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Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Hamlet

Act IV Questions

1. As act IV unfolds, Claudius is becoming more and more uncomfortable with having Hamlet around. Can you point to places where Claudius's fear is beginning to take over? How does he try to get rid of Hamlet, while continuing to look innocent?
2. Hamlet shows a great deal of wit and cleverness in this act. Where can you find examples of Hamlet's nimble brain? Or is he not a wit at all...is he something else?
3. 4.4 has Fortinbras moving over the countryside. Where is he going? Why? What about this journey upsets Hamlet so much? What does seeing Fortinbras do to Hamlet? How is he moved by what he sees?
4. Hamlet's questionable madness is starkly contrasted with Ophelia's real madness in Act 4. What has precipitated her madness? Was it necessary for her to go insane? What elements of the story are enhanced by her madness? Could the story work without it?
5. How does Hamlet happen to get back to Denmark? It is blind luck or is it more?

22 Comments:

At 2:32 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

1. Claudius fear is becoming apparent when he says Hamlet thought Polonius was him. He believes Hamlet is out to get him, which he is, but it still seems kind of paranoid. He tries to get rid of Hamlet by sending him to England and then getting him killed there.

2. Hamlet shows his wit in the way he handles the situation as well as speaks to him mother and the king. Every time he talks himself out of a situation his intellegince is visible.

3. Fortinbras is going through Denmark into Poland. He is going to attack Poland for a small piece of land that is not even big enough to gain any profit. It is a worthless piece and yet they are going to war for it. Hamlet is upset at the fact that innocent people are going to die for a worthless cause. Seeing Fortinbras inspires Hamlet to continue on with his revenge.

4. Ophelia’s madness is the result of her father’s death. The mood of the story is enhanced by her madness. The story would not be as effective with her and her lose of mind.

5. Hamlet gets back to Denmark on a pirate ship. He became the prisoner of a group of pirates that attacked the ship he was on. It seems that these pirates have something against the present king. It seems like a spark of luck that he happened to come across them.

 
At 4:52 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

evelez-sanchez p.3
Act IV Questions:
1.Throughout Act 4, Claudius is beginning to fell uncomfortable having hamlet around. “King-O heavy deed! It had been so with us, had we been there. His liberty is full of threats to all- To you yourself, to us, to every one. Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answered? Should have kept short, restrained, and out of haunt this mad young man” (95-96). At the beginning of Act 4, Hamlet killed Polonius and now Claudius thinks that Hamlet should not be let out because he is a dangerous man. The way Claudius tries to get rid of Hamlet is by sending him of to England and after he arrives, he should be killed. “King- Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety,-which we do tender as we dearly grieve for that which thou hast done...For England…Ham- For England? King- Ay, Hamlet” (100).
2.One example of when Hamlet shows his nimble brain is when he tries talking to Rosencrantz and then tries to escape. “Ros- My lord, you must tell us where the body is and go with us to the King. Ham- The body is with the King, but the King is not with the body. The King is a thing. Guil- A thing, my lord? Ham- Of nothing. Bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after” (98). In other words, he tries to talk them out of taking him to the King.
3.Fortinbras was moving over the country side going near Elsinore Castle. He passes through there because he was going to go meet the Danish King. The thing that upsets Hamlet about his journey was that he sort of ruined his plans to kill the King. What seeing Fontinbras do to Hamlet is that Hamlet compares the bravery and the resolution of Fontinbras and his efforts to redress his father’s losses with his own apathy and he again determines on a bloody action.
4.The thing that has precipitated her madness was the death of her father. Ophelia actually saw the body when the people were taking it away. Also, another reason is when she remembered the things that she had done with Hamlet, there whole relationship/ love life. In my opinion, the story could have not worked with this scenario because this is part of the action and some part of the climax, because now, the things are changing for Hamlet and her.
5.The way Hamlet happens to get back to Denmark is that he got caught by pirates and he found his own way back to Denmark. In my opinion, I think it is not blind luck; he planned it all along because he is just not going to stay still until he avenges his father.

 
At 8:53 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

1. Claudius's fear begins in act four, scene one. “His liberty is full of threats to all...” (line 15). He fears that Hamlet might murder them both or do murder someone else that will effect them. In the end of the act, he admits that he is frightened. “My soul is full of discord and dismay” (line 46). Hamlet has alarmed him to take actions. He plans to get rid of Hamlet by having Rosencratz and Guildenstern to find him and take him far away. “Go seek him out: speak fair, and bring the body into the chapel. I pray you haste in this” (lines 37-38). Hamlet is angry at Fortinbras because he has sent Hamlet away, btu he is motivated that he a chance to go back to his hometown.
2. Hamlet is clever when it becomes to punishment. He persuade his way by using comedy. “A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm” (lines 30-31). He tries to make the punishment lighter and find out more about what people are hiding from him.
3. Fortinbras is going to Poland because he is going to conquer a land, which the captain thinks it's worthless to conquer and protect. “Against some part of Poland” (line 13). The journey upsets Hamlet because Claudius is still proven innocent, even though he killed Hamlet's father.
4. The cause of Ophelia's madness is the murder of her father. “She speaks much of her father...” (line 5).The news has drove her crazy because her father is someone close to her and she lost him. It wasn't necessary for Ophelia to go insane, but it did help the plot to get interesting. “By heaven, thy madness shall be paid with weight toll our scale turn the beam” (lines 172-173). Laetres is more motivated to seek revenge on Hamlet. Revenge takes a bigger role in this act because it is enhanced by Ophelia's madness. The story could have worked with her going insane, but the characters became more determined to take revenge on Hamlet.
5. Hamlet got back to Denmark by being invaded by pirates. “Ere we were two days old at sea, a pirate of very war like appointment gave us chase” (lines 15-16). They took Hamlet as a prisoner and have them to him a favor. This even is blind luck because Hamlet was just taken away and just two days, they were invaded by pirates that helped him to get back to the king.

