Good evening and welcome to another episode of Brush Up Your Shakespeare,

where we make Shakespeare fun and easy, the way it was always meant to be.

This is episode 17 and today we will be covering Hamlet Act 4, Scene 4.

The line for tonight's episode is, Oh from this time forth, my thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth.

And here is the title slide for tonight show on Hamlet Act 4, scene 4.

And there is the line for tonight.

Oh, from this time forth, my thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth.

Say it with me one more time.

Oh from this time forth, my thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth.

As you recall from last episode, Hamlet has been sent to England by Claudius, the new King of Denmark,

in the company of Rosenkrantz and Gildenstern. And Claudius has sent along with them sealed letters to be delivered

to the King of England upon their arrival. Which letters may indeed contain directions to the King of England to execute Hamlet on the spot.

But Hamlet hasn't made it to England yet. In fact, it appears there is a bit of a hike Hamlet has to take in order to get from the castle to the ship.

Do you remember the name of the castle in Denmark, by the way?

If you said Elsonor, you go to the head of the class. On the way

between castle and boat, Hamlet and his escort run into the captain of a large army

from Norway. Norway at this point is on somewhat friendly terms at least with Denmark and they are not there to fight against Denmark.

Instead they are going to fight against Poland.

So why are they in Denmark at all?

Well, the Prince of Norway has sent his captain to request permission

from Denmark to march his army across Danish ground in order to get to Poland where the

fighting will be. It's Norway against Poland. Denmark is sitting this one out and here is a map that shows

...