In the queen's chamber

Scene summary

Polonius tells Gertrude to speak firmly to Hamlet and hides behind the tapestry. Hamlet arrives, and the queen says he has offended his father, meaning Claudius, to which he replies that she has offended his father, the dead king. When she threatens to call someone to question him, he makes her sit and says he will hold up a mirror where she will see what lies within her. Gertrude cries for help, Polonius shouts behind the curtain, and Hamlet runs him through with his sword, convinced he is killing the king. He says the act is nearly as bad as killing a king and marrying his brother, and the queen, astonished, repeats: "Killing a king?" Hamlet uncovers the dead Polonius.

He then shows his mother the portraits of the two husbands and asks how she could trade one for the other. She says she sees black spots in her soul that will never wash out. The Ghost reappears, visible only to Hamlet, who asks whether it has come to rebuke his hesitant son. The Ghost answers that it came to whet his purpose and asks him to speak to the queen. She, who sees nothing, concludes that her son is mad. Hamlet denies the madness and asks her to confess to heaven and avoid Claudius's bed; then, ironically, he asks her not to tell the king that the madness is feigned, and she swears silence. He mentions the voyage to England and distrusts Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who will carry sealed letters. He leaves dragging Polonius's body.