[Music] in act 4 scene 5 of Hamlet back at Elsinore castle Oh philia has requested to speak with Gertrude after hearing that Ophelia has been acting strangely though Gertrude doesn't want to but Horatio and the other advisors tell her it's better to put an end to this before o philia starts talking so Gertrude agrees o philia walks in and it's obvious she's in a disturbed state she sings about death and love Claudius joins them and he and the Queen are shocked by Ophelia's behavior when Ophelia leaves Claudius informs Gertrude that Laertes is back from France and he's determined to avenge his father's death they hear a noise and a messenger enters to warn them that Laertes leading a riotous group of people has come to see them Laertes enters and confronts Claudius and Gertrude demanding answers and his father's body as they tried to calm him o philia walks back in still singing and offering flowers Laertes his anger is nearly overwhelmed by his grief at the sight of his sister Claudius seizes the moment to convince Laertes to come with him so that he can explain he promises Laertes that he'll give his crown if they find that he or Gertrude were at fault madness once again is central in this scene however this time the madness is real and not feigned like Hamlet's it becomes clear to Gertrude and Claudius that Ophelia has lost it after her father's death her songs though they seem nonsensical point to her concern with the loss of her father and Hamlet's affection on the heels of this revelation Laertes storm Elsinore he has evolved into a man of action perhaps more like Fortinbras than before whereas he had seemed more in alignment with Hamlet in the past his time away may have changed that however Laertes now appears to lack balance and his taste for revenge will be his undoing and the undoing of several others by the plays and both Fortinbras and Hamlet will have achieved their independence though only Fortinbras were live to carry it into his maturity Laertes though he initially seems to be of strong character is batted about by Polonius and Claudius and never really comes into his own you