Hamlet · Chapter
Scene IV explained
Fortinbras sends a captain to greet the Danish king and request passage through Denmark for his army.
What happens
Fortinbras sends a captain to greet the Danish king and request passage through Denmark for his army. Hamlet, accompanied by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, encounters the captain and learns that Fortinbras is leading a campaign against Poland for a worthless patch of land. This prompts Hamlet to reflect on his own inaction and resolve to pursue revenge with bloody thoughts.
Themes in this chapter
Revenge and Morality
Hamlet's soliloquy directly confronts his failure to act on his revenge, contrasting his inaction with Fortinbras's willingness to risk lives for honor.
Fate and Free Will
Hamlet questions whether his delay is due to cowardice or fate, and ultimately resolves to take control of his actions.
Mortality and the Afterlife
The image of soldiers going 'to their graves like beds' underscores the theme of death and the triviality for which men sacrifice their lives.
Characters to notice
- Fortinbras
Leads his army across Denmark to attack a small part of Poland, demonstrating decisive action.
- Hamlet
Observes Fortinbras's army and delivers a soliloquy condemning his own delay in avenging his father.
- Rosencrantz
Accompanies Hamlet and asks if he is ready to proceed.
- Guildenstern
Present with Hamlet and Rosencrantz during the encounter with the captain.
- Captain
A Norwegian captain who informs Hamlet of Fortinbras's military objective.
Key passages
“We go to gain a little patch of ground That hath in it no profit but the name.”
We are fighting for a small piece of land that is worthless except for its name.
The captain describes the trivial objective of Fortinbras's campaign.
“How all occasions do inform against me, And spur my dull revenge!”
Every situation seems to accuse me and urge me to take my slow revenge.
Hamlet begins his soliloquy, feeling that events are conspiring to highlight his inaction.
“My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!”
From now on, my thoughts must be violent or they are worthless.
Hamlet resolves to commit fully to revenge, abandoning hesitation.