Enter to him BERNARDO

What is the most likely reason that Shakespeare chose this point in the play to give Hamlet his first aside? Shakespeare is alerting the audience to the conflict between Claudius and Hamlet. Shakespeare is making sure the audience knows early on that Hamlet is a tragic hero.

Hamlet feels that his uncle and mother married too quickly and that his uncle does not compare to his father. He is very depressed and even wishes that he could kill himself. Horatio and some others tell Hamlet that they have seen Hamlet’s father’s ghost.

Summary and Analysis Act IV: Scene 4. On his way to England, Hamlet observes Fortinbras leading his troops through Denmark toward Poland. Hamlet finally realizes that his duty to revenge is so great that the end must justify the means. He can no longer escape the necessity for action.

Why does Hamlet say in Scene 2 that the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern “are not near my conscience”? He feels they deserve their fates for taking the king’s commission. The audience knows that Laertes is planning to kill Hamlet.

Men who were Hamlets companions and close advisors. However, they were killed by Hamlet due to the discovery of a note written out by Claudius to the King of England ordering the execution of Hamlet once he reached his lands. In Hamlet’s eyes Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have committed a treason to his heart.

Expert Answers I would argue that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern do not deserve to die. Yes, they chose to work for Claudius, and yes, they were escorting Hamlet to his own death, but one must consider that they are pawns in Claudius’s game.

What trick does Hamlet play on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? How does he justify his actions? He changes the letter that says to kill him to say to kill the two of them. He justifies his action through the fact that he has no sympathy for them because they betrayed him and helped Claudius.

Hamlet sees right through the two of them and feels betrayed. Instead of being true to Hamlet, they are working for “the bad guy.” Hamlet discovers a letter that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were carrying that ordered the death of Hamlet. That basically severed all ties with them right then.

What is the reasonable attitude toward death, according to Claudius?  According to Claudius, the reasonable attitude toward death is “This must be so” (line 110). Paraphrase Claudius’s monologue thus far into a single sentence.

What are the two main things that Claudius explains in his monologue? His brother’s (King Hamlet) unfortunate death and Prince Fortinbras’ plan. He also doesn’t like his Uncle (King Claudius) marrying his mother (Queen Gertrude).

The word unprevailing (line 111) means “futile, useless.” Given this definition, what is the meaning of Claudius’s phrase “unprevailing woe”?  It means “useless sadness,” referring to Hamlet’s grief for his father.

When Hamlet sees the ghost of his father, he says, “It will not speak. I will follow it.” Why, do you suppose, Hamlet refers to the ghost as “it” instead of “him?” Hamlet is freaked out that he’s seeing an actual ghost and doesn’t yet fully embrace the idea that this spirit is his actual father.