Act IV, Scene 7 Summary and Analysis
Act IV, Scene 7:
Claudius and Laertes enter, discussing Polonius’s death. Laertes now agrees that Claudius is not at fault but wonders why he did not openly punish Hamlet. Claudius explains that he loves Gertrude and cannot bear to upset her by punishing her only son. He also says that it would be risky to publicly accuse Hamlet, since he is so well-loved by the people. Reflecting on all that he has lost as a result of Hamlet’s behavior, Laertes vows revenge.
A messenger arrives, bringing Hamlet’s letters. Claudius is shocked to learn that Hamlet will be returning to court the next day, but Laertes is pleased to have the chance to kill his enemy so soon. Claudius admits to Laertes that he has been trying to come up with a way to dispose of Hamlet and make it look like an accident. Recalling that Hamlet is quite envious of Laertes’s skill at swordsmanship, Claudius suggests arranging a duel between the two men. He proposes that Laertes secretly use a sharpened fencing foil so that he may actually injure Hamlet. Laertes agrees and takes the plan even further, suggesting that he poison the blade of his sword so that even the tiniest nick will kill Hamlet. As a backup plan, Claudius decides that he will have a cup of poisoned wine on hand to offer to Hamlet should Laertes fail to wound him during the duel.
Gertrude then enters to tell Laertes of yet another tragedy: his sister, Ophelia, has drowned. Gertrude explains that Ophelia was leaning on the branches of a willow tree that stretched over the brook. As she tried to hang flower garlands from the tree, the branch snapped, and she tumbled into the water. Distraught with grief, Laertes quickly leaves the room. Fearing that this tragedy might reawaken Laertes’s newly calmed rage, Claudius tells Gertrude that they should follow him.
Analysis
Claudius is again—or still—struggling to maintain control of the castle and the situation, but now it is Laertes who threatens to upset the King’s plans. Claudius puts on a show of bravado in the face of Laertes’ demands, and insinuates Laertes into his plot against Hamlet. Now Claudius openly intends to deceive Gertrude as he murders her son; previously he had deceived her covertly in the murder of her husband. That Claudius is ruthless as well as resolute becomes apparent when, at news of Ophelia’s death, the King says they need to watch Laertes to keep him calm. His true motive, of course, is to protect his own position against Laertes, whom the people have proclaimed as their choice for king.
Expert Q&A
What is the significance of the quote "Laertes, was your father dear to you? / Or are you like the painting of sorrow, / A face without a heart?" in Hamlet's act 4, scene 7?
In Act 4, Scene 7 of "Hamlet", the quote "Laertes, was your father dear to you? / Or are you like the painting of sorrow, / A face without a heart?" is significant as it represents Claudius' manipulative attempt to provoke Laertes into avenging his father's death by killing Hamlet. Claudius questions Laertes' love for his father and urges him to act rather than merely express sorrow. This is the first step in Claudius' plan to have Hamlet killed.
Analyze Queen Gertrude's explanation of Ophelia's death in Hamlet, act 4, scene 7.
In act 4, scene 7 of Hamlet, Queen Gertrude describes Ophelia's death as a tragic yet serene event. Ophelia fell into a brook while hanging flower wreaths, initially floating due to her dress and singing hymns. Eventually, her waterlogged dress pulled her under. Gertrude's account idealizes Ophelia, portraying her as innocent and at peace, even in death.
In Act 4, Scene 7 of Hamlet, how does Claudius appease Laertes after being reminded of his loss, and what does this reveal about Claudius's character?
Claudius appeases Laertes by telling him that he has a plan to punish Hamlet for killing Polonius. Before he can elaborate, a letter from Hamlet is delivered, informing Claudius that Hamlet is alive and returning to Denmark. Since his plan to have Hamlet executed failed, Claudius now needs Laertes to kill him. He manipulates Laertes by appealing to him as a skilled swordsman and as the son of a man who was killed by Hamlet.
Is Claudius genuinely concerned about Laertes's feelings at the end of Act 4, Scene 7 in Hamlet, or does he have other concerns?
At the end of Act 4, Scene 7 in Hamlet, Claudius tells Gertrude, “Let’s follow, Gertrude: / How much I had to do to calm his rage! / Now fear I this will give it start again; / Therefore let’s follow.”
At the end of act 4, scene 7 in Hamlet, Claudius is not at all concerned about Laertes's feelings. His chief concern at this point is to control the rampaging Laertes, who is out for vengeance against Hamlet. Claudius wants to calm Laertes because he wants to deflect the court's attention away from Hamlet, who he has sent to England to be killed.
In Hamlet Act 4, Scene 7, how does Claudius's backup plan to poison Hamlet's drink develop the plot?
Claudius's backup plan to poison Hamlet's drink develops the plot by introducing a secondary method to ensure Hamlet's death if Laertes fails to kill him with a poisoned blade during their fencing match. This plan backfires disastrously, leading to a cascade of deaths: Queen Gertrude drinks the poisoned wine, Laertes and Hamlet wound each other with the poisoned blade, and Hamlet kills Claudius using the same sword and the poisoned wine, resulting in multiple tragic deaths.
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