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He never says so, although it is certainly one possibility. Claudius is very cautious about diagnosing Hamlet's behaviour problem, unlike Polonius. Probably Claudius is worried that Hamlet may suspect the truth about the murder.
When Gertrude inadvertently drinks the poison and dies, Hamlet is at last able to bring himself to kill Claudius, and the king is felled by his own cowardly machination. Addition: Act 5, Scene II: "HAMLET The point!--envenom'd too! Then, venom, to thy work. Stabs KING CLAUDIUS All Treason! treason! KING CLAUDIUS O, yet defend me, friends; I am but hurt. HAMLET Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane, Drink off this potion. Is thy union here? Follow my mother. KING CLAUDIUS dies"
Gertrude tells Claudius that it was out of madness. This means that Gertrude had not divulged the knowledge that Hamlet was faking his madness.
Polonius is about the only friend Claudius had and maybe the faithful guards and courtiers. Though even his allegiance is questionable, as he also would have served Hamlet Sr. similarly. Truly, Claudius does not have any notable friends in the play as most of the major roles are taken by his subordinates and enemies. For instance, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern followed their orders until their doom; however they were really just doing their jobs. It can be argued that Gertrude was Claudius' friend, considering she was his wife. But it is possible that like Polonius, she just shifted loyalties to suit who ever was in the seat of power.
The Mousetrap.
He never says so, although it is certainly one possibility. Claudius is very cautious about diagnosing Hamlet's behaviour problem, unlike Polonius. Probably Claudius is worried that Hamlet may suspect the truth about the murder.
Hamlet was crazy. She follows Hamlet's instructions and says that "Hamlet hath in madness Polonius slain."
When Gertrude inadvertently drinks the poison and dies, Hamlet is at last able to bring himself to kill Claudius, and the king is felled by his own cowardly machination. Addition: Act 5, Scene II: "HAMLET The point!--envenom'd too! Then, venom, to thy work. Stabs KING CLAUDIUS All Treason! treason! KING CLAUDIUS O, yet defend me, friends; I am but hurt. HAMLET Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane, Drink off this potion. Is thy union here? Follow my mother. KING CLAUDIUS dies"
Hamlet learns from the Ghost of his father that his father was killed by his uncle, who has since married Hamlet's mother. Hamlet decides to act crazy while figuring out what to do. His uncle Claudius sets spies on him because of his crazy behaviour. Hamlet confirms that the Ghost was telling the truth by putting on a play mirroring the murder of his father. Unfortunately this also tips Claudius off (he was pretty suspicious anyway) Hamlet catches and kills a spy in his mother's bedroom. Unfortunately it is the king's advisor Polonius. Claudius sends Hamlet to England. Polonius's son Laertes comes from France to revenge his father. Claudius tells him that Hamlet had killed Polonius. Hamlet doesn't get to England because of pirates, and returns to Denmark. Claudius and Laertes set up a Fencing match where Hamlet is to be murdered by an unbuttoned poisoned sword and a poisoned cup of wine. Hamlet gets cut by the poisoned sword but so does Laertes, and Hamlet's mother drinks the poisoned wine. Before he dies, Hamlet stabs and poisons Claudius to death.
Hamlet doubts the ghost's statement that Claudius had murdered him--the ghost could be lying. He re-enacts the murder in a play and has it performed in front of Claudius. Sure enough, it causes an attack of conscience in Claudius.
Gertrude tells Claudius that it was out of madness. This means that Gertrude had not divulged the knowledge that Hamlet was faking his madness.
The Murder of Gonzago. Hamlet nicknames it The Mousetrap.
Polonius is about the only friend Claudius had and maybe the faithful guards and courtiers. Though even his allegiance is questionable, as he also would have served Hamlet Sr. similarly. Truly, Claudius does not have any notable friends in the play as most of the major roles are taken by his subordinates and enemies. For instance, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern followed their orders until their doom; however they were really just doing their jobs. It can be argued that Gertrude was Claudius' friend, considering she was his wife. But it is possible that like Polonius, she just shifted loyalties to suit who ever was in the seat of power.
The Mousetrap.
Polonius dies. Ophelia dies. Claudius dies. Hamlet dies. Hamlet returns home for his father's funeral. Hamlet stages a play to prove Claudius's guilt. Ophelia drowns in a river. Hamlet and Laertes duel. Hamlet returns to Denmark to bury his father. Hamlet kills Polonius. Ophelia is found dead. Laertes and Hamlet duel.
The play The Murder of Gonzago had a plot quite similar to the account the Ghost had given of the murder of Hamlet Sr. With a few tweaks, it was so similar that it reminded Claudius of his murder which was what Hamlet intended.
She said a simple explanation: Hamlet is insane.