Act 5, Scene 4 Summary

This scene is set on the deck of a ship. Ma, Pa and their allies celebrate their freedom as they sail, with Pa making bad puns on the word "knot" as used in ropes and as used to measure speed at sea. A storm suddenly comes up, and as Pa reacts with terror, the Captain issues terse orders for steering the ship and keeping it afloat. Pa issues his own orders, which sound similar to the Captain's but which are, in fact, nonsense. As the storm continues, the Captain issues more orders, Pa makes more jokes, and he and the others all laugh. Wine is brought, and Ma talks about how wonderful it will be to see their home in France again. Pa comments that they're just passing the castle of Elsinore, and then talks about how important he's going to...