ACT IV, 6: HAMLET AND THE PIRATES
In the sixth scene, which is very brief, Laertes receives a letter from Hamlet, which he reads aloud. Some time had passed since the fourth scene where Hamlet had promised to be bloody and get immediate revenge. But once again Hamlet hesitated. Hamlet failed to keep the promise he had made to himself. At this point in the story, Hamlet had already boarded the ship with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and had set sail for England. But, as Hamlet explains in his letter, the ship he was on was chased by pirates, and the pirates attacked. During the fight between the pirates and the Danes, Hamlet sneaks away from the Danish ship and boards the pirate ship. The pirates return Hamlet to Denmark in return for a reward that Hamlet had promised them. Hamlet also tells
Horatio to deliver a letter to Claudius. And, finally, Hamlet also informs his friend that Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern are still on the ship that is bound for England. Hamlet adds that later he will tell Horatio more news about these two men.
ACT IV, 7: THE SCHEME OF CLAUDIUS
AND LAERTES
King Claudius speaks once again to Laertes in the seventh scene. Laertes has now calmed down somewhat and is prepared to listen to what Claudius has to say. Claudius, who has read a letter from Hamlet in which Hamlet announces his return, develops a scheme to get rid of Hamlet. Claudius has to be careful. He does not want to cause conflict in his kingdom or conflict with his wife. Also, he does not wish Laertes to be blamed for murdering the beloved prince of Denmark. So, Claudius devises the scheme of the fencing match. Laertes and Hamlet are to have a fencing contest, a contest using swords. Laertes has a reputation as being a great swordsman, but Claudius will not take any unnecessary risks. Normally, the swords used in this type of contest are topped with a button or cap so that no one will get killed. But Claudius informs Laertes that in the middle of the fight, he will arrange it so that Laertes gets a sword that has no button, a sword with a sharp pointed end (“a sword unbated” in line 110). Laertes can then kill Hamlet and claim it was an accident. Laertes agrees and adds that he will also add a poison to the tip of the sword (line 113). That way, all Laertes has to do is scratch Hamlet with the sword point; and then Hamlet will die a quick death. Claudius likes Laertes’ idea, but the king wants to make sure that the plan will not fail under any circumstances. So, he also plans to put poison in the drinking cup that will be given to Hamlet. After each bout of fencing, each contestant is allowed to drink from his cup. Therefore, even if Hamlet does not get scratched by the poisoned sword point, he will still get poisoned from his drink.