Act 4, Scene 5

What happens?

• Gertrude and Horatio sadly discuss madness that has taken over Ophelia

• Ophelia enters singing sad songs about her father

• Claudius enters and is upset by Ophelia’s madness. Songs change topic and focus on maids that are seduced. She leaves followed by Horatio

• Claudius mentions commoners are also angry about Polonius’s death. Laertes returns from Denmark (secretly), now marching up hill saying “Polonius for King”

“He is dead and gone” “heels at a stone”

Funeral was hidden and hushed up because royals do not want blame put on Claudius. The public like Hamlet

“We know what we are, but know not what we may be”

Don’t know what we’ll turn out to be

“Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s Day”

Ophelia’s loss of virginity to Hamlet