 
At 9:30 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

1. Claudius's fear begins to take over at the point where he realizes that Hamlet knows that he has murdered his father. His fear deepens when he realizes that he might have died instead of Polonius. He tries to have Hamlet removed to England where he will be secretly executed, and covers up this action and maintains his innocence by acting as if he does this solely because Hamlet has committed a "terrible deed".

2. Hamlet's wit and cleverness is seen in his last conversations with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, in his quick acceptance to go to England, and in his decision to definitely get his revenge. This is definitely wit and not madness or courage or anything else.

3. Fortinbras is going over the countryside to capture a small piece of Poland. This journey of Fortinbras' bothers Hamlet because he sees Fortinbras as someone like him, except that Fortinbras is concentrating all of his will to accomplish something noble. This revelation causes Hamlet to reconsider and reinforce his ideas to commit revenge. He swears that he will stay only to "bloody thoughts" or none at all.

4. Ophelia has gone mad due to her fathers murder and society's pressures. It was not actually necessary for her to go insane, but it did help further some elements of the plot. Her madness reveals that Denmarks society has had some fundamental problems that have been kept under check until the recent turmoil. Her madness aids the story in that it furthers the actions of Laertes and his mini-rebellion.

5. Hamlet happens to get back to Denmark by being returned there by pirates who raided his ship destined for England. This seems to be merely blind luck in the form of deus ex machina as now Hamlet will be able to return and bring to play to it's eventual climax.

 
At 10:04 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

J-Aranda Per.3

1. Claudius seems to feel more uncomfortable around Hamlet and his fear is beginning to show. You could see Claudius fear after he finds out that Hamlet has murdered Polonius and he is running loose. “King- His liberty is full of threats to all,/To you yourself, to us, to every one./Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answered?” (Scene 1: Lines 14-16) Claudius fears that Hamlet is going to come after him and kill him as well. Claudius way of getting rid of Hamlet is by sending him to England where he would then be killed. “King- And England, if my love thou hold’st at aught-/…After the Danish sword, and thy free awe/Pays homage to us-thou mayst not coldly set/Our sovereign process, which imports at full/By letters congruing to that effect/The present death of Hamlet.” (Scene 3: Lines 58, 61-65) Claudius tries to be innocent by not doing anything to Hamlet by himself and instead have someone else do it for him.
2. An example where Hamlet shows his cleverness and wit is when he speaks to the King of Polonius death. “Hamlet- In heaven. Send thither to see. If your messenger find him not there, seek him i’ th’ other/ place yourself. But if indeed you find him not/within this month, you shall nose him as you go/up the stairs into the lobby.” (Scene 3: Lines 34-37) Hamlet is trying to convey that the King himself will find Polonius in Heaven if he gets killed within a month and if not the King will find Polonius up stairs. Hamlet tries to put it in a humorous way to not be suspected.
3. Fortinbras is heading towards the Danish King passing through Denmark. He is heading towards Poland to gain a piece of land. Hamlet gets upset with Fortinbras because he interferes with his plans of going back to kill the King. “Hamlet- How all occasions do inform against me/And spour my dull revenge!” (Scene 4: Lines 32-33) After seeing what Fortinbras is planning, Hamlet sees that Fortinbras is again going with his own lack of concern to gain his father’s losses with a bloody action.
4. What has precipitated Ophelia’s madness is that his father has been killed by the man who she thought one’s loved her. “Ophelia- By Cock, they are to blame./Quoth she, ‘Before you tumbled me,/You promised me to wed.’/He answers: ‘So would I’ a’ done, by yonder sun,/And thou hadst not come to my bed.’” (Scene 5: Lines 61-66) Her relationship with Hamlet has caused her to go mad because she remembers the things Hamlet told her and now she feels betrayed. It was necessary for her to go insane because now one could see the reality of Hamlet’s madness to avenge his father’s death. Hamlet one’s showed love but now his soul is full of hate. Ophelia’s insanity was necessary to the act’s climax.
5. Hamlet gets back to Denmark by being chased by pirates and taking him as a prisoner. The pirates now are taking Hamlet back to Denamrk. This to me is not blind luck because he did not hesitate to leave to England because he knew that he would come back to Denmark either way to avenge his father’s death.

