Keyword Guide · book-summary
Act 4 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet accelerates the plot after Polonius’s death. Power shifts, secrets spread, and multiple characters move toward open conflict, setting up the tragedy’s final turn.
Claudius manages the political fallout of Polonius’s death and sends Hamlet to England under guard. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern escort him, unaware of the full danger. Meanwhile, Ophelia’s grief becomes public and alarming. Laertes returns furious over his father’s death, and Claudius redirects that anger toward Hamlet. The act ends with Claudius plotting a more certain solution with Laertes.
Hamlet appears more decisive and ironic, hiding his plans behind sharp wit. Claudius shifts from guilt to control, focusing on survival. Ophelia’s breakdown shows the human cost of manipulation and loss. Laertes becomes a foil to Hamlet: emotional, impulsive, and eager for revenge.
Revenge intensifies as characters choose different paths to action. Madness—real and performed—contrasts Hamlet’s strategy with Ophelia’s vulnerability. Political power and public opinion matter more than ever, as Claudius fears rebellion and manages appearances.
This act positions every major player for the final conflict. Alliances form, plans harden, and consequences become unavoidable. Understanding Act 4 helps explain why the ending unfolds so quickly and violently.
Claudius wants Hamlet removed from Denmark and secretly hopes he will be killed abroad, avoiding blame at home.
It highlights the damage caused by secrecy and control, and it contrasts with Hamlet’s deliberate, strategic behavior.
Laertes reacts immediately and emotionally to his father’s death, while Hamlet delays and plans, showing two models of revenge.
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