (King Claudius), (Line 4).
Laertes listens but asks King Claudius why he did not act against Hamlet's murder of Polonius? King Claudius answers that he did nothing for "two special reasons;" namely "The queen his mother (Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude) / Lives almost by his looks," (lives for Hamlet), (Line 12), Claudius explaining that he could not easily live without Queen Gertrude (Lines 13-15).
Secondly, the "great love the general gender [the public] bear [show] him;" (Line 18) would not support King Claudius punishing Hamlet, an action which would weaken his rule (Lines 16-24).
Laertes however, makes it clear that because he has lost his noble father and had his sister "driven into desperate terms [made mad]," (Line 26), he will have his revenge, saying "my revenge will come" (Line 30).
King Claudius assures Laertes not to lose any sleep over this, saying he will soon tell Laertes more of what he has in store for Hamlet (Lines 31-34).
A Messenger arrives, delivering two letters, one for King Claudius and one for Queen Gertrude before exiting (Lines 35-42).
King Claudius reads Hamlet's letter, announcing Hamlet's return and his explanation for it (Lines 43-49). King Claudius ponders it's words and immediately Laertes and King Claudius plot to kill Hamlet.
King Claudius now manipulates Laertes by describing how Hamlet's competitive interest in him was increased by reports he had heard of Laertes' skill with a rapier (sword), explaining that when Hamlet learned this from a Norman soldier (Lines 95-96), he immediately wanted to test his skills against him (Lines 61-106).
Laertes wonders where King Claudius is heading with all this so King Claudius asks Laertes whether his father was "dear to you?" (Line 107), to encourage Laertes to a fencing match with Hamlet where he can kill Hamlet by using a foil with a sharp blade instead of a blunt blade to avenge his Polonius' death by Hamlet (Lines 110-138).
Laertes is enthusiastic, saying he will fence against Hamlet but adds to the plan by explaining that just to be sure, he will "anoint my sword" (Line 140) or dab his sword in a poison he recently acquired (Lines 140-144). So deadly is this poison, Laertes explains, that even a slight wound would kill Hamlet (Lines 146-148).
Claudius though, has been inspired by this talk of poison. If a sword wound or scratch does not kill Hamlet, Claudius has a back up plan in poisoning some wine for Hamlet should he call for a drink (Lines 148-161).
Clearly Hamlet is now very unlikely to survive this fencing match...
A noise now is heard, this time announcing Queen Gertrude's arrival.
Echoing her earlier lines that each action is a precursor to misery, Queen Gertrude says, "One woe [one sadness] doth [does] tread upon another's heel [quickly follow a previous one], / So fast they follow: your sister's drown'd, Laertes" (your sister has drowned Laertes), (Line 164).
Laertes asks where, Queen Gertrude explaining that Ophelia was by the river with her "fantastic garlands" (Line 169) when an "envious sliver" or envious branch broke, falling on Ophelia and dragging her into the water (Line 174).
In a very visual description, Queen Gertrude distantly and clinically describes Ophelia floating for a while before eventually drowning in what has been described as one of Shakespeare's most discussed poetic passages of Hamlet (Lines 167-183).
Laertes mourns his sister's loss, saying "Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia," (you have too much water, poor Ophelia), (Line 186) before bidding King Claudius and Queen Gertrude good-bye, since he now has "a speech of fire," (is now further angered), (Line 190) and so eager to find Hamlet, exits (Line 191).
King Claudius bids Queen Gertrude to follow him, innocently saying "How much I had to do to calm his rage!", fearing that Ophelia's death will now start up Laertes' rage all over again and so deciding then that they must therefore follow the hot headed Laertes (Line 191).

Act V.

Act V. Scene I. - A Churchyard.
Hamlet: "Dost thou think Alexander looked o' this fashion i' the earth?"
