Act 4: Madness and Revenge
The body count starts climbing as consequences spiral out of control. Hamlet refuses to tell anyone where he's hidden Polonius's body, leading Claudius to ship him off to England with a secret death warrant.
Ophelia's genuine madness contrasts sharply with Hamlet's performed version—grief for her father has completely broken her mind. Her brother Laertes returns with an angry mob, demanding vengeance for Polonius, but Claudius cleverly redirects his rage towards Hamlet.
Meanwhile, Fortinbras marches through Denmark with his army, making Hamlet reflect bitterly on his own inaction: "How all occasions do inform against me." Here's a prince who actually gets things done, unlike our hesitating hero.
Character Development: Claudius reveals his true cunning by manipulating Laertes into a poisoned sword duel—showing that multiple revenge plots are now in motion.