# Scene I explained — Hamlet

> Chapter companion for Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

King Claudius and Queen Gertrude discuss Hamlet's madness after he kills Polonius. Claudius decides to send Hamlet to England and seeks to manage the political fallout.

## Themes in this chapter

### Madness and Melancholy

Hamlet's madness is described as a 'lawless fit' that leads to Polonius's death.

### Deception and Spying

Claudius and Gertrude discuss hiding the truth of Polonius's death to avoid slander.

## Character check-ins

### King Claudius

Expresses concern over Hamlet's madness and plots to send him to England.

### Queen Gertrude

Reports Hamlet's killing of Polonius and defends his remorse.

### Rosencrantz

Summoned by Claudius to help find Hamlet and bring Polonius's body.

### Guildenstern

Summoned alongside Rosencrantz to assist in the search for Hamlet.

## Key lines

> Mad as the sea and wind, when both contend Which is the mightier

Hamlet is as wild and uncontrollable as a storm at sea.

_Gertrude describes Hamlet's madness._

> O heavy deed! It had been so with us, had we been there

This is a terrible act; it could have been me if I had been there.

_Claudius reacts to the news of Polonius's death._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/chapters