Question

va v. english 12 sem a- a abethan drama: <i>the tragedy of hamlet</i> 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 though nothing sure, yet much unhappily for she may strew it sends some precious instance of itself after the thing it loves. which statement best describes how this plot event shapes laertes? laertess sadness about his sisters state weakens his resolve. laertess sorrow about ophelia renders him melancholy. laertess shock at his sisters condition fuels his anger. laertess disappointment in ophelia makes him judgmental.

Explanation:

In the context of "The Tragedy of Hamlet", Laertes has a strong bond with his sister Ophelia. When he learns of her disturbed state (from the dialogue about her being "importunate, indeed distract"), his shock at her condition would fuel his anger, especially considering the broader context of their father's death too. The other options don't fit: his resolve wouldn't be weakened (first option wrong), he's more angry than melancholy (second option wrong), and he's not being judgmental out of disappointment (fourth option wrong).

Answer:

Laertes's shock at his sister's condition fuels his anger.