Question

et, part 7: plot and character
the tragedy of hamlet, prince of denmark
act iv. scene v.
elsinore. a room in the castle.
enter gertrude, horatio, and a gentleman.
gertrude: i will not speak with her.
gentleman: she is importunate, indeed distract:
her mood will needs be pitied. (5)
gertrude: what would she have?
gentleman: she speaks much of her father; says she hears
theres tricks i the world; and hems, and beats her heart;
spurns enviously at straws; speaks things in doubt,
that carry but half sense; her speech is nothing. (10)
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, (15)
though nothing sure, yet much unhappily.
horatio: twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew
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?
by reaching a height of conflict as gertrude
decides to punish ophelia
by introducing her maternal kindness toward
ophelia
by suggesting that ophelia’s madness is a sign of
greater troubles
by resolving readers’ concerns about ophelia’s
madness

Explanation:

1. Analyze the first option: The text shows Gertrude initially refusing to speak with Ophelia, not deciding to punish her, so this is incorrect.
2. Analyze the second option: Gertrude's initial reaction is reluctance, not showing maternal kindness right away, so this is incorrect.
3. Analyze the third option: The Gentleman describes Ophelia's disturbed state, and Gertrude's engagement with this (asking "What would she have?") along with Horatio's comment that she "may strew" (implying causing trouble) suggests Ophelia's madness hints at more problems, advancing the plot by foreshadowing conflict.
4. Analyze the fourth option: The scene presents Ophelia's madness as a troubling sign, not resolving concerns about it, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

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