Hamlet Act 4, Scene 1
Scene 1: Claudius decides to send Hamlet to England when he hears of Polonius’ death.
Hamlet Act 4, Scene 2
Scene 2: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ask Hamlet what he has done with Polonius’ body because they want to take it to the chapel. Hamlet scorns them for their loyalty to Claudius.
Hamlet Act 4, Scene 3
Scene 3: Claudius demands that Hamlet reveals the location of Polonius’ body and informs him that he will soon be traveling to England. The King hopes that the English authorities will obey the orders he has sent with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Hamlet Act 4, Scene 4
Scene 4: Fortinbras sends a message to Claudius that he will be marching on his land. He encounters Hamlet who considers humanity’s capacity for violence. Hamlet decides to be more brutal in his revenge.
Hamlet Act 4, Scene 5
Scene 5: Ophelia is behaving strangely, singing a song about death. Claudius thinks that Ophelia is suffering from grief following the death of her father. Laertes also discovers that his father is dead.
Hamlet Act 4, Scene 6
Scene 6: A sailor gives Horatio a letter from Hamlet explaining that he has been captured by pirates reroute to England.
Hamlet Act 4, Scene 7
Scene 7: Laertes wants to avenge the death of his father and strikes a deal with Claudius. Laertes is to stab him with a poisoned rapier and Claudius is to have a standby cup of poison prepared. Gertrude reports that Ophelia has drowned herself.