Hamlet and Horatio speak with a cheerful gravedigger. Hamlet famously realizes that man's accomplishments are transitory (fleeting) and holding the skull of Yorick, a childhood jester he remembers from his youth, creates the famous scene about man's insignificance and inability to control his fate following death.
At Ophelia's burial, the Priest reveals a widely held belief that Ophelia committed suicide, angering Laertes. Hamlet fights Laertes over Ophelia's grave, angered by Laertes' exaggerated emphasis of his sorrow and because he believes he loved Ophelia much more than her brother, Laertes.
Two gravediggers, called "Clowns" in the text, are digging. The First Clown makes his fairly low opinion of Ophelia clear by asking "Is she [Ophelia] to be buried in Christian burial that wilfully seeks her own salvation?" (Is Ophelia who wilfully commits suicide, to be buried in a Christian manner?), (Line 1).
The First Clown's (Gravedigger's) question reminds us that in the gravedigger's opinion, committing suicide is sinful and less than deserving of a proper "Christian burial" as made clear by the tone of the First Clown's speech...
The Second Clown (gravedigger) assures the First Clown that yes, Ophelia will get a proper burial, telling his co-worker to "make her grave straight:" or do his job properly (Line 4).
The First Clown does not accept this, asking how Ophelia can receive a Christian burial; unless as he says, "she drowned herself in her own defence [defense]?" (Line 6).
The Second Clown tells the First Clown that she will be buried properly and now the First Clown argues that Ophelia "drowned herself wittingly" or deliberately (Line 13).
The First Clown continues pressing his point by arguing further that drowning is not suicide when the water comes to that person drowning them, but is suicide when one goes to the water and drowns (Lines 15-21).
The two men continuing speaking, the Second Clown making quite clear the First Clown's belief that the only reason Ophelia is receiving a Christian burial at all is because she was a "gentlewoman" (Lines 25-26).
The First Clown now describes himself and his co-worker as being "ancient gentlemen" (Line 33) like "gardeners, ditchers and grave-makers;" who all hold up "Adam's profession" he explains (Line 34).
Furthermore, the First Clown and Second Clown argue that their role as gravediggers is timeless; since a "gallows-maker;" builds a frame that "outlives a thousand tenants" (Line 48).
Hamlet and Horatio now enter at a distance, the First Clown sending the Second Clown off to fetch him "a stoup of liquor" or some alcohol to drink (Line 66).
The First Clown now alone, sings parts of a song whilst digging (Lines 67-70).
Hamlet watching this, is amazed that this man who digs holes for the dead can be so merry, asking himself, "Has this fellow no feeling of his business, that he sings at grave-making?" (Line 72).
Horatio answers that "Custom" has made this man used to his job or desensitized him to feeling sad about his work (Line 73).
The First Clown continues singing, throwing up a skull in his work. This causes Hamlet to wonder at the endless possibility of whom that skull once represented (Lines 81-92), and Hamlet now realizes that whomever it once was, the skull is now merely food for worms, the Clown continuing his singing, hard at work (Lines 92-100).
The Clown now throws up another skull, and Hamlet again wonders whom that skull might once have belonged to.
Hamlet wonders whether it was a lawyer, noting how all that lawyer's prestige, "his quillets... his tenures," and so forth cannot prevent his bones now being knocked about by "this rude knave" [The First Clown] with a dirty shovel.
Again, Hamlet returns to the idea of whom the skull represented, saying that maybe it belonged to "a great buyer of land," who is now reduced to being in dirt, Hamlet now realizing that death truly is the great equalizer of life, ignoring status, reputation, position and power by reducing all to the same fate (Lines 106-120).
Hamlet now decides to speak with the First Clown and the two men exchange witticisms. This begins when Hamlet catches the last part of the Clown's song which says "O! a pit of clay for to be made / For such a guest is meet" (Line 128), Hamlet insisting this pit is for the digger.
