act 4

Claudius asks Gertrude about Hamlet's reaction when he comes to see her. Gertrude tells Claudius that Polonius is killed by Hamlet by “accident”. Claudius perceives that he will be in the same situation as Polonius if he doesn't take action toward Hamlet. Claudius is afraid if he judges Hamlet for his crime, the public will criticize him, “Yet must not we put the strong law on him: / He's loved of the distracted multitude, / who like not in their judgment, but their eyes; / And where tis so, the offender's scourge is weigh'd, / but never the offence. To bear all smooth and even, / This sudden sending him away must seem Deliberate pause diseases desperate grown by desperate appliance are relieved,/ or not at all.” (Act IV, Scene 3) He is hesitated to do so and believes sending Hamlet away is the best way. He asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to escort Hamlet and Hamlet agrees. In the journey to England , Hamlet meets Fortinbras, young and impulsive young prince of Denmark . Fortinbras is going to invade Poland by crossing Norway . Hamlet is shocked since Fortinbras brings thousands of soldiers and attacks “a little pitch of land.” (Act IV, Scene) In contrast, Hamlet has so many scruples for revenging for his father. Hamlet evokes his impulse and resolution for the vengeance by Fortinbras' impulse.