Hamlet Act IV Scenes I-III
Storyboard Text
- Act IV Scene I
- Oh, this is terrible! It would've happened to me if I'd been there.
- He hears something behind the tapestry, whips out his sword, shouts, "A rat, a rat!" and in his deranged state of mind he kills the good old man, who is still hidden.
- Act IV Scene I
- Go find him and speak nicely to him, and bring the corpse into the chapel.
- Yes, my lord.
- Act IV Scene II
- I've gotten it dirty-- ashes to ashes, and dust to dust.
- But tell us where it is, so we can take it to the chapel.
- As Claudius and Gertrude are about to have a private conversation, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter the room. Gertrude explains that as she and Hamlet were having their planned conversation, Hamlet heard a noise behind the tapestry and killed the poor Polonius.
- Act IV Scene II
- Claudius is shocked by the news. He feels responsible for not restraining Hamlet knowing his current state of mind and decided to send him off to England. He sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to try and convince Hamlet to come back to the King with the corpse of Polonius.
- Act IV Scene III
- For your own protection, I must send you to England at once. So get ready to leave.
- Hamlet returns from hiding Polonius' body, running into Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Hamlet refuses to tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern where he hid him, calling them "sponges".
- Act IV Scene III
- After asking Hamlet what he meant by "sponges", Hamlet went off on the two. He explained how they will blindly follow the Kimg's orders and soak up his rewards and praise. When Rosencrantz says he doesn't understand, Hamlet calls them fools. They then return to the castle to see the king, without Polonius.
- I'm glad about that. Sly words are never understood by fools.
- You're a sponge! A sponge that soaks up the king's approval, his rewards, and decisions.
- I don't follow, my lord.
- Claudius had sent men to go find and retrieve Polonius' body right before Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to tell the King that Hamlet wouldn't talk. Hamlet followed in shortly. The King asks of Polonius' whereabouts, and Hamlet says he's being eaten by worms and is in Heaven. The King then sends Hamlet off to England. Hamlet says goodbye to his "mother", since the King and Queen became "one flesh" after marriage.
- Good. Goodbye, mother.
- As everyone exits the room, Claudius is left alone where he speaks to himself, explaining his plan to have Hamlet killed once he is sent off to England.
- And you dear King of England, if you care about me at all then you wont ignore my letter, instructing you to kill him immediately.
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