The scene starts off with Claudius and Laertes talking about Polonius death, Claudius explains to Laertes that he buried him and didn’t tell everybody that he killed Polonius because he is loved too much by his mother and the people of Denmark to be able to get away with it as he is both the king of the people and wife to Hamlets mother. A messenger comes in and then gives a letter to Claudius from Hamlet that he will return tomorrow, Claudius is pleased because that means his revenge will happen quicker. Claudius says that lettres should be the one to take revenge on Hamlet because it would stop any suspicion that Claudius killed Hamlet and he can get revenge for Hamlet killing his father.
They then discuss that Laertes should put poison on his sword that so if he even stabs him he will die from the poison if not the sword being stabbed into you. Claudius says if that plan doesn’t work he will be at hand with a drink that has poison in it to make sure Hamlet doesn’t overcome death. Gertrude then comes in bearing very bad news regarding Ophelia saying that she has drowned and died in the river, Laertes storms out of the castle in grief to of both lost his father and sister in the space of a few days. Claudius and Gertrude talk about Laertes behaviour and worries that his sister’s death will reawaken the anger from earlier when his father died.
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