Question

Read the excerpt from Act IV of Hamlet. Gentleman:

GENTLEMAN
She speaks much of her father, says she hears
There’s tricks i' th' world, and hems, and beats her heart,
Spurns enviously at straws, speaks things in doubt
That carry but half sense. Her speech is nothing,
Yet the unshaped use of it doth move
The hearers to collection. They aim at it,
And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts,
Which, as her winks and nods and gestures yield them,
Indeed would make one think there might be thought,
Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily.She speaks much of her father, says she hears
There’s tricks i' th' world, and hems, and beats her heart,
Spurns enviously at straws, speaks things in doubt
That carry but half sense. Her speech is nothing,
Yet the unshaped use of it doth move
The hearers to collection. They aim at it,
And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts,
Which, as her winks and nods and gestures yield them,
Indeed would make one think there might be thought,
Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily.
HORATIO
'Twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew
15Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds.
GERTRUDE
Let her come in.
Exit GENTLEMAN
The GENTLEMAN exits.
(aside) To my sick soul (as sin’s true nature is)
Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss.
So full of artless jealousy is guilt,
It spills itself in fearing to be spilt.

How does Gertrude’s reaction advance the plot of the play?

a) by introducing her maternal kindness toward Ophelia
b) by resolving readers’ concerns about Ophelia’s madness
c) by reaching a height of conflict as Gertrude decides to punish Ophelia
d) by suggesting that Ophelia’s madness is a sign of greater troubles

Answer 1

d) by suggesting that Ophelia’s madness is a sign of greater troubles.

Step-by-step explanation:

William Shakespeare's Hamlet revolves around the act of a young prince's desire to avenge the death of his father, the king. The young prince Hamlet brings about many disasters along with his plan of getting revenge at the perpetrators of his father's death.

The given passage from Act IV scene v shows Queen Gertrude being told about Ophelia's madness and her constant 'babble' of things unknown and unseen. Queen Gertrude was reluctant at first to comply with Ophelia's request to be shown to the Queen. But she relented after Horatio told her it might lead to the revelation of any dangerous and evil troubles in the future. She also admitted, "Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss". This shows that she also believes it may reveal some greater hidden plots for them.

Thus, her decision to allow Ophelia to meet her advances the plot by suggesting that it's a sign of the upcoming greater troubles in the kingdom.