Hamlet
Hamlet
by William Shakespeare

Hamlet Act IV, Scene ii Summary

  • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern meet with Hamlet, and try to convince him to give up Polonius's body, which Hamlet has hidden.
  • Hamlet points out that Claudius's little helpers are like a sponge. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern soak up Claudius's favors now, but Claudius is sure to wring them dry again as soon as he's done.
  • Finally, Hamlet makes some intelligent jokes implying that King Claudius is a king of nothing, and that his days are numbered. These are lost on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

Act IV, Scene iii
Act IV, Scene i