 
At 10:18 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Josie Flores
In act four of the play you can see that Claudius starts to fear Hamlet. This is revealed in his conversation with the queen after Polonius is dead. He starts to think that Hamlet was really after him instead of Polonius and he sees Hamlets madness. Next, Claudius attempts to get rid of Hamlet by sending him away to England with his friends. By doing this he can look innocent while still getting rid of Hamlet.
I still find that Hamlet is somewhat crazy. However, he reveals how clever he really is in some of the scenes in act four, which make it seem possible that he is capable of faking his madness throughout the play. In his conversations with his mother and also throughout his speech you can see how clever and intelligent he is.
Fortinbras is moving along the countryside in order for him to capture part of Poland. His journey upsets Hamlet because Fortinbra is in a way very similar to Hamlet in seeking what he wants. However, Fortinbra is looked at as doing a more noble deed while Hamlet is trying to seek revenge. He than realizes that he should reconsider what he is about to do.
Ophelia’s madness arose when she became aware of the death of her father Polonius. In the play I think it was somewhat necessary for her to go insane. One reason is because when she does go insane, just like Hamlet supposedly did earlier in the play, both of their behaviors were not very common. While Hamlet remained intelligent and still very witty, Ophelia had become dumb, stupid, and speechless. This is a great contrast between the two who are both supposed to be insane. Ophelia going insane also adds on more drama to the play. Even though this is a very important factory I think the story could still work without it.
While on his journey, Hamlets ship, which is sailing to England, is raided by pirates. He was than returned to Denmark where he still had the option to seek revenge. This seems somewhat impractical, but Hamlet must return so his option of forgiveness or revenge is still part of the play.

 
At 10:53 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

imuradian, p3

1. Claudius's fear begins to take over at numerous instances in act IV. Firstly, he becomes aware of Hamlet's discovery that he killed his father. Once he sees that it may have been him instead of Polonius who died, Claudius's fear grew even worse. Claudius's fear is very obvious when he covertly sends Hamlet to England for execution on account of a " terrible deed" when really he was attempting to cover his own act of murder.

2. Hamlet's nimble brain is seen in several occasions. The first of these are seen during his conversations with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern,where he makes many witty comments. Another occasion of his intelligence is his ultimate decision to avenge the death of his father.

3. Fortinbras is going over the countryside in order to accomplish his objective; capturing a piece of Poland. Hamlet is bothered by this journey in that he relates himself to Fortinbras and sees that himself and he have similar plots but opposite motives. Hamlet thus questions his vengeful state of mind.

4. Ophelia's insanity was precipitated chiefly through her father's murder. Her insanity was necessary for the play's sake, but not in relativity because it could have been prevented. The story could not work well without her madness because it is meant to illustrate the encompassing insanity that lays dormant in all human beings, which was Shakespeare's intent.

5. Pirates who raided Hamlet's ship returned Hamlet to Denmark. This bizzarre incident is probably blind luck that helped Shakespeare continue the story.

 
At 10:54 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

Taylor Brown’s

1. Claudius realizes that Hamlet is trying to kill him so he is afraid of his safety. So he tells Hamlet’s mother that he should be shipped off to England and they can all just forget about the murder as an attempt to save Hamlet when he’s really trying to save himself.

2. When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern come and try and figure out where Hamlet has hid the body, he refuses to give a straight answer and keeps trying to confuse them and avoid the question. Then he starts to accuse them of being spies to take the pressure off of himself.

3. He claims he is going to attack Poland over a dispute of land. This upsets Hamlet because he doesn’t understand how people can fight over something so insignificant. While he has something significant to gain with killing his uncle for revenge for his father’s death but hasn‘t actually done it yet.

4. They say that her madness is caused by the death of her father but it is precipitated when Hamlet is shipped off to England because now the two men she counted on in her life are gone in an instant. Her insanity is real unlike Hamlet’s, so her is present to show the audience that Hamlet is just putting on an act and the play wouldn’t be the same without it.

5. Hamlet’s ship is captured by pirates and the sailors take them back to Denmark because they want to talk with the king and queen. I think it’s necessary for Hamlet to return but the way it happened is just pure luck.

