Response to Plot Development in Hamlet

Authors Avatar

Lesson 13, Key Question 3

Response to Plot Development in Hamlet

        Shakespeare skillfully brings together the main plot and subplots of the play, and moves rapidly towards the final resolution.  He incorporates the main incidents of importance: the Revenge plot, the Norwegian subplot, and the Romantic subplot.  On conclusion of the denouement in Act 4, the audience has an inclination of what the outcome for Act 5 may be.

        Shakespeare begins Act 4 introducing the conclusion of Act 3, the murder of Polonius.  Then he incorporates the romantic subplot with the main plot when Hamlet is banished to England (under secret sentence of death).  But later Hamlet's return is reported when Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet delivered from the gentlemen of the castle.  Hamlet has plans to take direct action towards the King on his return. His return is reported again when messengers hand Claudius, the King, letters from Hamlet noting his return to Denmark.  Finally Shakespeare skillfully ties in the Romantic subplot with the Revenge plot when Claudius proposes that Laertes fight Hamlet in a fencing match with poisoned rapiers to kill him.  The audience now knows the plans each character has and that they include violence and will probably end in tragedy.

Join now!

        Shakespeare also cleverly combines the Norwegian subplot into the play when Fortinbras crosses Denmark as Hamlet leaves for England.  When Fortinbras arrives at the Danish castle he requests safe passage through Denmark so that he may invade Poland.

        The main plot, revenge , is most evident in scenes 5 and 7 of Act 4.  It begins when Horatio asks Queen Gertrude to see what has happened to Ophelia.  Ophelia is singing to herself and has gone completely mad due to the death of her father Polonius and loss of Hamlet.  The audience feels pity for the character of Ophelia and ...

This is a preview of the whole essay