Grommersoft

Act 4, Scene 1 Summary

Claudius solicits Gertrude the reason for her heavy sighs. She says she has seen Hamlet, and he is mad. In fact, in his madness, he has slain Polonius. He asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to go find Hamlet and take Polonius' body to the chapel. They must take Hamlet away with them to England.

Act 4, Scene 1 Analysis

Gertrude now knows she cannot level with the King. Her loyalty, perhaps out self-preservation, is with her son. So she co-operates with Hamlet in presenting his madness to the King.