Reading Questions ACT IV NAME: Zipporah

Answer in PARAGRAPHS. Many of the bolded questions have several

facets. These cannot be answered in just one, or even two, sentences.
Act 4, Sc. 1

1. What is Claudius’ reaction when he’s told of Polonius’ fate? What does this show us his
character, or about his feelings toward Polonius, one of his closest advisors and allies?

What unpleasant task does the King give to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

Act 4, Sc. 2
What do you make of Hamlet’s interactions with his “friend” Rosencrantz?
Act 4, Sc. 3

2. Critical Perspectives - Power:

At the beginning of this scene, Claudius says: He’s loved of the distracted multitude./
Who like not in their judgment, but their eyes. What does this mean, and is this a
quality of leadership, even today? Who do you think would have made a better
long-term king of Denmark – Hamlet or Claudius, and why? Compare and
contrast their assets and faults. What do you think Shakespeare might be saying
about the qualities of good leadership? Is all rotten in the state of Denmark?
He’s talking about being liked by the public because they don’t know any better. They’re too busy with
their own lives to pay attention to who they’re supporting. This is still very true today as many people
are ill informed on politics and certain things government doesn’t want the public to know. I think
Hamlet would have made a better king, given better circumstances. He’s always has mental health
problems and self conflict that would hinder him but his care for his father and friends show his
relatable and empathetic qualities. Claudius is all malice with a little bit more “street smarts” and
strategy. Shakespeare believes good leadership is both and neither of these things. A leader is caring,
tactful, and open. When some of these good qualities are displayed not all is rotten in the state of
Denmark.

In a related exchange with Claudius, Hamlet explains he thinks worms are the most powerful when it
comes to the political food chain. Explain.
Worms eat the earth that broke down a king. They are mightier than the mightiest who all meet their end just
to be eaten by earth and worms. They hold the poer in the end.

When Claudius asks Hamlet about the location of Polonius’ body, Hamlet
says that Polonius is in “heaven. Send hither to see. If your messenger find him not there, seek him i’
th’ other place yourself.” What is Hamlet really saying to Claudius here?
Die and visit hell yourself

Why does Hamlet call Claudius “mother” instead of “father?”

He’s limping then together in their incestuous and rotten relationship. He married her and so now they
have no seperate identities but one mother to him. A moher who he disrespects and treats poorly.

3. Look at the last passage in this scene. Claudius has written a letter to the King of
England. What is Claudius’ command? What do you think will happen?

Act 4, Sc. 4
What is Hamlet’s opinion of the battle about to be struck between Fortinbras and the Polish soldiers
over an undesirable stretch of land?
He seems it as amiable that they are willing to die for so little a cause and he can’t even fight for the
greatest of causes which is to avenge one’s father.

4. A character foil is a literary device defined this way in Wikipedia: In fiction,

a  foil  is a  character  who contrasts with another  character, usually the
protagonist, to highlight qualities of the other  protagonist. In some cases, a
subplot can be used as a  foil  to the main plot. Think about what you know about
Fortinbras and his subplot so far. How could he be considered a foil to Hamlet?
Also, examine Hamlet’s soliloquy in this scene and explain how Fortinbras seems to
display “masculine” qualities that emphasize Hamlet’s traits or lacks. How does he
become Hamlet’s motivation to return to Denmark and take his revenge against
Claudius?
Forty bras is a foil to Hamlet and his life because he is fulfilling all that Hamlet wishes he could. His
lack of cowardice and his initiative to do what he wants emphasized Hamlet’s lack of will and follow
through while attempting to get revenge.

Act 4, Sc. 5
Describe Ophelia’s recent odd behavior.
Singing, flower girl with no emotion but beautiful sadness

Queen Gertrude doesn’t want to see Ophelia, but relents. Why?

