9/8/16 Act 4 of Hamlet

Hello, all! Sorry to miss you today. Please review Ophelia's scenes in Act IV for homework, and compose a blog post reflecting on her madness. What did you notice about her scenes? What do you think about what happens to her? What is the point of her character for the play as a whole? Is there a way in which she symbolizes anything? Also, please jot down a one-sentence summary of each scene in Act 4 for your future use when reviewing. Ophelia's scenes in Act 4 make her appear to be genuinely mad. She speaks through songs, repeating "he is dead and gone" over in over in reference to her father. She also sings being abandoned on Valentine's Day, which may be a reference to how Hamlet left her. Clearly, the combination of these two events have driven her crazy, not knowing what to think about life as she knows it. I feel saddened by her death, because I thought that Hamlet would eventually come clean to her about truly having loved her. I believe the point of her character is to be a symbol for the state of Denmark. Her death by drowning when her robes became oversaturated with water could be representative of how Denmark is becoming so bogged down with sins that it too will sink.  Act 4 Scene 1: The Queen tells Claudius that Hamlet killed Polonius and is not really mad, and Claudius says they must send Hamlet to England.  Act 4 Scene 2: Hamlet disposes of Polonius's body and refuses to tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern where he hides it. Act 4 Scene 3: Hamlet tells Claudius where Polonius is hidden, and agrees to board the ship to England, while Claudius reveals that Hamlet is to be killed. Act 4 Scene 4: Hamlet meets Fortinbras, and declares that from now on, he will seek bloody revenge. Act 4 Scene 5: Ophelia is distraught about her father's death, and Laertes becomes enraged at the death of their father; Claudius agrees to help Laertes figure out who killed his father.  Act 4 Scene 6: Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet who says the ship has returned to Denmark, and they rendezvous. Act 4 Scene 7: Claudius and Laertes agree to attempt to kill Hamlet in a joust, but will poison his drink in case he wins the joust; Ophelia commits suicide by drowning.