 
At 10:56 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

kZichp3
1. It is obvious that Claudius is becoming more and more uncomfortable with having Hamlet around and that can be seen when he realizes that it could have just as easily been him instead of Polonius who was stabbed and killed by Hamlet. Also, Claudius is now aware that Hamlet knows of his murdering of his brother. He tries to get rid of Hamlet by sending him to England for an execution, while continuing to look innocent and covering up his own murder.
2. A good deal of wit on Hamlet’s part can be seen when he was talking to Claudius after he was taken custody of. Also, his nimble brain is seen when talking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, where his wit is at the tip of his tongue.
3. Fortinbras is moving over the countryside to capture a small portion of Poland in a noble fashion. This noble fashion upsets Hamlet in that Hamlet compares himself to Fortinbras and sees similarities, except Fortinbras is doing something noble. Hamlet, after seeing Fortinbras, reinforces his plans on avenging his father and claims that he will think bloody thoughts or no thoughts at all.
4. Ophelia’s madness was precipitated by the Death of her father and the absence of Hamlet. Although it was not necessary for her to go mad, it enhances the story in that she temporarily served as a comic relief to lighten the mood of the play. However, his sister’s madness will further fuel Laertes’s rebellion.
5. Hamlet returns to Denmark when his ship destined for England was raided by pirates. These pirates then brought Hamlet back to Denmark. This seemed like blind luck in that had the pirates not raided the ship, he would have been stuck in England. However, now that Hamlet is back in Denmark, the play can more easily come to a conclusion.

 
At 11:01 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

L. You
Per.3

Act IV
1. One situation that Claudius tries to get rid of Hamlet inconspicuously is when he tells Gertrude that they must ship Hamlet off to England after Gertrude tells Claudius about Hamlet’s murder of Polonius. Claudius questions Hamlet about the location of Polonius’ body but Hamlet cleverly answers the question without giving any real information, but he eventually tells Claudius where he had hid the body. When Claudius tells Hamlet that he is to be sent to England, Hamlet enthusiastically agrees with Claudius and exits. Also after Ophelia goes mad, Claudius convinces Laertes to challenge Hamlet into a sword combat, which in Claudius’ mind, Laertes would be able to kill Hamlet without making it look like Claudius had had a hand in the situation. Laertes would be using a sharpened blade instead of a normal dull fencing sword and his blade will be coated with poison so any scratch that it will make on Hamlet will poison Hamlet on contact. Claudius also concocts another back up plan incase Hamlet wins the duel. Claudius will offer Hamlet a goblet with wine and poison.

2. An example of Hamlet’s cleverness is shown when Claudius is pressing Hamlet for the location of Polonius’ body. But Hamlet cleverly replies that Polonius is being eaten by worms, and that the king could send a messenger to find Polonius in heaven or seek him in hell himself.

3. Fortinbras and his men are on their way to fight the Poles. They encounter Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern on their way to the king of Denmark to ask permission to ride through their land. The captain of the army tells Hamlet that they are fighting for “a little patch of land That hath in it no profit but the name” (Act IV, scene iii). Hamlet finds the fact that an army will kill hundreds of people for a piece of land that meant nothing fascinating. This makes him think about his hesitation on killing the murderer of his father and swears that his thoughts would be bloody with revenge from that moment on.

4. I think that the whole situation with Hamlet going “insane” and then her father’s death, Ophelia’s hold on her sanity would be lost in a matter of time. She was lost when Hamlet had gone crazy with madness and then the blow of her father’s death sent her to her insanity. I think that her insanity was necessary for the story to continue because her insanity triggers Laertes into his anger.

 
At 11:26 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

PPham
per.3

1. As act 4 unfolds Claudius becomes more uncomfortable with Hamlet around because, Hamlet is unraveling his ill gotten deeds to obtain the thrown. Claudius tries to remove Hamlet from England were he would be murdered, and covers up his crime by justifying this exile by simply stating Hamlet killed Polinus.
2. We can see Hamlet's nimble brain in action in when he spoke to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. His play on words and his quick comments display his whit and cleverness; this completely wit and nothing else.
3. Fortinbras has been moving over the countryside to conquer a portion of Poland. Fortinbras journey upsets Hamlet because, he sees himself in Fortinbras but, rather then focusing all his effort into revenge he is concentrating on something honorable. Hamlet at first reconsiders his thoughts of revenge but, then believes that his meeting with Fortinbras has just furthermore motivated him towards revenge.
4. Ophelia’s madness was precipitated by her father’s murder. It was not necessary for her to g o insane, but it helped enhanced many of the play’s elements. It portrays many of the plays main concepts and ideas such as, tragic drama and the emotional flaws of that time period.
5. Hamlet happens to get back to Denmark after his hip to England was raided by pirates. It seems to be blind luck because, he played no part it actually coming back to Denmark.

 
At 11:56 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Chelsea Leon

Hamlet
Act IV Questions

1) Claudius’s fear takes over mainly in the scenes when he speaks to himself- tells the fourth wall his thoughts- and when he is in the confession booth. He claims to worry for Hamlet’s sanity and hold him for the murder of Polonius.

2) I like Hamlet’s character. I like the way he treats people when he knows they are being fake. Sometimes he worries me and makes me wonder if there is something in his brain that really is mad, but then I remember that he is just quirky and witty. When Hamlet is being retrieved by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: “I understand you not, my lord.” “I am glad of it. A knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear.” (Act VI Scene II) And again to the king: “Now, Hamlet, where is Polonius?” “At supper.” “At supper? Where?” “Not where he eats, but where he is eaten…” (Act VI Scene III)

3) Fortinbras is the Prince of Norway. His father was killed by Hamlet’s father and he wants to avenge his father’s death by attacking Denmark. Hamlet sees Fortinbras and is inspired to continue in avenging his father’s unjust death. He is moved because he sees someone else with emotions of grief and vengeance for their father and feels assured that he is doing the right thing.

