Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. In the contemplation of this idea, he transitions into a more philosophical and ambiguous tone, discussing the implications of questioning life versus death. She says that Ophelia has drowned. The captain says that in Poland there is a little patch of ground which Norway claims as her own. In act 1 scene 2 of Hamlet the character Hamlet speaks his first soliloquy which reveals his innermost thoughts and feelings to the audience. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter with Hamlet. The fourth section specifies Hamlet's perplexity over the Poles' and Norwegians' willingness to die for so little in contrast to his own inability to act on so much. $24.99 Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Support us to bring Shakespeare and his world to life for everyone. [Gertrude is in her chambers, enter Claudius.]. Instead he criticises behaviour and treats him like a stubborn ignorant child. Laertes shall be king!" Caps, hands, and tongues applaud it to the clouds. Hamlets murder of Polonius at the end of Act III is one of the most disturbing moments in the play. Students love them!, Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Struggling with distance learning? Dive deep into the worlds largest Shakespeare collection and access primary sources from the early modern period. Hamlet, returned from his journey, comes upon a gravedigger singing as he digs. Hamlet says that his father death is the reason why he is acting like that. There is always a scheme going on in this play, and Hamlet clearly has a new one up his sleeve. Whatever the case, it is Gertrudes speech to Claudius that cements the kings secret plan to have Hamlet executed in England. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs When he bursts into court demanding satisfaction, he says, That drop of blood thats calm proclaims me bastard, / Cries cuckold to my father, brands the harlot / Even here between the chaste unsmirched brow / Of my true mother. In other words, Laertes proclaims that he has a blood-bound duty to avenge his fathers death impetuously and bloodily, or else he proves himself not his fathers son. After some morbidly humorous replies, Hamlet reveals that he hid Polonius up the stairs into the lobby. The king sends attendants to find the body. In his sudden realization, he confesses his procrastination and it all becomes clear that he was aware of it the whole time. This is very offensive as he is saying that Hamlet is going against God's wishes. Did Gertrude have an affair with Claudius before he killed Hamlets father? In the meantime, find us online and on the road. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. | Hamlet, who has returned safely to confront the king, agrees to a fencing match with Ophelias brother, Laertes, who secretly poisons his own rapier. Horatio says that he will help to deliver the rest of their letters, one of which is addressed to the king, and then go with them to see Hamlet. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! He uses the metaphor of a fat weed on a riverbank near a river of forgetfulness. Where most of the other male characters in the play, including Hamlet, King Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras, are obsessed with themes of honor, moral balance, and retributive justice, Claudius is a selfish, ambitious king who is more concerned with maintaining his own power and averting political danger than achieving justice through his rule. Why does Marcellus say, Something is rotten in the state of Denmark (1.4.94)? The Queen's closet. After Hamlet exits, Claudius decides that Hamlets erratic behavior is not caused by love and announces a plan to send Hamlet on an embassy to England. Being one of the first writers to develop dynamic and intricate characters that leave the readers to question and interpret the characters actions for themselves, Shakespeare understood better than anybody else "what a piece of work is a man!" Read more about Hamlet as the protagonist. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Hamlet, now free to act, mistakenly kills Polonius, thinking he is Claudius. Hamlet refuses to give them a straight answer, instead saying, The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body (IV.ii.2526). In contrast, Hamlet has been calm, reflective, passive, playful, morbid, and impotent in his own long-delayed quest for revenge a quest which has led rather to an attempt to find motivation to revenge, to reflect on the nature of revenge, the nature of man, and the nature of Hamlet. Hamlet makes plans to join them that night. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Hamlet Act 4 Scene 4. The king orders Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find Hamlet and discover where he has taken Polonius corpse. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. I pray you haste in this. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Gertrude recounts Hamlets latest behavior to Claudius. Hamlet Act 4, scene 4 Synopsis: Fortinbras and his army cross Hamlet's path on their way to Poland. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Where Hamlet has only trepidation, Fortinbras has nothing but resolve. After Hamlets death, Fortinbras arrives, claims the crown, and orders a military funeral for Hamlet. Claudius begins to talk to Laertes and Laertes asks the king could he return to France and Claudius lets him. 20% Students love them!, Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. If it was previously possible to consider Hamlet a hero or an idealized version of a human being, it is no longer possible after he kills Polonius. They point out that everybody eventually loses their father and that Hamlets obstinate sorrow is not what God wants. Gertrude enters with yet more tragic news. Hamlet continues to say, thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied oer with the pale cast of thought (3.1.92-3), stating that too much contemplation misguides our actions and therefore causes us to neglect them. Immediately after Hamlet exits, dragging Polonius body, we see Claudius asking Gertrude to explain what has happened. Gertrude speaks of Claudius as Hamlet's father already, showing how she has forgotten of the Old Hamlet within a short space of time. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Ophelia then speaks openly of her fathers untimely demise and hasty, unofficial burial. Hamlets friends try to stop his following the Ghost, but Hamlet will not be held back. with line numbers, as DOC (for MS Word, Apple Pages, Open Office, etc.) Hamlet Scene 4 Summary and Analysis Act IV: Scene 4 Summary On his way to England, Hamlet observes Fortinbras leading his troops through Denmark toward Poland. The third section sets Fortinbras' example of how Hamlet should act. Claudius asks where Hamlet has gone and Gertrude says that he has taken the body away. Laertes agrees. from your Reading List will also remove any . Why does Laertes break into Claudiuss chamber? Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. One should not overthink, but do. Hamlet decides to kill Claudius when the king is committing a sin so that Claudius will instead go to hell. As with so many aspects of this play, the truth is not forthcoming. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? First, though, its necessary to note that the fourth scene contains another of Hamlets famous soliloquies How all occasions do inform against me. This speech reiterates, basically, the point that Hamlet made in his previous soliloquy about the actor playing Hecuba. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Hamlet finds in Fortinbras's vigorous activity a model for himself in avenging his father's murder; Hamlet resolves upon bloody action. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. To do this, he says, will require all his majesty and skill (IV.i.30). Hamlet promises himself that he will not harm her, though he will speak daggers.. Hamlets soliloquy, which is intended to be solely a representation of his own thoughts, is no longer general such that it seems to describe the situations of others, but it goes further as to contemplate the nature of thought in. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% O'erbears your officers. The manner of Ophelias deathsuicideshows that even she was more able to take action against her own life than Hamlet, whose endless musings on the value of suicide have led him nowhere. Renews March 11, 2023 He says that Laertes has come from France, egged on by people who see the court as responsible for Polonius death. Be sure you understand this important scene by taking the quiz over Act 1, Scene 4 of Hamlet from eNotes. In this scene and the scenes to follow, Shakespeare creates in Claudius a convincing depiction of a conniving, ambitious politician. Hamlet acknowledges this while he 's thinking, "How all occasions do inform against me/And spur my dull. He says that he did not try Hamlet for two reasons, first, because his mother loves him so much, and second, because the people of Denmark are supporters of Hamlet. Laertes and Claudius want there to be no opportunity for failure, and devise complex actions to ensure that their plan is rock-solid. Why does Marcellus say, Something is rotten in the state of Denmark (1.4.94)? Laertes does him one better, saying that he will dip his sword in poison so that the least scratch will kill Hamlet. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. This article breaks the entire speech down by sentence, analysing each point individually and explaining the deep character arcs which happen over the course of this single speech. Ophelias death by drowning is one of the famously impossible-to-settle questions of Hamlet. More books than SparkNotes. Students love them!, Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Throughout Act IV, scene ii, as in the play-within-a-play scene (Act III, scene ii), Hamlets biting, ironic wit is combined with his rash, impulsive streak, and his feigned madness seems very close to the real thing. Did she die accidentally or did she commit suicide? The Queen, Horatio, and a gentleman are discussing poor, tormented Ophelia, who has shattered under the strain of her father's death and Hamlet's cruelty and has gone completely insane. I pray you haste in this. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Gertrude interrupts their plotting to announce that Ophelia has drowned. It signals to Hamlet. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern return to tell Hamlet that Claudius is furious and that Gertrude wishes to see Hamlet at once in her sitting room. He questions a captain and learns that the Norwegians plan to wage war over a worthless patch of land in Poland. Complete your free account to request a guide. He and Laertes struggle, with Hamlet protesting his own love and grief for Ophelia. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. When comparing himself to Fortibras, Hamlet finds that he is: What request does Fortinbras make to Claudius? Steeped within his own pool of madness, the prince of Denmark seeks to avenge the premature death of his father. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 What effect does this meeting have on Hamlet? At the moment that the Player King is murdered in his garden by his nephew, Claudius stops the play and rushes out. With her madness, however, she suddenly has a deluge of lines and a rich, multi-layered, startling consciousness. Through Hamlet 's soliloquy, the Elizabethan audience is able to evidently perceive Hamlet 's thoughts. Hamlet know that he has to avenge the death of his father but he is too cowardly to do it and ever three parts coward, I do not know why yet I live to say this things to do; Sith I have caused and will and strength and means to dot (4.4.44-47). Polonius decides that Hamlet has been made insane by Ophelias refusing to see him. He hangs back from the others marching to the ship and delivers a long soliloquy on the irony of this occasion these men are off to risk their lives for a worthless piece of land, while he, who has every reason to risk his life in the cause of revenge, delays and fails to act. And what's untimely done. Five questions let you . Hamlet. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. The basic position of Hamlet is one of befuddlement that these soldiers can go off to their deaths over a patch of worthless ground while he, who has every reason to rage and war and battle Claudius, is introspective and melancholy, and chokes off his action with excessive contemplation. Come, Gertrude, we'll call up our wisest friends, And let them know both what we mean to do, Character Interview: Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Hamlet. While she does keep her promise not to reveal that Hamlet was only pretending to be insane, the immediate and frank way in which she tells Claudius about Hamlets behavior and his murder of Polonius implies that she sees herself as allied to the king rather than to her son. Its not even a month has passed and he gets to hear another news about his mother Gertrude and uncle, Claudius getting married. The pirates treated Hamlet like thieves of mercy, promising to return Hamlet to Denmark in return for some favors. for a group? Claudius does not try to console Hamlet or offer him any support. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. A messenger arrives and delivers a letter to Claudius, who is greatly surprised to learn that the letter comes from Hamlet. Struggling with distance learning? When Laertes breaks in on Claudius and Gertrude, Claudius asserts his innocence with regard to Poloniuss death. They cry, "Choose we! Claudius orders Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to take Hamlet to England. He then tells her about Claudiuss plan to send him to England and reveals his suspicions that the journey is a plot against him, which he resolves to counter violently. He urges her as well not to reveal to Claudius that his madness has been an act. Want 100 or more? In Act 4, what does Hamlet call his thoughts? Two bold words jump out of his speech unprevailing well. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. She was watching Ophelia play in the branches of a willow by the water when she fell in. This news reignites Laertes rage and Claudius goes to console him. Osric enters to ask, on Claudiuss behalf, that Hamlet fence with Laertes. Gertrude: 'Hamlet, thou has thy father much offended,Hamlet: 'Mother, you have my father much offended.". With this in mind, Claudius and Laertes plot to find a means of killing Hamlet without upsetting Gertrude or the people. Hamlet also eases his conscience with the fact that Polonius was dishonestly spying on Hamlet at the moment when he was killed. Contact us resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. The rabble call him Lord. Claudius and Laertess newest scheme preys upon Hamlets own insecurities. Ah, my good lord, what have I seen tonight! Hamlet is exuberant that the Ghosts word has been proved true. Nothing else matters: not love, or death, or preservation of state, or the means to which the task is accomplished. The queen recounts Poloniuss murder to her husband, but maintains hope for her son. In a half-crazed state he insists that Claudius give him Polonius. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Purchasing Just as Claudius is about to explain what he means, Ophelia enters again, bearing a bundle of flowers. Five questions let you know in a flash if you have a good grasp of the major points of this scene. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% 20% on 50-99 accounts. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Indeed, Hamlet seems to express the central irony in his case it is not enough that his thoughts be bloody. Fortinbras was spurred to action by his desire for revenge. His sensitive, reflective naturethe trait that constantly interfered with his ability to take revenge on Claudiusnow disappears in the wake of its violent opposite: a rash, murderous explosion of activity. $24.99 This soliloquy represents Hamlet's last flirtation with words. Our April festival celebrating 400 years of Shakespeare's First Folio, Our award-winning performances of Shakespeare, adaptations, and new works, Our early music ensemble Folger Consort and more, Our longstanding O.B. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. We see more evidence of Claudius lack of political talent when we learn that he has simply hushed up Polonius death, burying his longtime advisor without pomp or circumstance, and keeping the nature of the death a mystery. A shaken Gertrude tells Claudius what just happened during her encounter with Hamlet. The audience learns that the marriage took place within a month of the former kings death.Horatio, Barnardo, and Marcellus arrive and tell Hamlet about the Ghost. Claudius says that on top of this he will prepare a poisoned cup and give it to Hamlet during the fight. Horatio decides to tell his fellow student, Prince Hamlet, about the Ghosts appearance. These shifts in meaning from Act to Act are difficult to pin down, but they serve to underline one of the most prevalent trends in the play, toward interpretive uncertainty. Purchasing Ophelia, throughout the play, is forever urged to be chaste, be chaste, be chaste as in Laertes instructions, or the get thee to a nunnery scene as a means of controlling her sexual identity. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. At the beginning of Hamlet 's soliloquy, the audience is aware that he regrets his uncertainty to kill Claudius, avenging his father 's death. Hamlet muses about how they are not really sad like him. Removing #book# Gertrude tells the king that Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius, and Claudius realizes that he could have been killed too. EnterFortinbraswithhisarmyoverthestage. The sentences Claudius use in his speech clearly imply that his relationship with Hamlet is very distorted.The antagonist continues by adding why should we in our peevish opposition/ Take it to heart?. Hamlet lingers behind Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to reflect on the fact that these Norwegians and Poles are willing to die over land worth virtually nothing to anyone. Hamlet realizes that he must take actions into his own hands and kill Claudius because he has everything in his power to do the deed. Hamlet Act 4 Scene 4 Quiz - eNotes.com Hamlet Act 4 Scene 4 Quiz The broody prince does what he does best in this scene. Hamlet: Act 4, Scene 4 Summary & Analysis New! Fortinbras and the captain of the army He talks to the captain. He reads the letter aloud. Free trial is available to new customers only. Claudius tells Laertes that Polonius is dead. Hamlet then verbally attacks his mother for marrying Claudius. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. It recounts an amazing turn of events: on his way to England, pirates attacked Hamlets ship. Paraphrase this. This is a true avenger. Into the chapel. And as soon as he hears of the murder, Claudiuss mind begins working to find a way to characterize the killing so that it does not seem like a political crisis to his court and to the people of Denmark. Saying that he is the spirit of Hamlets father, he demands that Hamlet avenge King Hamlets murder at the hands of Claudius. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. The early twentieth century critic A.C. Bradley once illustrated Shakespeares gift for characterization by observing that if Othello were in Hamlets place the play would be about thirty minutes long as soon as he learned of the murder, he would kill Claudius and likewise if Hamlet were in Othellos he would immediately see through Iagos plottings and simply laugh the intrigue away. Hamlet must be sent away from Denmark, he thinks, not as punishment for committing murder but because he represents a danger to Claudius. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Be sure you understand Hamlet's. Theres something for everyone. This quote is from a very famous play Hamlet. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Scene 5 opens back at the castle in Elsinore, where Hamlet has been gone a few days. This is where a man gets his wisdom from, Bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple of thinking too precisely on the event, a thought which, quartered, hath but one part wisdom (4.4.41-43). SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Complete your free account to request a guide. Free trial is available to new customers only. In the scuffle that follows, Hamlet forces an exchange of rapiers, and Hamlet wounds Laertes. The other major event of this Act is the madness of Ophelia. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. After the Ghost exits, Hamlet urges Gertrude to abandon Claudiuss bed. What is the significance of the gravediggers? Whether he is a man of action like Fortinbras or one of inaction, like Hamlet, remains to be seen. She tells him of Hamlets accidental killing of Polonius and Claudius realizes that he could have just as easily been slain. Come, Gertrude, we'll call up our wisest friends. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. As Gertrude dies, Laertes, himself dying, discloses his and Claudiuss plot against Hamlet. The news of Ophelias death further inspires Laertess fury and desire to kill Hamlet. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Discover Shakespeares stories and the world that shaped them. Hamlet finds in Fortinbrass vigorous activity a model for himself in avenging his fathers murder; Hamlet resolves upon bloody action. Teachers and parents! He has killed Polonius just as Claudius killed Hamlets father, the only differences being that Hamlets murder was not premeditated and was not committed out of jealousy or ambition. How does Hamlets view of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern change? Hamlet refuses to tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern where he has put Poloniuss body. Refine any search. At the match, Claudius prepares poisoned wine for Hamlet, which Gertrude unknowingly drinks; as she dies, she accuses Claudius, whom Hamlet kills. Hamlet soon realizes that the corpse is Ophelias. Claudius asks where Hamlet has gone, and Gertrude replies that he has gone to take the body away. And this vile deed. . Hamlet's soliloquy as he observes the Norwegian soldiers heading for Poland represents Hamlet's turning point: "What is a man / If his chief good and market of his time / Be but to sleep and feed? Claudius reflects on the difficulty of their situation, admitting that their decision to cover up Hamlets deed and bury Polonius so covertly has gone against them. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Hamlet evades their questions playfully, accusing his former friends of sycophancy to the king and leading them on a wild goose chase. SparkNotes PLUS Now, Hamlet hides the body. Hamlet, mourning for his fathers death, is left alone to vent his despair at what he regards as his mothers all too hasty marriage to his uncle, Claudius. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Wed love to have you back! When Laertes in his grief leaps into her grave and curses Hamlet as the cause of Ophelias death, Hamlet comes forward. While Claudius drinks away the night, Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus are visited by the Ghost. Hamlet is seen to be too upset after his fathers death. Our doors are reopening in Fall 2023! Ironically, however, just after making this resolution he continues on toward England, leaving Denmark behind him. He tells Horatio to follow the sailors to where he is hiding. Hamlet resolves to recast his mind to bloody thoughts. Ophelia enters singing about death and betrayal. She must know nothing about sex, yet know enough to avoid it. Aghast, the king notes that had he been concealed behind the arras, Hamlet would have killed him. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Hamlet Act 4 Scene 4 Lyrics. To right what is wrong is the only focus that matters. Elsewhere in Elsinore, Hamlet has just finished disposing of Poloniuss body, commenting that the corpse has been safely stowed (IV.ii.1). She asks to speak to the king alone. Claudius sends Cornelius and Voltemand to Norway to settle the dispute. You can divide the soliloquy into five thematic sections: The first section identifies Hamlet's mission: revenge. Subscribe now. Rather than considering that Gertrude might have been in danger, he immediately remarks that had he been in the room, he would have been in danger. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. The Question and Answer section for Hamlet is a great Hamlet suggests that the Poles will not likely defend such a piece of land, but the captain sets him straight, saying that Poland is already garrisoned and ready for their dispute. In Kenneth Branaghs adaptation of Hamlet, for instance, the filmmaker explicitly shows flashbacks to Hamlet and Ophelia in bed. Find teaching resources and opportunities. Laertes claims to have no desire to appear likablehe is one of the few characters in the play who doesnt seem to be pretending or acting when it comes to the truth of who he is. The letter announces Hamlets imminent return to court. From award-winning theater and music, to poetry and exhibitions, experience the power of the arts with us. Polonius sends his servant Reynaldo to Paris to question Laertess acquaintances. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. In the sixth soliloquy of Hamlet, written by Shakespeare, Hamlet finally begins to realize his procrastination. Hamlet is winning the match when Gertrude drinks from the poisoned cup that Claudius has prepared for Hamlet. Further Reading http . In fact, this quote is not only the question but can also be viewed as the dilemma, because the impossibility of certainty in ones decisions can make action tuff for some people, like Hamlet. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Framing Ophelia: Representation and the Pictorial Tradition, Grinning Death's-Head: Hamlet and the Vision of the Grotesque, Mourning and Misogyny: Hamlet, The Revenger's Tragedy, and the Final Progress of Elizabeth I, 1600-1607, Nobler in the Mind: The Dialect in Hamlet, The 'Heart of My Mystery': Hamlet and Secrets, The First Quarto of Hamlet: Reforming Widow Gertred. (2.2.305). In this soliloquy we discover how Hamlet is purely a follower; he needs to compare himself to another person in order to realize his own flaws. Miller, W.C. ed. This, as much as the death itself, prompts the two events most central to Act Four, the return of Laertes and the madness of Ophelia. Teachers and parents! Events before the start of Hamlet set the stage for tragedy. When the court arrive, Hamlet makes bawdy and bitter comments to Ophelia. [Exit Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.] Hamlet comes upon him kneeling and draws his sword, but then stops to think that if he kills Claudius at prayer, Claudius will go to heaven. Claudius sends Hamlet away as part of a deadly plot.After Poloniuss death, Ophelia goes mad and later drowns. He describes this land as perfectly worthless and small. She is rambling nonsensically about her father and insisting on seeing Gertrude. Complete your free account to request a guide. He also declares that his step-sons behaviour is It shows a will most incorrect to heaven. Hamlet hopes that when the players stage The Murder of Gonzago for the court, he can determine whether Claudius is guilty of King Hamlets death. Alone, Claudius reveals that he is sending Hamlet to his death. In Claudius's long speech, refers to Hamlets grief as unmanly suggestion that his actions are and fitting for a man. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Act IV: Scene 4. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. They already are bloody. Makes him feel like a coward and renews his resolve to get revenge on Claudius for killing his father. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. He remarks, Rightly to be great / Is not to stir without great argument, / But greatly to find quarrel in a straw / When honors at the stake. In other words, the greatness of man comes not with the greatness of an occasion, but with treating any occasion, however petty, as an occasion for greatness.