The Clown refuses, saying that Hamlet is on it (the grave), not in it and so it cannot be Hamlet's whilst saying the grave is not his because he lies in it as Hamlet says, the Clown explaining that the grave is his but not because he lies in it (Lines 125-144).
Eventually Hamlet learns that the Clown is digging the grave for a woman, the First Clown saying "rest her soul, she's dead" (Line 145).
Hamlet is appalled at this rudeness and learns that the First Clown has been digging graves since "our last King Hamlet overcame Fortinbras" (Line 156), some thirty years ago (Line 176). The First Clown, not realizing he is speaking with Hamlet , King Hamlet's son, also adds that it was the year "young Hamlet was born;" a man who is now mad and has been sent to England.
The First Clown discusses his craft with Hamlet (Lines 177-190) before noticing a skull, the First Clown telling Hamlet that it is of Yorick, the King's (King Hamlet's) jester.
Hamlet wanting to see this, takes Yorick's skull (Line 201), famously exclaiming "Alas! poor Yorick" (Line 202) before explaining to the Clown that he remembered him fondly when he was growing up as a child (Lines 202-215).
In a now very famous scene, Hamlet still holding and looking at Yorick's skull in his hand, asks Horatio "Dost thou think Alexander looked o' this fashion i' the earth?" (Do you think Alexander the Great looked / looks like this in the dirt where he is buried?), (Line 217).
Horatio replies that he believes even Alexander the Great looks like Yorick in the dirt (Line 219) and Hamlet asks Horatio if Alexander the Great smells as bad before putting down Yorick's skull (Line 220).
Hamlet now famously comments on what a base or basic state we must return to in death no matter how great we may each have once been, Hamlet using Alexander as an example of this:
"To what base uses we may return, Horatio! Why may not imagination trace the noble dust of Alexander, till he find it stopping a bung-hole?" (Line 225).
Hamlet now finally realizes how ultimately fleeting and insignificant one's existence really is, when he tells Horatio that "Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth [returned] into dust; the dust is earth; of earth we make loam, and why of that loam, whereto he was converted, might they not stop a beer-barrel?" (Lines 230-234).
Hamlet further explains that "Imperious Caesar [Julius Caesar], dead and turn'd [turned] to clay, / Might stop a hole to keep the wind away:" (Line 235), further emphasizing that for all one's greatness in life, one cannot control one's fate after death nor avoid being used for the most basic or indeed humiliating of uses...
As such in Hamlet comparing man to dirt we see a parallel with his earlier comments about man being God-like in nature, the very paragon of animals, the "quintessence of dust?" (Lines 321-331, Act II, Scene II).
A procession now enters carrying the corpse of Ophelia, with Priests, Ophelia's brother Laertes, King Claudius, Queen Gertrude and "Mourners" in tow.
Hamlet and Horatio retire or step out of view of this procession, Hamlet noting that Laertes is "a very noble youth:" (Line 246).
The First Priest speaks, insulting Laertes by saying Ophelia's death was "doubtful," (Line 250) a clear reference to the Priest suspecting Ophelia committed suicide and therefore should not be receiving a Christian burial.
The Priest even goes so far as to say what sort of burial Ophelia should have received for her suicide (Lines 251-256), making it quite clear that in his opinion, Ophelia is receiving a better funeral than he thinks she deserves as a women who in his opinion, committed suicide (Lines 248-256).
Laertes is angered that his sister is not further receiving the burial rites he believes she should have but the Priest stands firm (Lines 257-263).
Queen Gertrude bids Ophelia farewell, saying "Sweets to the sweet: farewell!", scattering flowers on Ophelia's coffin (Line 265), saying she had hoped Ophelia would have become Hamlet's wife (Line 266).
Laertes now openly mourns his sister's loss, leaping into her grave (Lines 268-276). Hamlet, however is unimpressed with Laertes mourning, believing it to be disrespecting Ophelia and to be overemphasized in his opinion. Hamlet also complains that if anyone should bear such displays of sorrow, it is he, "Hamlet the Dane" who loved her and he too jumps into Ophelia's grave (Line 279).