4) Ophelia has been driven to insanity from the death of her father by the man who had said he loved her. I believe it was necessary for her to show true madness so we know what it looks like in comparison to Hamlet’s fake insanity. The story could work without it; however it was good that it was added. The reader/viewer sees a young lady over reacting but at the same time learns to see the difference in Hamlet.

5) In Shakespeare’s plays, fate tends to step in and play its part. Hamlet’s ship was taken over by pirates and they took him to Denmark.

 
At 11:57 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amikol
per3

1.Claudis's fear takes over as Hamlet takes account for killing Polonius and Claudis is now knowing that Hamlet probably wants to kill him. He tries to get rid of Hamlet by banishing him because he killed Polonius.

2. Examples of Hamlet's nimble brain is him dancing away from telling the absolute truth and the way of dodging the absolute questions.

3. Fortinbras is going to one of those different countries to help fight in the war to come between Denmark and Sweden. He wants to fight for his homeland.This journey upsets Hamlet so much because Fortinbras might die. Upon seeing Fortinbras, Hamlet gets abducted by those pirate people. He is moved by what he sees because the pirate people have worked together despite what the captain tells them.

4. Her madness has been caused by the death of her father Polonius. Her insaneness was necessary becasue she lost her lover Hamlet, and her father in such a close time. The elements of the story that are enhanced are the love between anybody and Ophelia and the coming turmoil of the king Claudis. The story only works with her madness because she is in love with Hamlet.

5. Hamlet gets back into Denmark because of his nimble toungue and friendly kindness to those that he means to be. The luck of his life is that he wasn't killed before this happened.

 
At 12:18 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

ParsonsS

1. Claudius is beginning to feel more threatened by Hamlet when he becomes violent. Claudius worries that he might be the next person that Hamlet blindly stabs in one of his blind rages. With these thoughts, he concludes that they must ship Hamlet off to another country, and he decides that England would be best. “The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch, but we will ship him hence;” (p.191, 4.1). Claudius keeps the suspicion off of his motives for having Hamlet leave by coming up with excuses and having his friends tell him about the idea.
2. A good example of Hamlet’s wit in this act is when he confronts his so called friends: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. “Take you me for a sponge, my lord? Hamlet- Ay, sir, that soaks up the King’s countenance… you shall be dry again,” (p. 193, 4.2). The comparisons that Hamlet makes, as well as his remarks, show that he is incredibly witty during this act.
3. Hamlet discovers that the army is traveling to attack Poland to win a very insignificant amount of territory that has no value, other than that of saying that the opposing country has possession of it. This kind of needless violence causes Hamlet to realize that he has a very valid reason to be violent, but hasn’t acted on it. This upsets him, and he vows to go back and kill his uncle. “O, from this time forth, my thoughts will be bloody or be nothing worth!” (p. 205, 4.5). Here, Hamlet vows that his only focus will be on ways to murder his uncle.
4. Ophelia goes mad because of the combination of her brother leaving, Hamlet suddenly treating her cruelly, and mostly, by her father’s murder. I think that Ophelia’s madness isn’t really necessary to the story. The only purpose that it really serves is to show the difference between being truly insane, and the wishy-washy state of insanity that Hamlet appears to be in.
5. Hamlet’s return to Denmark was not just blind luck. While he did manage to find his way back with the help of the sailors, the reason that he got back to where he needed to be to claim his revenge was because he deeply wanted to. He declared that his entire existence was going to be finding his way back to Denmark to impose the revenge that he felt due to his uncle.

 
At 1:11 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hkeenawinna Period 3

Act 4
1) Claudius is more nervous because he is no longer in control of what people might be thinking; the play caused some people to judge him. He gets uncomfortable when he realizes that Hamlet killed Claudius thinking it was him. When he sends Hamlet away to England, he is hoping that England might restrain him and let him feel relaxed. “Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answer'd? It will be laid to us, whose providence Should have kept short, restrain'd and out of haunt,” This was the perfect excuse he could think up of to send Hamlet away. He needs to be away from the family and he seems to be no longer of sane mind. He’s doing in what people may think is the right thing to do.
2) He is smart, he knows what he wants and what he needs to get. He is not mad at all. When he is confronting the king, he speaks madly but he makes each accusation sting. There’s nothing the king can do about it because everyone thinks he’s mad. HAMLET: A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and cat of the fish that hath fed of that worm. KING CLAUDIUS: What dost you mean by this? HAMLET: Nothing but to show you how a king may go a
progress through the guts of a beggar. He is able to still have his little revenge, making the king appear a fool.
3) Fortinbras is moving through the city to go to the poles. He is going there to fight for the right to call it his, or to name it. Hamlet sees that humans do the most stupid things and they expect the world to be peaceful. The do the most violent things to get what they want. Hamlet sees that in order to accomplish his revenge he has to be like Fortinbras, like his step-father/uncle. He has to avenge his father with murdering thoughts.
4) Her father’s death made Ophelia go mad, it made her go over the edge. She lost her father and the night before she lost the love of her life. Her heart must have been breaking, it was too much for her to handle. The fact that Hamlet accused their love as nothing more but a passing fancy, made it all crack as well. She was going through a mental breakdown at that point. The story might have been better without it, although without it, Laertus would not have been able to avenge his father and sister. Then again, he could have avenged his father instead of his sister. I think truthfully that she was too crazy. It seemed almost too much.
5) Hamlet’s ship is overtaken by pirates and they returned him to Denmark. It seems to be blind luck because pirates may have taken over his boat and stolen everything, knowing he was a prince might have been what saved him.

