Claudius orders Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to leave for England immediately, taking the Prince.  They vow to do so and leave as Polonius enters.  Polonius informs the King that Hamlet is on his way to speak with Gertrude and plans to hide in the room to listen.  Left alone, Claudius begins to speak of his guilt.  As he kneels to pray for forgiveness and to be released from his guilt, Hamlet quietly enters.  The Prince draws his sword, planning to kill Claudius, but stops when he gets the idea that if he dies having purged his soul of sin, Claudius will go to heaven.  Hamlet decides to kill Claudius later when he is behaving sinfully to ensure that he will go to hell.  He leaves and the King rises, telling the audience that he has been unable to pray.

The Queen and Polonius are in her room.  Polonius hides behind a curtain where he plans to eavesdrop on her conversation with Hamlet.  Hamlet enters and begins to argue with his mother.  She becomes frightened that Hamlet intends to harm her.  She cries out and startled, Polonius echoes her cry.  Thinking he is Claudius, Hamlet stabs Polonius through the curtain.  He calls Polonius an intruding fool as he pulls his body into the open.  The Queen is horrified and Hamlet tells her that his crime is almost as bad as hers.  He is remorseful for his action but continues to berate his mother for her betrayal of his father.  As she is begging him to stop, the Ghost appears but is visible only to Hamlet.  The Queen thinks Hamlet’s conversation with what appears to be thin air is produced by his madness.  The Ghost reminds Hamlet of his purpose.  Hamlet then entreats his mother to repent and abandon Claudius.  He tells her of his suspicion that the trip to England is a plot against him and leaves, dragging the body of Polonius. 

Gertrude tells Claudius of Polonius’ death.  She tells him that Hamlet is repentant for his act and Claudius sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to fetch Hamlet and the body.  He and Gertrude plane to pardon Hamlet due to his madness and then send him away.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern find Hamlet but he will not tell them where he has hidden the body of Polonius.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern bring Hamlet before Claudius who asks him where he has hidden the body.  Hamlet gives a hint and men are sent to seek Polonius.  Claudius then tells Hamlet that he his to leave immediately for England.  Hamlet hints of his suspicion but agrees to leave.  Left alone, the King tells the audience that Hamlet is being sent to his death.

Fortinbras and his army arrive for their promised march across the kingdom.  Fortinbras sends his captain to obtain an escort from Claudius.  Hamlet encounters the captain and is shamed by the vigorous activity of the army.  He resolves to take action himself.

Gertrude is informed that Ophelia has gone mad.  She sends for her and Ophelia enters, singing of love, death, and betrayal.  The King enters and he attempts to speak with Ophelia.  She exits and so he sends Horatio to watch over her.  A messenger arrives to tell the King and Queen that Laertes has arrived with many followers shouting that he ought to be king.  Just then, Laertes and his followers break in through the door and Laertes demands his father.  The King tells him that Polonius is dead but it was not his doing.  Ophelia enters and her brother is devastated by her madness.  The King leads Laertes out. 

Sailors bring Horatio a letter from Hamlet.  He says that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are still on their way to England but he will be returning to Denmark.