English

Esther Reynolds

12 July, 10:49

Read the excerpt from Act IV of Hamlet.

Claudius: Good Laertes,

If you desire to know the certainty

Of your dear father's death, is 't writ in your revenge,

That, swoopstake, you will draw both friend and foe,

Winner and loser?

Laertes: None but his enemies.

Claudius: Will you know them then?

Laertes: To his good friends thus wide I'll ope my arms;

And like the kind life-rendering pelican,

Repast them with my blood.

How does this confrontation advance the plot?

The concept of revenge is introduced for the first time in the play.

The play's action reaches a climax as Laertes exacts revenge.

The suspense builds as Claudius clarifies Laertes's goal.

The play's action is resolved as Claudius and Laertes make peace.