 
At 10:06 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

J Hellmich

1. Claudius gets very scared when Gertrude tells him that Hamlet has killed Polonius. He realizes that if he was the one hiding behind the curtains, it would be his dead body that they are all looking for, not Polonius's. He claims he wants Hamlet sent to England but not necessarily as a punishment for the murder, but because Claudius feels threatened by him. Claudius doesn't want to die, and he doesn't want his reputation to be ruined.

2. Hamlet acts witty when he is being asked the whereabouts of Polonius's body. "The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body." ln 25-26. He's being a smart alec to the king because of his hatred towards him. He also shows his wit when refusing to tell his friends where the body is. He is angry with them when they don't understand what he's talking about through all his madness. "A knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear." ln 23-24

3. Fortinbras is on his way to attack Poland. He wants to get a patch of land to gain wealth and peace. Hamlet is disturbed by this because there is so much death over something that doesn't really matter. The land that Fortinbras wants isn't even farmible. It's no good, however he's willing to kill to get it, just to prove a point. Hamlet disagrees with that, however he resorts to shed blood as well to avenge his father's murder. "My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth!" ln 70

4. Ophelia and Hamlet both went "mad" after the death's of their fathers. They are the same in that respect, as well as they both lost eachother's love. Hamlet had more of a reason to go mad; he saw the ghost of his father! Ophelia is just dealing with this the wrong way. She didn't need to go mad. People can cope with the death of a loved one. It's another thing to see a ghost and actually speak with it. That would turn anyone crazy.

5. A Pirate ship attacked Hamlet's ship and he alone was their prisoner. He is on his way back to Denmark. It could be blind luck, but fate has a funny way of doing things, so it was meant to be that Hamlet should return to Denmark to get revnge.

 
At 8:36 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hamlet – Act 4 Responses


1. As act IV unfolds, Claudius is becoming more and more uncomfortable with having Hamlet around. Can you point to places where Claudius's fear is beginning to take over? How does he try to get rid of Hamlet, while continuing to look innocent?

Claudius begins to show fear when he begins to create plans to kill Hamlet. He begins his plans by trying to instigate the king of England to kill Hamlet out of fear of Denmark. Claudius uses England as an excuse for Hamlet to leave Denmark to travel to England and reflect for some time.

2. Hamlet shows a great deal of wit and cleverness in this act. Where can you find examples of Hamlet's nimble brain? Or is he not a wit at all...is he something else?

One example of Hamlet’s wit is shown when Claudius asks where Polonius is, and Hamlet replies that he is out to dinner revealing that Polonius is the dinner for the worms, which means that Polonius is dead. Another example could be when Hamlet focuses on his revenge on page 230. This shows how Hamlet is somewhat controlling his sanity since he realizes that he is not focusing on the main objective, which is his revenge. In fact, he states, “How all occasions do inform against me, and spur my dull revenge!” This quote shows how he is not completely focused on his revenge since occasions are the only aspect spurring his revenge.

3. 4.4 has Fortinbras moving over the countryside. Where is he going? Why? What about this journey upsets Hamlet so much? What does seeing Fortinbras do to Hamlet? How is he moved by what he sees?

Fortinbras is moving over to the countryside to conquer a small patch of land that does not constitute any value. Hamlet is moved by the actions of Fortinbras since he displays the will to conquer a piece of land even if it does not withold any true value. This fortifies Hamlet’s will to pursue his goal since he witnesses such dedication to a cause. Hamlet shows his new found dedication when he states, “Why yet I live to say this thing's to do, sith I have cause and will and strength and means to do 't.” By stating this, Hamlet is proving that even if he does not know why he pursues this goal he will dedicate to his goal and finish what he started since he has the power to reach his goal.

4. Hamlet's questionable madness is starkly contrasted with Ophelia's real madness in Act 4. What has precipitated her madness? Was it necessary for her to go insane? What elements of the story are enhanced by her madness? Could the story work without it?

