# Scene III explained — Hamlet

> Chapter companion for Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

King Claudius, concerned about Hamlet's dangerous freedom after killing Polonius, decides to send him to England. Hamlet mocks the King with riddles about Polonius's body and death. Claudius secretly arranges for Hamlet to be executed upon arrival in England.

## Themes in this chapter

### Mortality and the Afterlife

Hamlet's macabre discourse on Polonius being eaten by worms and the leveling of king and beggar in death underscores the inevitability and absurdity of mortality.

### Deception and Spying

Claudius feigns concern for Hamlet's safety while secretly plotting his murder, exemplifying the theme of hidden intentions and political deceit.

## Character check-ins

### King Claudius

Plots to send Hamlet to England and secretly orders his execution.

### Hamlet

Mocks Claudius with dark humor about Polonius's death and accepts his banishment to England.

### Rosencrantz

Reports to the King about Hamlet's refusal to reveal Polonius's body.

### Guildenstern

Escorts Hamlet before the King and is ordered to accompany him to England.

## Key lines

> Not where he eats, but where he is eaten: a certain convocation of politic worms are e'en at him.

Polonius is not at a supper table eating, but rather he is being eaten by a gathering of clever worms.

_Hamlet uses wordplay to mock the King and emphasize the physical reality of death._

> A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm.

A person could use a worm that has eaten a king as bait, catch a fish, and then eat that fish, showing how a king can end up inside a beggar.

_Hamlet illustrates the cyclical nature of life and death, reducing royal status to mere matter._

> Do it, England; For like the hectic in my blood he rages, And thou must cure me: till I know 'tis done, Howe'er my haps, my joys were ne'er begun.

Carry out the execution, England; Hamlet rages in me like a fever, and you must cure me by killing him. Until I know it's done, I can never be happy.

_Claudius reveals his true murderous intent, comparing Hamlet to a disease that must be eradicated._

## Links

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