Hamlet Act 4 Scene 5 Analysis

Act IV, Scene III.
57. This scene advances the action of the play as it further highlights the growing rivalry between Hamlet and Claudius, Hamlet in his return to sanity and desire to see through the avenging of his father, and Claudius in his desire to see Hamlet done away with. Although Hamlet is being placed into exile, Claudius has taken decisive action against the prince. By requesting the king of England to execute his nephew, Claudius adds an entirely new layer to the drama revolving around both the royal family and the entire nation of Denmark itself.

58. Though Claudius holds some semblance of control over the situation and Hamlet (as he is able to both exile the prince and request for his death by the hands of England), the king does not maintain full control. His lack of control over the situation is evoked through the fact that he cannot have Hamlet jailed as the prince still remains in high standing with the people of Denmark, instead being forced to merely exile his nephew. His lack of control over Hamlet is also made prominent by Hamlet’s indirect nature of answering his questions as well as the fact that Hamlet still maintains his snarky nature and distaste for his uncle within their interactions.

59. Hamlet, in referring to Polonius’s

Hamlet’s character is further developed as Fortinbras’s captain informs him of Fortinbras’s determination to recapture a meager plot of land. Hamlet envies Fortinbras’s vigor in his revenge, such effort in action is something Hamlet finds difficult to muster. Fortinbras serves as a foil to Hamlet’s character as well as a way for Shakespeare to lend the audience a view of the larger scope of things. Though the tragedy itself is concentrated in the palace alone, Denmark has other conflicts that are going unacknowledged. This encounter not only reinstills Hamlet’s determination to avenge his father, but it also lays suspense to what is to become of Denmark and the Norwegian invasion that awaits the