Ophelia’s madness was spawned from Hamlet’s madness since he rejected Ophelia as her lover. Ophelia reacted to this rejection by becoming mad. Many of Ophelia’s songs speak of love and her final song on page 240, which states at the end, “So would I ha' done, by yonder sun, aAn thou hadst not come to my bed.” The songs and the quote from the final song prove her madness was spurred by Hamlet since she believes that Hamlet only used her for his own pleasures and never loved her. This madness enhanced the story since they can prove Hamlet’s madness. If he was not mad, he would have never given Ophelia such a reply to her rejection and traumatized her. This madness did not work well for the story since it did not truly accomplish any true goal.

5. How does Hamlet happen to get back to Denmark? It is blind luck or is it more?

Hamlet was going back to Denmark since he was captured by pirates who were using him for a favor. It was blind luck that Hamlet would return.

 
At 9:08 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

1. When Gertrude tells Claudius that Hamlet killed Polonius he is not worried by anything other than the fact that it could have been him hiding in the curtains. He is then impelled to send Hamlet to England, not as punishment, but as a way to get him away from Claudius. He tells Hamlet that by sending him away it will give people the chance to take in the news without getting angry with him. He encourages him to go to England, but secretly writes a letter pleading for him death once he arrives in England.
2. Hamlet uses his wit as a way of getting around answering questions. He adverts people's questions of where he has hidden Polonius body using wit and acting coy.
3. In Act IV, Fortinbras is trying to travel through Denmark into Poland to fight over some land. Hamlet is intrigued why someone would be so hast in engaging in a bloody battle, endangering peoples lives over a piece of land that has so value. After his meeting, Hamlet is now determines to seek revenge and not to put it off any longer.
4. After hearing of her father’s death, Ophelia goes mad, singing songs and muttering nonsense. Because she is mad, and because she is so grief stricken, Ophelia drowns herself in a river. After this happens, Leartes is even more persistent in seeking revenge on Hamlet for killing his father.
5. Hamlet writes a letter saying that his ship was taken over by pirates and he is returning to Denmark. This does seem like blind luck, but it is probably due to some plan that Hamlet schemed.

 
At 11:18 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Taylor McClanahan

1. After the murder of Polonius by Hamlet, Claudius begins to fear for his own life and feels threatened by Hamlet’s new found violence. He feels that Hamlet’s madness has reached a new height and necessitates his deportation, so to say, to England, saying that, “The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch, but we will ship him hence,” (Act 4, Scene 1). Claudius is clever in coming up with excuses for having Hamlet sent to England, and through these excuses, makes it appear that the idea to send Hamlet to England was not even his idea at all.
2. Hamlet is very witty in this act, with an example being when he is speaking with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, with them saying, “Take you me for a sponge, my lord?” and Hamlet responding, “Ay, sir, that soaks up the King’s countenance…you shall be dry again,” (Act 4, Scene 2). He is consistently witty with his sharp (and mostly true) quips and remarks, and even in seeming madness, he remains quick and witty. He also speaks cleverly about the location of Polonius’ body, avoiding answering questions directly, but sufficiently answering the words of the question. He says that Polonius is being eaten by worms and that the king could send someone to heaven to find him, or even that the king could go to hell himself to find him. He answers the questions, but delivers answers that the questioners did not desire.
3. Fortinbras is marching through Denmark to fight the Poles for a small insignificant piece of land, which the captain claims, “hath in it no profit but the name” (Act 4, Scene 4). Hamlet is amazed and upset how people can go through so much and cause so much blood-shed for something so insignificant…so meaningless in the big scheme of things. Seeing the Prince sparks Hamlet into bloody thoughts and promised action. He believes that, even though he has so much to gain from the downfall of Claudius, he has not acted because of his hesitating to think in a bloodthirsty fashion. Seeing Fortinbras acting without regard for human life sparks Hamlet into action, feeling that if they could act for so little gain, than what was stopping him from acting with so much to gain.
4. In Ophelia’s madness, we see non-cohesion and confusion of thought, with her actions and words truly incomprehensible. Her madness was caused by her brother’s departure and Hamlet’s recent treatment of her, but most of all, by her father’s sudden, violent death. With having Ophelia actually go insane, the audience sees what real madness is, as opposed to Hamlet’s conscientious madness, if there is such a thing. As the reader may have questioned Hamlet’s false madness as an excuse for true madness, Shakespeare shows the audience what true madness is through Ophelia’s going insane.
5. Hamlet’s sheer determination is what got him back into Denmark. Yes, there is some luck involved with his means of getting back so quickly, but overall, he was going to get back into Denmark to get back the crown with his new determination.

 
At 8:38 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

TMorley P3

1. Claudius does many things that show his irritation with Hamlet. At the very beginning of act 4, he discusses what will be done to contain and confine Hamlet, and tells Gertrude that he will not be held accountable for any sort of confinement. He proposes shipping him off to England. He wants to throw him in jail, but knows the people will disapprove. He wants to protect his image and ensure the people that he isn’t king just for the crown, but that he wants to be a part of the family.

