ACT 4 CHARACTER EVOLUTION

Hamlet

2 KEY ISSUES IN ACT 4

MADNESS REVENGE

HAMLET Is Hamlet ANTIC or MAD?

Actions/words following death of Polonius

“How all occasions do inform against meAnd spur my dull revenge” (4.4.34)

“…Of thinking too precisely on th’ event (A thought which quartered, hath but one part wisdom/And ever three parts coward”)

(4.4.43)

OPHELIA

Is Ophelia a victim?

Your best psychological analysis?

“Divided from herself and her fair judgment (Claudius)

“We know what we are But know not what we may be”

Lyrics of “her song” And will he not come again” (4.5.212)

MADNESS

Compare and contrast Ophelia and Hamlet’s madness

CLAUDIUS

Is Claudius arrogant or paranoid?“The present death of Hamlet

…Do it, England” (4.3.74)“The Queen his mother

Lives almost by his looks (4.7.14)“…Is the great love the general

gender bear him” (4.7.20)

CLAUDIUS

“And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe/But even his mother shall uncharge the practice/ And call it accident” (4.7.74)

“Revenge shall have no bounds” (4.7.146)

LAERTES

Is Laertes Hamlet’s foil? “What would you undertake

To show yourself indeed your father’s sonMore than in words?” (4.7.141) ~ Claudius to Laertes

“To cut his throat i’ th’ church” ~ Laertes “Laertes, was your father dear to you?

Or are you like the painting of a sorrow,A face without a heart?” (4.7.122-124)

~ Claudius

REVENGE

Compare and contrast the revenge of Hamlet and Laertes