Scene i
Gertrude tells Cladius of Polonius's murder. Cladius sends Guildenstern and Rosencrantz after Hamlet to see if they can figure out where the body is hidden.
Scene ii
Hamlet uses puns and his wit to outsmart Guildenstern and Rosencrantz, but doesn't tell them where he hid the body.
Scene iii
Cladius sends for Hamlet and then tells him that he is is sendingHamlet to England. In his soliloquoy, the King says that he is sending Hamlet off to die.
Scene iv
Hamlet meets Fortinbras on his way to Poland. Because Fortinbras's men are fighting in Poland for their honor only, Hamlet feels ashamed. He still hasn't avenged his father's death. He decides that he will think of nothing but how he will murder Cladius from that point on.
Scene v
Gertrude finds out that Ophelia is mad. Then Ophelia walks onstage singing about death, betrayal, and loss of virginity. Cladius feels troubled by Ophelia's madness as well as the commotion following the return of Laertes. Cladius convinces Laertes that he did not kill Polonius, Hamlet did. Laertes is crushed when he finds out that his sister is crazy.
Scene vi
Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet telling of his return to Denmark aboard a pirate ship.
Scene vii
While Cladius is talking to Laertes he receives a letter stating Hamlet's return. Cladius and Laertes come up with a plot to kill Hamlet when he gets back. Laertes will put poison on his blade and Cladius will put poison in a cup. Before they can go further in their planning, Gertrude rushes in and reports that Ophelia is dead, by drownind.