Hamlet and Laertes now fight atop Ophelia's grave, Laertes strangling Hamlet by the throat until Horatio asks Hamlet to calm himself and "Attendants" part the fighting men, taking them out of the grave.
Hamlet says he will still happily fight Laertes upon a "theme" or reason that we soon learn was Hamlet's love for Ophelia (Line 288).
Hamlet explains that "I lov'd [loved] Ophelia:" adding that "forty thousand brothers / Could not, with all their quantity of love, / Make up my sum" (forty thousand men's love could not match my love for Ophelia), (Line 292).
The King says Hamlet is mad, Queen Gertrude defending her son by playing along and agreeing. Hamlet now reinforces the idea that he is mad by rambling words of madness which appear to convince King Claudius, Queen Gertrude again helping her son by telling the King that Hamlet must be mad (Lines 297-314).
With Hamlet gone, King Claudius tells the insulted Laertes that he should be patient; soon Laertes will have his revenge as discussed the night before (Lines 315-320).
Act V. Scene II. - A Hall in the Castle.
Hamlet: "tell my story."
Hamlet explains to Horatio how he avoided the death planned for him in England and had courtiers Rosencrantz and Guildenstern put to death instead. Hamlet reveals his desire to kill King Claudius. Summoned by Osric to fence against Laertes, Hamlet arrives at a hall in the castle and fights him.
Queen Gertrude drinks a poisoned cup meant for Hamlet, dying. Hamlet wins the first two rounds against Laertes but is stabbed and poisoned fatally in the third round. Exchanging swords whilst fighting, Hamlet wounds and poisons Laertes who explains that he has been doomed by his own poison-tipped sword.
Using this sword, Hamlet stabs King Claudius, killing him. Hamlet, now dying, tells Horatio to tell his story and not to commit suicide. Hamlet recommends Young Fortinbras as the next King of Denmark.
Young Fortinbras arrives, cleaning up the massacre. Horatio promises to tell all the story we have just witnessed, ending the play.
Hamlet enters, telling Horatio of what had happened to him since he boarded the bark (ship) for England.
He explains that from his cabin on the bark, he woke himself up, found Rosencrantz' and Guildenstern's cabin and with "My fears forgetting manners-" (Line 17) groped in the dark and stole "Their grand commission;" or orders from King Claudius to them (Line 18).
Opening up the orders with the excuse that his opening the commission was as much for England's safety as Denmark's, Hamlet found out that he was to have had his head cut off by axe on arrival in England (Lines 17-25).
Horatio does not at first believe it, so Hamlet gives him the commission to read for himself (Line 27). Hamlet explains however, that he turned the tables on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern by writing a new commission in Claudius' writing, telling the English King of Claudius' desire to maintain good relations and to have "the bearers " of this commission, (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern) "put to sudden death," (killed immediately), (Line 46).
Hamlet explains that he sealed the commission with his father's (King Hamlet's) signet which was the model for the "Danish seal;" King Claudius used, thus making the commission look authentic (Lines 48-55).
The next day, Hamlet explains, he had his "sea-fight," and so left the ship. Horatio is appalled by all of this, asking if the two courtiers are dead (Line 56).
Hamlet has no regrets for sending Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their deaths, saying "they did make love to this employment; / They are not near my conscience;" by which Hamlet means, the two courtiers did follow King Claudius and so in choosing his side to follow, must pay the price (Line 57).
Horatio is clearly not impressed by King Claudius' actions, asking Hamlet "Why, what a king is this!" or what kind of a king is Claudius (Line 62).
Hamlet now justifies the idea of killing King Claudius, saying King Claudius "hath [has] kill'd my king [killed King Hamlet his father] and whor'd [whored, or made Queen Gertrude a whore] my mother," (Line 64), Hamlet asking is it not right to stop such a man from committing further evil?
