By this time in the play we all know how much Hamlet despises Claudius and also vise versa. But in Act IV it's really interesting to see how humorous Hamlet is with Claudius about where Polonius's body is. Claudius is so determined to find out where it is that Hamlet has hidden the body. He is trying everything he can to reason with him and maintain calm, but what he really wants to do is get the information from him and have him killed.
Hamlet isn't willing to budge at all and will not tell Claudius or his little messengers where the body is. I found it quite amusing reading the first couple scenes of act IV because Hamlet and Claudius are acting like little children. They are quick to jump back and forth with one another and Hamlet uses some pretty funny sayings to Claudius. I think he is simply just doing this to get under Claudius's skin because he knows he has that effect and that it will work.
In the beginning of Act IV Claudius feels responsible for the death of Polonius. He tells Gertrude his wildness is a threat to all of us. He feels since he kept Hamlets condition a secret is has grown more dangerous. All Gertrude and Claudius want is for Hamlet to bring the corpse to the chapel. So when they send Guldenstern and Rosencrantz to ask Hamlet where the corpse is he will not tell them in any way, shape or form. He simply tells them that the body is safely hidden and he has gotten it dirty, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. When both Guldrenstern and Rosencrantz both return to Claudius and neither one of them can tell Claudius where the corpse is, he then sends his own men out to find Hamlet. He believes Hamlet at this point is dangerous to have this madman on the loose. Hamlet can't just be thrown in jail because people love him. People are very quick to judge on appearance rather than reason according to Claudius.
This is where things start to get interesting between both Claudius and Hamlet. Claudius is getting tired of Hamlet not telling anyone where the corpse is so he puts it up to himself to finally find out where the body is. For the last time he asks Hamlet where Polonius's corpse is and Hamlet tells him at dinner. Claudius is confused by this statement and what he really means by it. Hamlet tells him it's not where he's eating, but where he's been eaten. He tells him a conference of worms is chewing down on him. At this point Claudius is still demanding where Polonius is and Hamlet tells him in heaven. He can send a messenger there if he wants, but if they can't find him there than Claudius can personally go check hell himself. I thought this was rather funny and I can just picture Claudius looking like his head is going to explode with all the nonsense that Hamlet has been telling him. Hamlet finally tells him that if he doesn't find him with in the next month they'll be sure to smell him as soon as they go upstairs in the main hall. With in seconds Claudius sends his attendants to look for him. Hamlet responds sarcastically that there is no need to hurry because he's not going anywhere.
After all this Claudius thinks that it is best to send Hamlet to England. Claudius tells Hamlet he cares for him as much as he grieves for Polonius. Hamlet thinks this is a great idea but before leaving, Claudius says he wouldn't think so if he knew why he was really sending him there. Hamlet can't leave without getting a word in so he makes sure he tells Claudius since he married his mother they became one flesh and then leaves. It was his final nasty remark that he could get in. Hamlet has driven Claudius crazy with going back and forth and not telling him where the corpse is and Claudius will never be happy until he is killed.
This act was really interesting and funny to read. Shakespeare has a way with incorporating tragedy and humor in his plays and this play is a great example of that. I am interested to see what will happen in the up coming act.
1 comment:
It's excellent that you note the comic nature of Hamlet here, Melissa. One thing that is easy to forget about Hamlet (the character) when you are reading the play is just how *funny* he can be. In fact, some of the early allusions we have to the play report that the audiences were most interested in his tomfoolery!
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