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ACT 4
SCENE 1
- Gertrude tells Claudius that Hamlet is insane
- The audience questions whether or not she is keeping Hamlet's secret or she really believes that Hamlet is mad
SCENE 2
SCENE 3
- Claudius is worried about how the public will view him
- His only concern is how other's will perceive his "appearance"
- He is afraid that people will scold him for not controlling Hamlet's actions
- Doesn't care about Polonius' death
SCENE 4
- Fortinbras' army marches its way through Denmark to Poland
- This shows that Fortinbras kept his promise by not attacking Denmark
- Shows that what he says is in fact the truth
SCENE 5
- Unlike Hamlet, Ophelia becomes truly mad when she finds out the death of her father
- She is not pretending and she shows true distress and grief
SCENE 7
- Claudius manages to manipulate Laertes by praising his swordsmanship
- Claudius appears to be nice by complimenting Laertes' skill but in reality Claudius is only using him for his own advantage
- Laertes agrees to go with the plan
- This shows that Laertes' has been fooled by Claudius' appearance & flattery
- Q: "How much I had to do to calm his rage!" - Claudius