Horatio reminds Hamlet that soon King Claudius will know what happened to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, but Hamlet replies that the "interim" or moment, though short, "is mine;" (Line 73).
Osric now enters, greeting Hamlet who quickly asks Horatio if he knows this "water-fly?" (insignificant person / nobody), Horatio saying "No, my good lord" (Line 85).
Osric now announces that he speaks "from his majesty" or King Claudius, Osric mentioning that it is hot, Hamlet saying it is cold in an effort to further convince the King that he is mad, Hamlet moving to make Osric put on his hat since it is obviously cold (Lines 97-108).
Osric announces the arrival of Laertes at King Claudius' court, noting that Laertes is "an absolute gentleman, full of most excellent differences," (Line 112) using a great many more words than are truly necessary to say this and echoing the late Polonius' own long-winded or periphrastic, wordy sentences (Lines 112-117).
Hamlet mocks Osric by verbosely (using alot of words) replying that he too respects Laertes (Lines 118-127) and eventually after attempting to tire and exhaust Osric with overly verbose (wordy) comments, Hamlet learns that he has been challenged to duel Laertes in a friendly fencing match to be watched by King Claudius, Queen Gertrude and company.
We learn that King Claudius has betted "six Barbary horses;" on Hamlet losing by no more than three hits out of twelve passes and that Laertes has matched this by betting "six French rapiers" (six French swords) that he will win by more than three hits (Lines 153-170).
Osric explains the rules of the match; there are to be a dozen passes between Laertes and Hamlet (Line 174) and Hamlet after initially hesitating, (Line 177) decides he will accept the challenge and "will win [the match] for him [King Claudius]" if he can, adding that if he loses, he will only gain the shame of a few blunt hits from the blunted sword not realizing or knowing that Laertes' swords will not be blunt at all (Line 185).
Osric leaves to tell King Claudius Hamlet has accepted Laertes' challenge, Hamlet and Horatio discussing how odd Osric is (Lines 190-202).
A Lord now enters, telling Hamlet that King Claudius now awaits Hamlet in the hall and that he wishes to know how much more time Hamlet will need before fighting Laertes (Lines 203-207).
Hamlet answers that he will "follow the king's pleasure:" or do as the King wishes, answering that he is ready to fight (Lines 208-212).
The Lord tells Hamlet that the King and Queen will arrive soon and that Queen Gertrude wishes Hamlet to "use some gentle entertainment" or entertain Laertes politely before the fight. Hamlet agrees, remarking that Queen Gertrude advises him well (Lines 214-218).
With the Lord leaving, Horatio tells Hamlet that he will "lose this wager, [bet]" or fight (Line 219) but Hamlet is certain he will not, telling Horatio that since he went to France, he has been continuously practicing his fencing skills. Hamlet now reveals that his heart is ill but immediately dismisses this thought as "foolery;" or nonsense (Lines 223-224).
Horatio tells Hamlet that if his mind dislikes or is not certain about this fight, Hamlet should postpone the duel, Horatio offering to "say you are not fit" or sick if necessary (Line 230) but Hamlet is determined to fight (Lines 232-238).
King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Laertes, Lords, Osric and Attendants with foils (blunt swords used in fencing) enter, taking their seats to watch the duel.
King Claudius begins the fight by placing Laertes' hand on Hamlet's and Hamlet now asks Laertes for his "pardon," or forgiveness for his earlier fight with Laertes atop Ophelia's grave (Line 240).
Hamlet explains that he is "punish'd / With sore distraction" (Line 244) , saying the reason for his behaviour was "His madness" (Line 251) and that if this madness led him to upset Laertes in any way it is "poor Hamlet's enemy" (Line 253).
