Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 4 summary
Act 4, Scene 4 of 20 · 3 min to read the scene
In Act 4, Scene 4, Hamlet meets a captain whose army marches toward Poland to fight for land of almost no value. Comparing the soldiers’ readiness to die with his own delayed revenge, he condemns his hesitation and resolves to make his thoughts bloody.
What happens
- Fortinbras sends his captain to request passage through Denmark under the Danish king’s promise.
- Hamlet questions the captain and learns that Norwegian troops seek a nearly worthless piece of Polish territory.
- The captain confirms that Polish troops defend the land, and Hamlet condemns the expense and loss of life.
- Hamlet sends his companions ahead and compares Fortinbras’s daring with his own failure to act.
- Thinking of his murdered father and dishonored mother, Hamlet resolves to direct his thoughts toward bloodshed.
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In this scene
What to notice
Hamlet turns his comparison with the army into a forceful resolution. His words commit his thinking to violence, but the scene shows no act of revenge.
Quick check
Why does the captain say the disputed territory matters?
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