Hamlet

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   jamie-wheeler Teacher
   College - Sophomore

   In Act 3, Scene 4, Hamlet stabs Polonious throught "arras" or curtains.  Polonious has hidden there in order to spy on Hamlet speaking to his mother, Gertrude, hoping to discover Hamlet's motives and whether or not he is actually mad.

   The killing, however, is a mistake.  In one of the many missteps of the play, Hamlet believes Polonious to be Claudius, the man who murdered his father, married his mother, assumed the throne (thus preventing Hamlet's ascention.)

   Claudius has long suspected Hamlet of being dangerous and  suspects he knows about his crimes.  However, the murder of Polonious truly rattles him.  He decides that the best course of action, for his own protection and to retain the throne, would be to dispatch Hamlet to England, with a secret letter addressed to the English king to kill his dangerous stepson. 

   For free, online lessons about this scene, as well as other lessons about the play and discussion questions (in which you can participate or view answers) please visit the links below. 

   Sources:

   http://blogs.enotes.com/literature-101/category/hamlet/

   http://www.enotes.com/hamlet

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   Posted by jamie-wheeler on Wednesday March 26, 2008 at 3:51 PM
   
   

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