Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-1-act-4-scene-1 [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [A Level](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level.md) › [English Lit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature.md) › [OCR](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr.md) › [English Lit: OCR A Level - Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet.md) › Act 4, Scene 1 # Act 4, Scene 1 English Lit: OCR A Level - Hamlet, topic 2.4.1 ## Key Events & Ideas in Act 4, Scene 1 Gertrude tells Claudius of Hamlet’s killing of Polonius. The King declares that Hamlet is a danger **“to all”** and must be shipped to England that day. ### Gertrude & Claudius lie ![Gertrude & Claudius lie](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2020-07/47d15565-7c47-4012-a52a-c773b92930b9/truth-257160_1920.jpg) - Gertrude and Claudius lie to each other. - This is the only scene in play where we see Claudius and Gertrude alone together in a moment of intimacy – all other occasions have been in public with one or other members of the royal court. But we see the distance between them at this moment in the play. The Queen does not reveal any knowledge of her first husband being murdered and tells Claudius that Hamlet acted in madness. Likewise, Claudius does not share his fear that Hamlet knows the truth. ### Claudius' question about Hamlet ![Claudius' question about Hamlet](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/chemistry/2.3.4%20Nanotechnology/question-mark-2492009_640-min.jpg) - Claudius: **“Where is your son?”** - The King’s question may seem insignificant at first, but it marks a change in Claudius’ thinking and signals the growing distance between King and Queen. ### Significance of **"your"** ![Significance of **"your"**](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/4ae0671c-fb60-441e-9830-6437731fe691/point-finger.png) - The pronoun **“your”** subtly implies that Hamlet is Gertrude’s responsibility. Previously, (e.g. Act 1, Scene 2) Claudius referred to Hamlet as **“my son”**, urged him to **“think of us / As a father”** and then called him **“our son”**. - Significantly, these previous expressions of parental love are made in public. Now, privately, Claudius thinks of Hamlet as an enemy or rival for his crown. ### Test to Claudius' kingship ![Test to Claudius' kingship](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/9240068b-1c33-4ae8-b5c2-946c0097e15c/crown-king-.png) - Claudius realises that this crisis is a serious test of his kingship and that it will take **“all our majesty and skill”** to explain Polonius' murder by the heir to the Danish throne to his court, public and foreign ambassadors. - His reputation as King is in grave danger of being seriously damaged at home and abroad. ### Claudius' fear for reputation ![Claudius' fear for reputation](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/5dabfd5a-0945-4ba1-9eba-dfed65b9a2e7/justice-court.jpg) - Claudius has to find a way of explaining the murder while being seen to have served justice in a way that protects the King and Queen’s **“name”** from any **“slander”** which may lay the blame for the murder, or how it has been punished, at their door. His first reaction is to fear that the murder will be **“laid to us”**. ### Claudius' priority: politics ![Claudius' priority: politics](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2020-07/bc40a5f4-c7a6-4deb-9f24-070ccbfb2933/reputation.jpg) - Significantly, these thoughts about the potential damage to his reputation come before any words of grief at the death of his loyal councillor, Polonius. - Claudius is presented as a politician first and foremost. ## Test yourself on Act 4, Scene 1 - Which of these are true of the dynamic between Claudius and Gertrude in A4S1? