1. Hamlet Act IV, scene 5-7
Scene Analysis

2. What’s Happening in Scene 5?

3. Gertrude’s Refusal
Gertrude doesn’t want to see Ophelia because of her own guilt. She sees Ophelia’s madness as another bad omen/sign of yet another disaster to come (possible foreshadowing?).
However, Horatio warns the Queen that she better see Ophelia because her mad ramblings might lead dangerous people to dangerous conclusions about the death of Polonius and the royal family’s involvement.

4. Ophelia’s State of Mind
In this scene we witness a great change in Ophelia. She has apparently had a mental breakdown and gone mad (crazy) from the death of her father. But the songs she sings indicate that she is also deeply troubled by the loss of her relationship with Hamlet and his love. These conflicting thoughts stem from the fact that Hamlet, the love of her life, killed Polonius, her father.

5. Ophelia’s State of Mind continued
While Ophelia’s songs and ramblings might seem incoherent, they actually give a deep insight into what is really bothering her and what she knows.
Ophelia sings of her father being “dead and gone” with grass at his head and a tombstone at his feet.
Ophelia also sings of her lost love with Hamlet and how he seemed to have broken his vows to her after they made love.
When she enters after Laertes return, she proceeds to give imaginary presents to Claudius, Gertrude and Laertes. These gifts, while seeming like the workings of a crazed person, are actually quite appropriate and reflect just how much Ophelia might know.

6. The Significance of Ophelia’s Gifts
Rosemary – a symbol for remembering (given to Laertes) Pansies – a symbol of thoughts and love (given to Laertes)
Both of these gifts seem to foreshadow her later suicide for she wants her brother to remember her with thoughts of love.
Fennel – symbol for flattery (given to Gertrude)
Columbines – a symbol for infidelity in marriage, adultery (given to Gertrude)
Rue – a symbol for repentance (given to Claudius)
Herb-grace – for repentance (given to Claudius)
Daisy – a symbol of false promises of love, unhappy love (given to Claudius)
Violets – a symbol for faithfulness (she says these have all dried up since her father died). What Ophelia really means by this is that she no longer has any faith in anything, including life and love.

7. What’s happening in Denmark during this scene?
After Polonius’ death many people have began to be suspicious of Claudius and Gertrude.
The people are spreading nasty rumours about Polonius’ death which Claudius fears will have grave consequences for him.
Ophelia has gone mad on account of her grief.
Hamlet has been sent away to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. He is unaware that Claudius secretly plans to have him killed.
Laertes has secretly returned from France and is surrounded by gossip-mongers, who fill his ears with wicked stories about his father’s death.
Claudius worries that Laertes will blame him for the murder because of how quickly and secretly he buried Polonius, especially since he didn’t give him a state funeral with all of the usual tributes.

8. Laertes’ Return
When Laertes finally confronts Claudius about the death of his father, he does so with the support of many people who have helped overtake the guards and want him to be the new king.
Laertes demands answers from Claudius about the suspicious death of his father.
So why is he suspicious?
The way his father died.
His secret funeral
He wasn’t given funeral rites, noble rites, a formal ceremony or a military display for his funeral.

9. Laertes’ Return Cont.
When Laertes finally sees Ophelia, he is shattered by what has happened to his once beautiful, loving and vivacious sister. This brings him great sadness and further cause to be angry.
Claudius proposes that Laertes gather his closest friends to hear the explanation for his father’s death. He goes on to say that if he (Laertes) and his friends don’t believe what they have heard, then Claudius will give up his kingdom, crown and life as a way of paying Laertes back for his father’s death.
He agrees to hear Claudius’ explanation but continues to remain suspicious.

10. What’s Happening in Scene 6?
In this scene we are given a few vital pieces of information through Hamlet’s letter to Horatio.
1. During the trip to England, Hamlet’s ship was attacked and boarded by pirates. During the battle, Hamlet wound up being captured by the pirates. The pirates agreed to return him to Denmark provided he do them some favours.
2. Hamlet has already returned to Denmark with the pirates and has asked Horatio to come and meet him as quickly as possible away from the castle.
3. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are still on the ship to England.
4. Hamlet informs Horatio he has things to tell him that will leave him speechless.

11. What’s Happening in Scene 7?
Claudius has convinced Laertes of his innocence in Polonius’ death and has also agreed to help him get his revenge on Hamlet.
Claudius thinks he has already ensured Hamlet’s death at the hands of England, so it comes as a great shock to him when he receives the letter informing him of Hamlet’s unexpected return.
This letter puts into motion the plan to kill Hamlet.
Laertes says he will let Claudius guide him in revenge against Hamlet only if he can be the instrument of Hamlet’s death.

12. Killing Hamlet
Claudius wants to know how serious Laertes is about avenging his father’s murder.
Laertes, who is very anxious to avenge his father’s death, claims he would slit Hamlet’s throat in church if given the chance.
Claudius claims he couldn’t kill Hamlet earlier because of two reasons:
Gertrude loves Hamlet very much and in hurting Hamlet he would be hurting Gertrude.
Hamlet is greatly loved by the people of Denmark. If Claudius were to punish Hamlet, the people would remember the punishment and not the crime.
Claudius suggests they plan his death in such a way so that it looks like an unfortunate accident, instead of a planned assassination.

13. Ophelia’s Death
When Gertrude comes to report Ophelia’s death to Claudius and Laertes, she says that she has “drowned”.
She then proceeds to give a lengthy explanation as to how Ophelia was attempting to hang wreaths of flowers from a tree branch which extended over a brook when she fell in. She floated for a while, singing softly to herself, but once her dress was completely soaked with water it pulled her down to the muddy depths below and she died.
A few questions arise from this explanation:
How does Gertrude know all of the details of Ophelia’s death?
If Gertrude was a witness (or heard it from a witness) then why didn’t she try and save her?

14. How Ophelia really died
Ophelia didn’t drown by accident, but instead committed suicide.
Gertrude makes up the story of her “accidental drowning” for a few reasons:
If it gets out that Ophelia killed herself she will not be given a Christian burial. This would be important to Laertes who is already up in arms over his father’s burial.
Gertrude has already probably heard of Hamlet’s return and she wants to save Hamlet of feeling guilty for Ophelia’s death as well as Polonius’.
She also does not want to stoke up Laertes’ rage any further. He has already threatened to kill Claudius.

15. What is plan to kill Hamlet?
Please complete the handout “Killing Hamlet” for the next class day.