1. Act 4

2.  Nemesis  Foils  Disease and Corruption  Women  Hamlet as Tragic Hero  Appearance vs Reality

3.  How does Gertrude respond to what Hamlet has told her? (4.1.7-12) Does she believe Hamlet?  What is Claudius’ #1 concern?

4.  How are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern “sponges”?  Rosencrantz: Take you me for a sponge, my lord?  Hamlet: Ay, sir, that soaks up the King’s countenance,/his rewards, his authorities….When he needs what you have/ gleaned, it is but squeezing you and, sponge, you shall be dry again. (4.2.13-21)

5.  Why can’t Claudius arrest Hamlet? (4.3.4-8) Appearance vs Reality  Imagery of disease “Diseases desperate grown/By desperate appliance are relieved/ Or not at all.” (4.3.9-11)  Threats, insults, and the Great Chain of Being (4.3.19-39) “a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar”  Imagery of disease: (4.3.72-73)

6.  Foils: Let’s not forget about Fortinbras. Why does Hamlet find it significant that the land Fortinbras’ army fights for is worthless?  “How all occasions do inform against me” (4.4.34-68) Another soliloquy, this time inspired by Fortinbras. How convincing is it? Is it necessary?

7.  Horatio: ‘Twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew/ Dangerous conjectures in ill breeding minds.  Like what? What is she saying?  Ophelia’s songs suggest she’s not just upset about her father’s death: “Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s day” 4.5.48-63 What do her songs suggest?

8.  People are gossiping: “the people muddied,/Thick and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers/For good Polonius’ death; and we have done but greenly/ In hugger-mugger to inter him.” (4.5.80-83)

9.  Foils: “Laertes shall be king, Laertes king!”  “That drop of blood that’s calm proclaims me bastard.” (4.5.120-121)  The language of flowers: who does Ophelia give the flowers to?  Rosemary=remembrance  Pansies=thoughts  Fennel=flattery  Rue=sorrow/repentance  Daisy=infidelity  Violet=faithfulness  Claudius plans to use this to his advantage

10.  When in doubt, add pirates (Deus ex machina)  What do the letters contain?

11.  A vs R: Claudius explains that Hamlet is popular and Gertrude loves him. That’s why he hasn’t arrested him. Is that true? (4.7.11- 20)  Foils: Laertes will be patient as long as he gets to be the one to kill Hamlet.  The plan: Fencing match, poisoned sword, and poisoned wine for good measure.

13.  Foils: Claudius: …What would you undertake To show yourself in deed your father’s son More than in words? Laertes: To cut his throat in the church Irony  Ophelia’s death: “Too much of water hast thou Ophelia”