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Hamlet: Act 4, Scene 6 – analysis
Horatio receives news that Hamlet has been captured by pirates and is returning to Denmark, while his friends continue to their doom.
Scene Profile – At a Glance
Location: A Room in the Castle.
Characters: Horatio, A Servant, Sailors.
Key Event: Horatio reads a letter from Hamlet explaining his escape via a pirate ship.
The Atmosphere: Secretive, urgent, and narrative-driven.
Key Quote: "Ere we were two days old at sea, a pirate of very warlike appointment gave us chase."
Significance: A plot device (Deus Ex Machina) that returns the protagonist to Elsinore for the finale without him having to kill his escorts personally.
Scene Summary
Horatio is approached by sailors bearing letters from Hamlet. Ideally, these letters should be delivered to the King, but the sailors give Horatio his copy first. Horatio reads the letter aloud to the audience. Hamlet explains that two days into their voyage to England, their ship was chased by a "pirate of very warlike appointment." During the grapple, Hamlet boarded the pirate ship. The ships separated, leaving Hamlet as the sole prisoner of the pirates. He notes that the pirates have dealt with him like "thieves of mercy" because they want a favour from him (presumably a royal pardon or reward). He instructs Horatio to give the other letters to the King and to come to him immediately. He adds that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are still on their way to England.
Context
Deus Ex Machina: The pirate attack is often criticised as a convenient plot device ("Deus Ex Machina" or "God from the machine") to save the hero from a seemingly impossible situation (exile and execution). Shakespeare uses it to return Hamlet to the action swiftly.
Divine Intervention: While it seems like luck, Hamlet later attributes this escape to "divinity that shapes our ends." The pirate attack is the moment Hamlet realises he is not in total control of his destiny—fate is intervening to bring him back to face Claudius.
The epistolary format: This scene is unique as it is driven entirely by a letter. It allows the action to happen off-stage (which would be expensive to stage) while keeping the focus on the reaction in Elsinore.
Character Focus
Horatio: The Anchor
This scene reinforces Horatio’s role as the only trustworthy figure in the play. While everyone else is spying, plotting, or going mad, Horatio remains the calm centre. He is the keeper of Hamlet’s secrets and the liaison between the Prince and the truth. His steady presence prepares the audience for his final role as the chronicler of the tragedy.
Language and Technique
Prose (The Letter): The letter is written in direct, functional prose. This contrasts with Hamlet’s usual flowery verse, showing a new urgency and clarity in his mind. He has no time for philosophy; he is in survival mode.
Euphemism: Hamlet calls the pirates "thieves of mercy." This creates an ironic contrast with the King, who is a "thief of state" without mercy. Even the criminals in this play are more honourable than the politicians.
Hyperbole: Hamlet writes, "I have words to speak in thine ear will make thee dumb." This builds anticipation for the final act, suggesting that the full extent of Claudius's treachery (the order for Hamlet's execution) is even worse than we imagined.
Key Quotes
Original:
Ere we were two days old at sea, a pirate of very warlike appointment gave us chase. Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on a compelled valour. (Hamlet's Letter)
Shakespeare Retold (Modern Verse):
Less than two days at sea, a well-armed pirate ship gave chase. We were too slow for them, so we were forced to fight with them.
Analysis: "Compelled valour" is a crucial phrase. Hamlet was forced to be brave by circumstance, not by over-thinking. This supports the shift in his character—he acts when he has no choice. It foreshadows the final duel, where he is again "compelled" to fight.
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Original:
They have dealt with me like thieves of mercy: but they knew what they did; I am to do a good turn for them. (Hamlet's Letter)
Shakespeare Retold (Modern Verse):
For thieves, I’ve been well-treated, but they’re savvy; I have to do a good thing in return.
Analysis: Hamlet recognises the transaction. The pirates are not being kind out of charity, but for political leverage. It shows Hamlet’s political realism; he understands that everyone in this world operates on a system of exchange and favour.
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Original:
Let the King have the letters I have sent; and repair thou to me with as much speed as thou wouldst fly death. (Hamlet's Letter)
Shakespeare Retold (Modern Verse):
Give the king the letters, and then run to me as though it was for life and death.
Analysis: The urgency of "fly death" emphasises the danger Hamlet is in. He knows he has returned to the lion's den. By sending letters to the King, he is brazenly announcing his return, effectively challenging Claudius to a final confrontation.
Study Prompts (with suggested answers)
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Benchmark Points:
To return Hamlet to Denmark.
To avoid showing a sea battle on stage.
To serve as "Deus Ex Machina" (Divine Intervention).
Suggested Answer: The pirates function as a Deus Ex Machina, a plot device used to rescue the hero from an impossible situation (execution in England) and return him to the main setting. Thematically, they represent the chaotic intervention of Fate or Providence, proving to Hamlet that he cannot control every outcome through logic alone.
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Benchmark Points:
Horatio is the only trusted confidant.
It builds suspense before Hamlet appears.
It contrasts with the public lies of the Court.
Suggested Answer: Delivering the news to Horatio emphasises his role as Hamlet’s only ally. If Hamlet wrote to the Queen, the King would intercept it. By using Horatio, Shakespeare ensures the audience knows the truth before the antagonists do, building dramatic irony and anticipation for Hamlet’s physical return.
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Benchmark Points:
Direct, actionable prose.
"Compelled valour" (action over thought).
Strategic thinking (using the pirates).
Suggested Answer: The letter reveals a Hamlet who is decisive and pragmatic. He describes boarding the pirate ship in the heat of battle ("compelled valour"), showing he is capable of physical bravery. His prose is stripped of the philosophical wanderings of Act 3, suggesting a man who has replaced contemplation with action.
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Benchmark Points:
They are unaware of the contents of the letters.
Hamlet has separated from them.
They are sailing to their doom.
Suggested Answer: Hamlet separated from them during the pirate grapple. They continue to England, presumably to deliver the letters they believe contain diplomatic instructions. However, Hamlet has switched the letters (as revealed later), meaning they are unknowingly sailing to their own executions, highlighting their incompetence and tragic foolishness.
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Benchmark Points:
Convenience of the plot.
Historical context of piracy.
The role of "Fortune" in the play.
Suggested Answer: While historically plausible (piracy was common), structurally it feels incredibly convenient (a lucky coincidence). However, this "luck" is essential to the play's developing theme that human beings are not in control of their lives ("There's a divinity that shapes our ends"), reinforcing Hamlet's move towards fatalism.