Act 4 scene 6:
In some other part of the castle introduced to a pair of sailors, who have brought him a letter from Hamlet to him. In the letter hamlet says that the ship he was in was captured by pirates as it was too slow. The pirates have returned to Denmark with hamlet on board. He then tells Horatio to escort the sailors to the king and queen because they have messages for them. Hamlet then says he has much to say about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Horatio takes the sailors to the king and in turn follows them to find out where hamlet is (in the countryside not far from the castle).
Act 4 Scene 7:
Claudius and a calmed down Laertes talk about polonius’ death, while Horatio is talking to the sailors. Laertes asks Claudius why he didn’t take any immediate action. Claudius then explains that he buried Polonius secretly and didn’t blame the murder on hamlet, this is because both the public and his mother love him a lot. As the king and husband he did not want to upset either the people or his wife. Laertes says that he’s lost his noble father and his sister who has gone insane, but once was sane and the most “perfect” girl who ever lived, at the end of the speech he says that he is going to get revenge. A messenger enters with the letters form hamlet one for the king and one for the queen. The letter to the king informs the king himself that hamlet will be back by tomorrow. Laertes is pleased by this as he can get his revenge earlier without it being delayed.
Claudius agrees that Laertes should get revenge on hamlet and asks him if he wants to be guided or directed. The king encourages Laertes to do this as he was already planning to kill Hamlet when he had got to England, and Hamlets behavior has been a threat to him. Another reason for Claudius to want to kill hamlet is the fact that hamlet knows he killed his father, although Claudius may not know this. The king starts to think of ways to ensure that hamlet dies without looking like they purposefully killed him. He then remembers that hamlet has heard and could be jealous abut the fact that Laertes is a better fencer than him, that has been praised by Lamond and all the people that have seen him in combat. Claudius then says that if Laertes and hamlet can be tempted into a duel with Laertes, it could provide a chance to kill hamlet. Laertes will use a sword with a sharp point, that will be poisoned, while hamlet is going to be using the normal dull sword. Claudius creates a backup plan to ensure that hamlet will still die if he succeeds in the duel, which is that he will hand a poisoned “chalice” of wine that should kill him.
Gertrude enters with bad news, Ophelia has died from her madness. The queen explains that Ophelia has drowned after climbing a willow that is hanging over a brook. The queen even says that Ophelia was singing when she was drowning. Laertes exits in pain from losing his sister so soon after his father’s death. Claudius directs Gertrude to follow, he tells her it was extremely hard to calm his rage in the first place and fears that it will start again because of Ophelia’s death/ suicide.
React!