This scene masterfully demonstrates Shakespeare's ability to blend dark comedy with political intrigue and philosophical meditation. Hamlet's "worms eat kings" speech serves multiple dramatic purposes: it deflects Claudius's direct questions through verbal games, expresses Hamlet's obsession with mortality and decay, and delivers a pointed social critique about the ultimate equality of all humans in death. The image of kings and beggars both ending up as worm food directly challenges the divine right of kings and social hierarchies that Claudius represents.The scene showcases Hamlet's continued use of feigned madness as both shield and weapon. His seemingly nonsensical answers actually contain profound truths and veiled threats. When he says a king "may go a progress through the guts of a beggar," he's both describing the food chain and making a subtle threat about royal mortality. His ability to speak dangerous truths while appearing mad allows him to express what would otherwise be treasonous thoughts.Claudius's final soliloquy reveals his calculating nature and growing desperation. The metaphor of Hamlet as "the hectic in my blood" - a consuming fever - shows how the prince has become an existential threat to his reign. The reference to England's "cicatrice" (scar) that "looks raw and red /...
Scene Summary
King Claudius confronts Hamlet about Polonius's whereabouts, and Hamlet responds with dark humor, explaining that Polonius is "at supper" - being eaten by worms. He delivers his famous "worms eat kings" speech, explaining how death makes all people equal, as both kings and beggars end up as food for worms and maggots.
Claudius announces that Hamlet must immediately leave for England, supposedly for his own safety after killing Polonius. Hamlet agrees to go, but makes cryptic comments suggesting he suspects Claudius's true motives. When Claudius calls himself Hamlet's "loving father," Hamlet pointedly calls him "mother," explaining that since husband and wife are one flesh, his father and mother are the same person.
After Hamlet exits with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Claudius reveals his true plan in a soliloquy. He has sent secret letters to England ordering Hamlet's immediate execution, comparing the prince to a fever in his blood that must be cured. Until Hamlet is dead, Claudius says he can have no peace or joy.
"Not where he eats, but where he is eaten: a certain convocation of politic worms are e'en at him." — Hamlet (4.3.19-21)
"Your worm is your only emperor for diet: we fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots: your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service, two dishes, but to one table: that's the end." — Hamlet (4.3.21-26)
"A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and cat of the fish that hath fed of that worm." — Hamlet (4.3.27-29)
"Nothing but to show you how a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar." — Hamlet (4.3.30-32)
"In heaven; send hither to see: if your messenger find him not there, seek him i' the other place yourself." — Hamlet (4.3.33-35)
"I see a cherub that sees them." — Hamlet (4.3.48)
"My mother: father and mother is man and wife; man and wife is one flesh, and so, my mother." — Hamlet (4.3.51-52)
"For like the hectic in my blood he rages, And thou must cure me: till I know 'tis done, Howe'er my haps, my joys were ne'er begun." — Claudius (4.3.68-70)
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