Laertes replies that he is satisfied that Hamlet meant him no wrong but will "stand aloof," (Line 261) or not accept Hamlet's apology until he is satisfied that "elder masters," (Line 262) or men of known honor can assure Laertes that his own honor has not been damaged in anyway. Laertes adds that "till that time," (Line 264) however, he will receive Hamlet's love as love and not "wrong it" or abuse Hamlet's gesture of goodwill (Lines 259-266).
Hamlet accepts Laertes words "freely;" asking that they both be given their foils (blunt swords). Hamlet says that he will be Laertes' foil allowing Laertes skill to shine like a star in the darkest of nights but Laertes tells Hamlet "You mock me, sir [you are mocking me], Hamlet denying this (Lines 266-272).
King Claudius instructs Osric to give Hamlet and Laertes their foils, asking both if they remember the rules of this match, Hamlet reminding King Claudius that he has betted on "the weaker side" (Hamlet's) but King Claudius assures Hamlet that he thinks he is betting on the right man... Laertes not liking his foil, complains asking for another foil, Hamlet asking if all the foils have the same length (Lines 273-280).
As the two men prepare to duel or fight, King Claudius arranges some stoups of wine to be placed on a nearby table. He says that if Hamlet gets the first or second hit, "ordnance" or canons will fire to celebrate this (Line 284); furthermore King Claudius will drink to "Hamlet's better breath;" (Line 285) and will place a pearl which he calls an "onion" within a glass to be taken by the winner.
King Claudius now drinks to Hamlet after a succession of trumpets, cannons and kettles or kettle drums as they are also known, before the match begins (Lines 281-293).
Hamlet quickly scores the first hit, saying "One", Laertes disagreeing but Osric judging that Hamlet did hit Laertes fairly (Lines 293-296).
King Hamlet asks for a drink and tells Hamlet that "this pearl is thine [yours];" (Line 296) before telling him "Here's to thy [your] health" (Line 297), King Claudius wanting Hamlet to drink from the cup, earning his pearl (and being poisoned). Trumpets and canons now sound...
Instead of drinking the wine however, Hamlet says he will play first, asking for the cup to be set aside for awhile so that he can drink from it later (Line 298).
Hamlet and Laertes again fight, Hamlet scoring another hit on Laertes and asking him what he has to say about it. Laertes replies that the hit was only a "touch, a touch," King Claudius proudly saying "Our son [Hamlet] shall win" (Line 301).
Queen Gertrude is not certain Hamlet will win, noting that "He's [Hamlet] fat, and scant [short] of breath" but offers support, telling her son to take her napkin to rub his brow of sweat (Line 302).
King Claudius, now noticing that his wife Gertrude has picked up the poisoned glass, tells his beloved wife, "Gertrude, do not drink" (Line 304) but Queen Gertrude defiantly replies "I will, my lord;" asking King Claudius to pardon her for it in her unwittingly final act.
King Claudius in an aside, worries that "It is the poison'd [poisoned] cup!" Gertrude drinks from, and adds "it is too late" realizing that Queen Gertrude has drunk from it (Line 306).
Hamlet now refuses the cup offered by Queen Gertrude, Queen Gertrude telling Hamlet that she will wipe his face.
Laertes tells King Claudius that he is confident he will hit Hamlet with his poisoned sword but King Claudius no longer believes Laertes can do it, saying "I do not think't [I doubt it]" (Line 310). Laertes in an aside, reveals some guilt by saying he almost thinks striking Hamlet when he is not playing is against his conscience (Line 311).
Hamlet and Laertes continue fighting, Laertes finally wounding Hamlet followed by the two men exchanging swords with Hamlet now wounding Laertes with Laertes' own poisoned sword, dooming both men now to death...
King Claudius orders the two men parted but Queen Gertrude falls, Osric shouting "Look to the queen there, ho!" (Line 317).
Horatio notices Hamlet bleeding, Osric noticing that Laertes too is bleeding and when Osric asks Laertes how this can be (foils are supposed to be blunt not sharp), Laertes replies "I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery" (I have been rightly killed by my own treachery), (Line 321).
