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All Site ContentHamletAct 3Scene 4
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"set me packing"
Wordplay
Act 3,
Scene 4
Lines 189a-197

An explanation of Hamlet’s double meaning in Act 3, Scene 4 of myShakespeare’s Hamlet.

Hamlet
[Hamlet picks up two paintings]
[Pointing to the picture of King Hamlet]
[Pointing to a picture of Claudius]

Gertrude

Hamlet

Gertrude

Hamlet

Gertrude

[Enter Ghost.]

Hamlet   

[Seeing the Ghost]

Gertrude   

Hamlet

Ghost

[The ghost gestures toward Gertrude]

Hamlet   

Gertrude   

Hamlet

Gertrude   

Hamlet   

Gertrude

Hamlet   

Gertrude   

Hamlet

[Exit Ghost.]

Gertrude

Hamlet   

Gertrude

Hamlet

[Pointing to Polonius' body]
[Pointing to dead Polonius]

Gertrude

Hamlet

Gertrude

Hamlet

I must to England, you know that?

Gertrude

                                                           Alack, 
I had forgot. 'Tis so concluded on.

Hamlet 

[Pointing to Polonius' body] 
This man shall set me packing.    
I'll lug the guts into the neighbor room.
Mother, good night. Indeed, this counselor
Is now most still, most secret, and most grave,
Who was in life a foolish prating knave. 
[To Polonius’s body] Come, sir, to draw toward an end with you.     
Good night, mother.
[Exit Hamlet, dragging Polonius.]

This line can be read in two ways:

  • Cause me to be sent to England
  • Start me plotting against Claudius