The act starts with Gertrude confronting the King, Claudius, about Polonius’ death and that it was Hamlet the drew blood and has gone insane. Claudius is pleased that he finally has a justifiable reason to exile Hamlet. However, without the body there is no proof so Claudius demands from Hamlet the location of Polonius’ rotting corpse. Hamlet merely toys with the King. It is then revealed that Claudius intends to execute Hamlet for his own pleasure. After Hamlet witnessed the on coming army of Fortinbras, he explores the idea of how these soldiers are willing to lay down their lives but he cannot conjure up courage for his father or mother. Laertes arrives at Claudius’ doorstep seeking revenge for his father, unaware the negative mental state of Ophelia. However, Claudius convinces Laertes that it was not him but restrains from blaming Hamlet when Gertrude is around. In a search for Hamlet it was discovered that he was captured by pirates who intend to bring him back in exchange for some ‘favors’. Claudius finally sees an opportunity to shift the blame of Laertes’ father’s death on Hamlet when he returns to Denmark. He proposes a duel between Hamlet and Laertes with Laertes’ sword being sharped and drenched with poison so a single cut can down Hamlet, in addition, Claudius means to poison Hamlet’s drink as well. Gertrude interrupts the two with information that Ophelia had drowned, while she was around the willow tree she well into the lake.