She feels sorry for her and wants to comfort/quiet her

5. Critical Perspectives: Feminist: What are the two subjects of the songs Ophelia sings for
Gertrude and Claudius? Play special attention to the song she sings about maidens… Is
this real madness? Or could she be trying to reveal her real predicament – of the
consequences of sex? What do you think would be the impact on her reputation – of being
jilted by a prominent, now “mad” prince? Several months have elapsed. Could she have
realized some other state – that would have been tragically disgraceful for a single young
woman at the time? Is she truly mad? Or could she have been expressing the
impossibility of her situation, with no other options? Give a feminist interpretation of her
actions and situation if you can?
Ophelia sings about sex, love, and death. She is going mad because of how desensitized she is to what’s
happening but it’s brought on by her logical yet extreme feelings of guilt for her lustful actions. She
feels ashamed, guilty, and confused over her role with Hamlet as his lover maiden. She is driven mad
by his demeaning treatment of her and the emotional abuse thrown her way by the men previously in
her life.

What does Claudius think has caused her mental illness? What else do you think has contributed to
her pain or reaction?
Grief from losing her father and rage/confusion on what happened

6. Explain how the reactions of Ophelia and Laertes to their father’s murder are used to
mirror and amplify Hamlet’s reaction to King Hamlet’s murder. In what ways could you
see their actions and their characters as foils to the dithering Hamlet?
Laertes’ anger at the murder and loss of his father so quickly mirror what Hamlet may/should be
feeling. Ophelia’s regret and doubt mirror how Hamlet is spiraling out of control over the whole ordeal.
They are fools because they are the extremes of what happens in a bizarre situation like this and
Hamlet’s lack of character and passion are, frankly, boring.

Act 4, Sc. 6
Explain what happened while Hamlet was at sea, sailing to England. Look it up in a study guide
online if you have to. It is confusing.
He says he was captured by pirates and will return home with news

7. A deus ex machina, is a literary device to describe a time when a writer uses an unexpected
or unlikely event to resolve a situation in his story. It is usually considered a kind of “cheat”
to get out of a plot problem. Explain how the interference of the pirate ship is a deus ex
machina. Does this add to the drama of the story for you or take away from the impact?
The pirate story is kind of like the classic “they woke up and it was all a Dream” because now
Claudius’ reasonable want to send him away was accomplished but now he can be back in a
timely manner to conclude the story. It doesn’t add the the overall drama as it is a minor
shocking twist that is soon forgotten but it also doesn’t take away from the final dramatic
impact. It’s just a minor break in flow that provides some laughs and confusion to add to the
mood of the play.

By contrasting the behavior of the pirates with the behavior of the royal family of Denmark, what
interesting statement does Shakespeare seem to be making?
Denmark is full of dishonest people who are quick to act and take what they want. They are greedy despite their royal
titles.

Act 4, Sc. 7
Laertes accepts Claudius’ statement that Hamlet is their mutual enemy, but Laertes wonders why
Claudius didn’t take action against Hamlet sooner. What are the two reasons that Claudius gives to
explain his inaction in punishing Hamlet?
He cares for his wife and doesn’t want to upset her. Also, he worries about what he general public would
think of problems in the crown.

Laertes is well-known for having skill in a particular sport. What is it? How will this factor into
Claudius’ plan to have Hamlet killed and make it look like an accident?
Fencing; Claudius and Hamlet can duel or be befallen by an accidental murder.

8. Just in case the first plan doesn’t work, what is Claudius’ back-up plan to ensure that
Hamlet meets his fate? What’s interesting about Claudius’ preferred method of killing
people? What does this show us about the man?

9. Describe the scene of Ophelia’s end. Do you think this was accident or intentional on her
part? (Refer to your opinion, expressed above, of whether she was a weak woman, a strong
woman driven mad, a soul put in an impossible situation in a sexist world, or something else.)
Explain how your opinion of her state of mind contributes to your interpretation of her
end. Do you think Shakespeare wants us to care about Ophelia in her own right or
simply as a casualty of Hamlet’s chaos?
Ophelia is in a tree when she is taken off guard and falls into the lake and drowns, unawares of what is
happening. I think it was accidental but with no resistance. She was confused and fragile and when it
came down to it she was too weak to care. She tried to continue on but her mad ramblings began to
weigh her down and she let herself be held down by them in the pond. I think we are meant to care
about her only as a casualty to Hamlet’s means seeing all the sexism Shakespeare portrays in his work.

What lie does Claudius tell Gertrude at the end of this scene? What idea does this reinforce?
He’s been trying to calm down Laertes’ rage but couldn’t. This shows his two faced, lying personality.