Queen Gertrude, who is now dying despite King Claudius' best efforts to ignore this, warns Hamlet not to drink from the cup, telling all that she has been poisoned, before dying (Lines 324-325). When Queen Gertrude earlier passed out before her poison accusation (Lines 324-325), King Claudius told Hamlet that it was because Queen Gertrude could not bear the sight of Hamlet's and Laertes' blood (Line 323).
Hamlet, crying villainy, orders the doors to the courtyard to be locked preventing the murderer from escaping, Laertes now falling.
Before dying however, Laertes tells Hamlet that "thou art slain;" (you will die), (Line 327), adding that he has " not half an hour of life;" left, and that "The treacherous instrument is in thy hand, / Unbated and envenom'd" (the treacherous instrument that killed you, this sword, is in your hand, still dipped or envenomed with poison), (Line 330).
Laertes also tells Hamlet that his mother (Queen Gertrude) has been poisoned and that "the king's to blame" (Line 334).
Noticing that the sword is still poison tipped or is "envenom'd", Hamlet shouts, "venom, to thy [your] work" stabbing King Claudius with the poisoned sword (Lines 336).
All present shout "Treason! treason! (it is treason to kill a king), (Line 338), Hamlet telling King Claudius who he describes as an "incestuous, murderous, damned Dane," to "Follow my mother" or die, which King Hamlet promptly does (Line 340).
Laertes, still alive, notes that King Claudius has been "justly serv'd;" or punished, asking Hamlet that they both should now forgive one another, saying "Mine and my father's [Polonius'] death come not upon thee [you], / Nor thine [yours] on me!" before Laertes dies (Line 344).
Hamlet speaks his hope that Laertes will be forgiven and made free of his guilt by heaven, saying that he will soon follow Laertes to death. Telling Horatio "I am dead, Horatio", Hamlet now bids his mother farewell by saying "Wretched queen, adieu! (Wretched Queen, goodbye!), (Line 348).
Hamlet now asks his dear friend to tell his story accurately following his now certain demise but Horatio wants to join Hamlet in death. Only Hamlet's threat that he will have "a wounded name," or bad reputation if Horatio does not live to clear it, convinces Horatio not to join Hamlet in death (Lines 354-362).
To the sounds of distant marching and a shot, Osric announces the arrival of Young Fortinbras who have just arrived from his success in Poland and who has just fired a shot in honor of the recently arrived "ambassadors of England" (Lines 364-366).
Hamlet now tells Horatio that he is finally dying, and hearing Fortinbras' forces approaching, tells Horatio that as surviving Prince, he chooses Young Fortinbras as the new King of Denmark (Lines 368-372).
Seeing his friend die, Horatio remarks that "Now cracks a noble heart" (Line 372), bidding his friend good-bye with the words "Good-night, sweet prince, / And flights of angels sing thee [you] to thy [your] rest!" (Line 374).
Young Fortinbras and the English Ambassadors now enter, the First Ambassador gazing upon the "dismal;" sight of so much blood shed and regretting that he cannot report to King Claudius that "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead" since so too is King Claudius (Line 385).
Young Fortinbras is not so disgusted by this bloodshed, no doubt being used to such sights, and Horatio now wraps up the play's action by telling all that he will soon tell "the yet unknowing world" (Line 393) the story "Of carnal [sexual, lustful], bloody, and unnatural acts, / Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters; / Of deaths put on by cunning and forc'd [forced] cause," or the story of Hamlet which Young Fortinbras in particular is keen to hear (Lines 387-399).
Young Fortinbras now orders "four captains" to bury Hamlet with full honors, "soldiers' music and the rites of war" since in Young Fortinbras' opinion, Hamlet acted most "royally:", Young Fortinbras also ordering the removal of all the other bodies.
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark ends with a death march bearing off the dead bodies after which a "peal of ordnance is shot off."