2. Hamlet is not particularly witty, but is more expressive of what he really wants to do rather than what is socially acceptable. He is playing games with the king to piss him off, not to outsmart him. Examples of this range from hiding the body of Polonius to his discussions with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

3. He is moving because he is in too much pain watching Hamlet go insane. Seeing Fortinbras has helped Hamlet because his friend is the only stability he has. It is one of the few things that has not changed since the death of his father. He wants him to stick around for comfort, and his departure has Hamlet all worked up because he is losing yet another source of stability.

4. Ophelia went insane because she, especially being a woman, had no other option. Her father was killed, she loves a man that she doesn’t want to and is the same man that killed her father, and her brother wants to kill Hamlet. There is a huge mess that she cannot remove herself from physically from as a woman. She goes insane because she has no other way to shut out the problems of the current world and has to make her own heaven in her mind. This enhances the power of Hamlet in the novel and makes him seem like he has more control over people. The story could have continued without it, but it adds a slight twist to the typical Shakespearean suicide

5. It appears to be blind luck, but when he stumbles upon the funeral, it seems too ironic to be true. He comes back because his business there is finished and because he figured out what he is going to do with himself, but he had to have known that this was going to happen soon. This is far too blatant an irony.

 
At 8:20 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

SBarloon

1. Claudius worries throughout act IV that Hamlet is going to kill him or reveal his murder of Hamlet Sr. In scene i Claudius worries what the people will think of him because of Hamlet’s actions, “So dreaded slander…may miss our name and hit the woundless air.” (4.1 lines 40-44) Claudius decides to send Hamlet away to England where he has made arrangements with the king of England to have Hamlet killed. According to Claudius, Hamlet is just trying to hide his secret of killing the king. By sending Hamlet away it looks like Claudius is treating him kindly and giving him time to think of what he has done.

2. Hamlet’s wit is something that may contribute to the illusion of his madness. In scene iii he speaks to Claudius with much wit and seems a little crazy but he may just be acting this way to fulfill his plans. He talks to Claudius about Polonius being dead and being eaten by worms, which is very clever. While with Claudius he jokes around, but when Hamlet meets with the captain of Fortinbras’ army he is very serious and together.

3. Fortinbras is going to Poland to fight over a small piece of land. Hamlet is impressed by Fortinbras determination and loyalty to his country that he would go to battle over such an insignificant thing. After seeing Fortinbras, Hamlet vows that, “From this time forth, my thoughts be bloody, or be nothing at all.” (4.4 lines 64-65) This is when Hamlet decides that the next time he gets the chance he will kill Claudius.

4. Ophelia’s madness is caused by the unfortunate series of events that occur to her loved ones. Hamlet suddenly begins to treat her differently and cruelly, her father is killed, and her brother leaves. These events are so disturbing to her that she actually goes mad. Ophelia’s insanity is used to show the difference between real madness and Hamlet’s pretend madness. I think the story would still work without Ophelia going crazy, but her madness adds an interesting contrast in the play.

5. Hamlet happens to get back to Denmark with pirates who had raided his ship. I think that this certain event is pure luck because it is random and happens so soon after they have left Denmark. However, I think that Hamlet would have eventually gotten himself back to Denmark to avenge his father.

 
At 4:48 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Avery Williams
Period 3



1. Claudius’s fear is apparent when he discovers that Hamlet suspects that he was the murdered of the late Hamlet. He tries to convince Gertrude, hamlet’s own mother , that her son is a danger and a risk to others and to Denmark. “King-O heavy deed! It had been so with us, had we been there. His liberty is full of threats to all- To you yourself, to us, to every one. Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answered? Should have kept short, restrained, and out of haunt this mad young man” (95-96). When Hamlets mistakenly kills Polonius Claudius has the chance to banish him to England and his execution. “King- Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety,-which we do tender as we dearly grieve for that which thou hast done...For England…Ham- For England? King- Ay, Hamlet” (100).
2. Hamlet’s nimble wit is seen in many occasions during the play. A prime example is when Hamlets tries to convince Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to free him and not take him to King Claudius, “Ros- My lord, you must tell us where the body is and go with us to the King. Ham- The body is with the King, but the King is not with the body. The King is a thing. Guil- A thing, my lord? Ham- Of nothing. Bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after” (98).
3. Fortinbras is going over the country side to reclaim parts of Poland. What bothers Hamlet is that he sees parallels in the two men but unlike Fortinbras Hamlets is unable to go through and carryout such action. Hamlet’s compares himself and Fortinbras bravery and leadership. This makes Hamlet question his own vengeful plan of action.
4. Ophelia madness was a result of many things. Her father is killed by the man she loves and the man she loves has begun to not care for her any longer. She becomes strangled by these unsuspected emotions that she is unable to handle it correctly and loses her mind. Her sanity was a necessary part of the play because it is symbolic of the emotions that are dormant in every person, something that Hamlet was trying to highlight and without the proper outlet or support it can build up and explored into an exaggerated illness.
5. Hamlets ship is attacked by pirates, who then return Prince Hamlet to Denmark. I feel it is blind luck and it helps Shakespeare to further the storyline and rescue the main character from his execution.

 

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