A shaken Gertrude tells Claudius what just happened during her encounter with Hamlet. While Gertrude thinks there’s still hope for her son, Claudius is more interested in the matter at hand. He dispatches Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find Hamlet and get rid of Polonius’s body.
Claudius
The way you are sighing, something is going on. You must explain, because I need to know what it is. Where’s your son?
Gertrude
Oh, my lord, what I have seen tonight!
Claudius
What is it, Gertrude? How’s Hamlet?
Gertrude
As mad and confused as the sea in a storm. In a fit of rage, he heard something behind the curtain, whipped out his sword, and yelled “A rat, a rat.” In a feverish delusion, he killed this good man.
Claudius
Oh, this is serious. That would have been me. Hamlet running free is a danger to everyone – you, me, everybody. How is this bloody murder to be explained? It will be blamed on us; we should have foreseen something like this and kept crazy Hamlet confined. But my love for Hamlet was so great that I didn’t do what was necessary – like someone who doesn’t want to show an ugly wound and keeps it covered until it gets infected. Where has Hamlet gone?
Gertrude
He’s taking away the body. But now the good part of his nature is shining through his madness, and he’s crying for what he has done.
Claudius
Come, Gertrude, let’s go. By nightfall I’ll have him on his way. We must use all our power and skill to acknowledge and excuse this atrocious deed. Hello, Guildenstern.
Both of you, go find some help. Hamlet, in his madness, has killed Polonius and dragged the body from his mother’s chambers. Go find him, speak calmly to him, and bring the body to the chapel. Please hurry. Come, Gertrude, we’ll go see our closest friends, let them know what has happened, and what we intend to do about it. Let’s go. I’m upset and dismayed.
