1. Revenge and Justice
Act IV

2. Claudius Claudius is the centre of several characters’ revenge
Hamlet seeks to kill Claudius and avenge his father
Laertes initially blames Claudius for Polonius’ death and Ophelia’s madness

3. Claudius Continued
Claudius makes mention of what ways he feels that fate has been unjust to him
Claudius traces his problems to Hamlet and decides that he is the cause of all this
Claudius is seeking revenge on Hamlet
This revenge is not just

4. "The people muddied, Thick, and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers For good Polonius' death, and we have done but greenly In hugger-mugger to inter him. Poor Ophelia Divided from herself and her fair judgment, Without the which we are pictures, or mere beasts."
Claudius, ( )

5. Ophelia
Demonstrates Laertes is tired of being weak and demands revenge for his sister.
“When these are gone,
The women will be out.-Adieu, my lord.
I have a speech of fire that fain would blaze,
But that this folly doubts it.” Act 4 scene 7 line 188

6. Ophelia continued
Demonstrates Laertes has so much anger that not only is he willing to kill Hamlet but he is willing to insure he’s dead.
“I will do ’t.
And for that purpose I’ll anoint my sword.
I bought an unction of a mountebank,
So mortal that, but dip a knife in it,
Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare,
Collected from all simples that have virtue
Under the moon, can save the thing from death
That is but scratched withal. I’ll touch my point
With this contagion, that if I gall him slightly
It may be death.” Act 4 scene 7 line 145

7. Hamlet
Enacts revenge on Polonius (and Claudius indirectly):
Hides Polonius’ body (dishonor) and later mocks him
Claudius knows that Hamlet’s public image can not be ruined and therefore keeps Polonius’ murder a secret (quick funeral)
Causes Laertes to accuse Claudius
“Not where he eats, but where he is eaten. A certain convocation of politic worms are e'en at him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet. We fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots.” - IV.I.21-25

8. Hamlet
Enacts revenge on Rosencrantz/Guildenstern:
Constantly mocks their dedication to Claudius
Leads everyone to believe that he is insane causing him to be sent to England
Leaves both Rosencrantz/Guildenstern for death after pirates attack their ship
(Act 5) Find out that Hamlet changed Claudius’ letter to have Rosencrantz/Guildenstern killed
(After seeing the Norwegian army)
“Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause, Which is not tomb enough and continent To hide the slain? Oh, from this time forth, My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!” - IV.IV.63-66

9. Rosencrantz/ Guildenstern
Rosencrantz/Guildenstern are the king’s pawns
They try to betray hamlet throughout the play and are therefore not trusted by him
IV. II. VII-X.
“Do not believe it.”
Hamlet
“That I keep your counsel
and not mine own.”

10. Laerates
I dare damnation: to this point I stand, / That both the worlds I give to negligence, / Let come what comes; only I’ll be revenged / Most thoroughly for
my father.
IV.v

11. Cont.. KING "Hamlet comes back; what would you undertake
to show yourself in deed your father's son
More than in words?"
LAERTES "To cut his throat i'th' church.
KING "No place indeed should murder sanctuarize;
Revenge should have no bounds."
(IV )