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/8dece131-d168-46de-9b11-ea7deb49963f/section/0c06a1c7-34f2-4ed0-b769-1b7c51d1e595/session) - Previous topic: [2.3.5 Act 3, Scene 4](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-3-5-act-3-scene-4.md) - Next topic: [2.4.2 Act 4, Scenes 2-3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-2-act-4-scenes-2-3.md) ## English Lit: OCR A Level - Hamlet contents ### 1 Introduction - 1.1 Introduction & Background to Hamlet - [1.1.1 Introduction to Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/1-1-1-introduction-to-hamlet.md) - [1.1.2 The Literary Tradition of the Hamlet Story](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/1-1-2-the-literary-tradition-of-the-hamlet-story.md) - [1.1.3 Introduction to the Settings in Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/1-1-3-introduction-to-the-settings-in-hamlet.md) - [1.1.4 Introduction to Social Issues Raised](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/1-1-4-introduction-to-social-issues-raised.md) ### 2 Plot Summary - 2.1 Act 1: Key Events & Ideas - [2.1.1 Act 1, Scene 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-1-1-act-1-scene-1.md) - [2.1.2 Act 1, Scene 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-1-2-act-1-scene-2.md) - [2.1.3 Act 1, Scene 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-1-3-act-1-scene-3.md) - [2.1.4 Act 1, Scenes 4-5](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-1-4-act-1-scenes-4-5.md) - 2.2 Act 2: Key Events & Ideas - [2.2.1 Act 2, Scene 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-2-1-act-2-scene-1.md) - [2.2.2 Act 2, Scene 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-2-2-act-2-scene-2.md) - 2.3 Act 3: Key Events & Ideas - [2.3.1 Act 3, Scene 1: Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-3-1-act-3-scene-1-key-events.md) - [2.3.2 Act 3, Scene 1: Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-3-2-act-3-scene-1-key-ideas.md) - [2.3.3 Act 3, Scene 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-3-3-act-3-scene-2.md) - [2.3.4 Act 3, Scene 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-3-4-act-3-scene-3.md) - [2.3.5 Act 3, Scene 4](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-3-5-act-3-scene-4.md) - 2.4 Act 4: Key Events & Ideas - [2.4.1 Act 4, Scene 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-1-act-4-scene-1.md) - [2.4.2 Act 4, Scenes 2-3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-2-act-4-scenes-2-3.md) - [2.4.3 Act 4, Scene 4](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-3-act-4-scene-4.md) - [2.4.4 Act 4, Scene 5: Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-4-act-4-scene-5-key-events.md) - [2.4.5 Act 4, Scene 5: Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-5-act-4-scene-5-key-ideas.md) - [2.4.6 Act 4, Scene 6](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-6-act-4-scene-6.md) - [2.4.7 Act 4, Scene 7](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-7-act-4-scene-7.md) - 2.5 Act 5: Key Events & Ideas - [2.5.1 Act 5, Scene 1: Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-5-1-act-5-scene-1-key-events.md) - [2.5.2 Act 5, Scene 2: Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-5-2-act-5-scene-2-key-events.md) - [2.5.3 Act 5, Scene 2: Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-5-3-act-5-scene-2-key-ideas.md) ### 3 Character Profiles - 3.1 Hamlet - [3.1.1 Hamlet's Speech & Mind](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-1-1-hamlets-speech-and-mind.md) - [3.1.2 Hamlet's Heroic Status](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-1-2-hamlets-heroic-status.md) - [3.1.3 Hamlet's State of Mind](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-1-3-hamlets-state-of-mind.md) - [3.1.4 Hamlet's Indecision/Action Taking](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-1-4-hamlets-indecisionaction-taking.md) - 3.2 Claudius - [3.2.1 Claudius' Crime](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-2-1-claudius-crime.md) - [3.2.2 Changing Impressions of Claudius](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-2-2-changing-impressions-of-claudius.md) - 3.3 Gertrude - [3.3.1 Mystery & Hamlet's View of Gertrude](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-3-1-mystery-and-hamlets-view-of-gertrude.md) - [3.3.2 Gertrude's Character](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-3-2-gertrudes-character.md) - [3.3.3 Gertrude's Relationship with Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-3-3-gertrudes-relationship-with-hamlet.md) - 3.4 Ophelia - [3.4.1 Ophelia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-4-1-ophelia.md) - 3.5 Polonius - [3.5.1 Portrayal of Polonius & Treatment of Ophelia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-5-1-portrayal-of-polonius-and-treatment-of-ophelia.md) - [3.5.2 Polonius' Spying & Death](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-5-2-polonius-spying-and-death.md) - 3.6 Laertes - [3.6.1 Laertes' Popularity & Relationship with Ophelia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-6-1-laertes-popularity-and-relationship-with-ophelia.md) - [3.6.2 Laertes' Character