Hamlet Act IV

Hamlet’s Foils Fortinbras = raises an army to fight a senseless battle for the principle of honor Laertes = gives no thought for his immortal soul to avenge a father’s senseless death

Claudius’ Politic Genius Pressures Fortinbras’ uncle to thwart Fortinbras’ advances Sends off Hamlet to avoid upheaval from Danes devoted to him Forges an alliance with Laertes to avoid overthrow

Claudius’ Politic Genius Feeding imagery = dog-eat-dog court machinations Disease imagery = underscores the corruption of the garden

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Increasingly in Claudius’ inner circle (sponge metaphor) Sent to dispatch Hamlet to England (petard metaphor)

Hamlet’s Character Hamlet now in league with darker elements (pirates?) Accidental or intentional plan? Follows Hamlet’s “thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth” soliloquy

Hamlet’s Character Weak = does not kills Claudius, foolishly kills Polonius Over-intellectualizes actions Torn between honor and taboo

Hamlet’s Character Strong = similar circumstances drive Ophelia truly mad and coax Laertes into criminal deceit Strong = Hamlet’s polarized virtue leaves him to struggle with the most complex of spiritual issues

Ophelia’s Madness Parallels Hamlet’s decline Parent’s death Loss of a confidant, discarded by Hamlet Yet Ophelia is truly mad

Ophelia’s Madness Associated with the perfect rose in the garden Gives rue (regret) to Gertude = sorrow Violets withered = no faithfulness/ garden gone to weeds

Ophelia’s Madness Distributes the other flowers = to whom? Fennel = deceit Daisy = dissembling Rosemary = remembrance

Ophelia’s Madness Favorite image of the Pre-Raphaelite artists Image of abused womanhood Innocence corrupted Dutiful daughter Virgin/whore archetypes (nunnery)

Millais

Waterhouse

Waterhouse

Waterhouse

Hughes

Hughes