Not Where He Eats, But Where He is Eaten

     Act IV Scene 3 should be the climax of the play.  Unfortunately since we all know the ending of Hamlet before we even watch it, or because we are familiar with the five act structure and are aware that we've got at least another one to go, we know all too well that it's not.  The characters know it too - Claudius has already decided to send Hamlet away to England and indeed reinforces that decision immediately before Hamlet's entrance.  Hamlet knows of Claudius' decision, he says so to his mother at the end of Act III.  So both of the main players in this scene already know the outcome of their communication.  This leaves the scene with very little tension to play with.


     That shouldn't be the case, however.  This should be the epic final showdown that ends the play in the bloodbath we know it will become. Hamlet no longer harbors any doubts as to his uncle's guilt.  He has sworn to kill Claudius.  He has just slain Polonius, an act which must be considered his point of no return.  He now finds himself face to face with his uncle, surrounded by his uncle's guards.  And yet there is nothing, no resolution from this scene at all.  Hamlet himself comments on it a scene later when he bemoans: "I do not know why yet I live to say 'This thing's to do'".

     What we as artists and audience need to do for this scene is forget that we know how it ends.  Forget the acts to come or the fact that Hamlet must make his rendezvous with the pirates and play this confrontation to the hilt.  Bring Hamlet to within a few steps of the man he has sworn to kill, surround him with the palace guards and put a knife in his hands.  This false ending is written into the play and should be portrayed as such.  This will inject some much needed tension into the scene and help to keep the play fresh for its audience.