Traits](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-6-2-laertes-character-traits.md) ### 4 Key Themes - 4.1 Regicide in Hamlet - [4.1.1 Regicide in Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/4-1-1-regicide-in-hamlet.md) - 4.2 Madness in Hamlet - [4.2.1 Madness in Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/4-2-1-madness-in-hamlet.md) - 4.3 Guilt & Punishment in Hamlet - [4.3.1 Guilt in Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/4-3-1-guilt-in-hamlet.md) - [4.3.2 Punishment in Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/4-3-2-punishment-in-hamlet.md) - 4.4 Settings in Hamlet - [4.4.1 Physical Settings & Historical Setting of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/4-4-1-physical-settings-and-historical-setting-of-hamlet.md) ### 5 Writing Techniques - 5.1 Structure - [5.1.1 Structure of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-1-1-structure-of-hamlet.md) - [5.1.2 'Play Within a Play' Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-1-2-play-within-a-play-structure.md) - [5.1.3 Play-Acting Motif](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-1-3-play-acting-motif.md) - 5.2 Form - [5.2.1 Soliloquy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-2-1-soliloquy.md) - [5.2.2 Comedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-2-2-comedy.md) - 5.3 Imagery - [5.3.1 Imagery of Corruption & Decay](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-3-1-imagery-of-corruption-and-decay.md) - [5.3.2 Imagery: Healing, Performance & Costume](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-3-2-imagery-healing-performance-and-costume.md) - 5.4 Language - [5.4.1 Word Usage & Hendiadys](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-4-1-word-usage-and-hendiadys.md) - [5.4.2 Questions & Classical Allusions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-4-2-questions-and-classical-allusions.md) ### 6 Context - 6.1 Social & Historical Context - [6.1.1 Elizabeth I & Succession](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-1-1-elizabeth-i-and-succession.md) - [6.1.2 Cosmic & Social Hierarchy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-1-2-cosmic-and-social-hierarchy.md) - [6.1.3 Renaissance & Emergence of Humanism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-1-3-renaissance-and-emergence-of-humanism.md) - [6.1.4 Regicide](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-1-4-regicide.md) - [6.1.5 The Reformation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-1-5-the-reformation.md) - 6.2 Literary Context - [6.2.1 Seneca Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-2-1-seneca-tragedy.md) - [6.2.2 The Revenge Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-2-2-the-revenge-tragedy.md) - 6.3 Performance & Textual History - [6.3.1 Performance History of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-3-1-performance-history-of-hamlet.md) - [6.3.2 Textual History of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-3-2-textual-history-of-hamlet.md) ### 7 Critical Debates - 7.1 18-19th Century Responses to Hamlet - [7.1.1 Introduction to Critical Debates](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-1-1-introduction-to-critical-debates.md) - [7.1.2 18th Century Commentary on Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-1-2-18th-century-commentary-on-hamlet.md) - [7.1.3 Romantic Commentary on Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-1-3-romantic-commentary-on-hamlet.md) - 7.2 20th Century Responses to Hamlet - [7.2.1 Freudian Response to Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-2-1-freudian-response-to-hamlet.md) - [7.2.2 Other Early 20th Century Responses to Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-2-2-other-early-20th-century-responses-to-hamlet.md) - 7.3 Feminist Readings of Hamlet - [7.3.1 Introduction to Feminist Criticism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-3-1-introduction-to-feminist-criticism.md) - [7.3.2 Feminist Readings of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-3-2-feminist-readings-of-hamlet.md) - [7.3.3 Presentation of Ophelia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-3-3-presentation-of-ophelia.md) - 7.4 Marxist/Political Readings of Hamlet - [7.4.1 Introduction to Marxist Criticisms](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-4-1-introduction-to-marxist-criticisms.md) - [7.4.2 Marxist Readings of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-4-2-marxist-readings-of-hamlet.md)