Good evening and welcome once more to brush up your Shakespeare, where we make Shakespeare fun and easy, the way it was always meant to be.

This is episode 19 and today we are now in Hamlet Act 4 scenes 6 through 7. Here's the title slide. There it is and

the quote for today from these scenes is to cut his throat in the church.

Repeat it with me to cut his throat in the church.

And one more time to cut his throat in the church.

We'll get to exactly what that line means and why it is said later on in the episode.

But first a brief recap, Leerteses has returned from France to Denmark to avenge the death of his father, Polonius.

Because Polonius was buried in secret, Léertes thinks Claudius must have had something to do with it and marches

on the castle with a large crowd of supporters to overthrow the monarchy.

Claudius, using all his political wiles, manages to calm Leertes and get him to understand

it is Hamlet who is to blame for the death of Polonius, Laierti's father.

Of course, Hamlet is no longer in Denmark, having been sent by Claudius in the company of

Rosenkranton-Gildenstern to England. Rosenkrantz and Gildenstern to England.

Rosenkranton, Guildenstern carry sealed letters

from Claudius to the King of England,

when once opened, will command the immediate execution of Hamlet.

Just as Claudius is getting Leertes calmed down,

who should enter but Leerti's sister, Ophelia, now driven completely mad by her father's death.

Leertes is overwhelmed with grief and desire for revenge.

Once more, Claudius gets a handle on the situation, redirecting Laiertie's anger toward

Hamlet, now gone from Denmark and never to return. Or is he? And that recap brings us up to Act 4, scene 6, where we begin now. Some

sailors bring letters to Horatio Hamlet's friend, who is still in Denmark.

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