HAMLET Act Two ACT TWO SCENE I KEY

HAMLET Act Two

ACT TWO SCENE I: KEY POINTS This scene establishes that time has gone by. Laertes is already in Paris so several weeks would have gone by. Polonius is sending his servant Reynaldo to spy on Laertes while he is away studying. He asks him to talk to his friends and imply that Laertes is “wild” in order to gauge their reactions. Ophelia reveals that, as per her father’s instructions, she has been refusing to see Hamlet. She tells Polonius that Hamlet has been behaving very strangely – she was visited by a deranged Hamlet. Either his behaviour is the result of his put on “antic disposition” or he is struggling to cope with the burden the Ghost has laid upon him and is further upset because of Ophelia’s rejection of him. Polonius thinks he knows why Hamlet is ‘insane’ – he no longer thinks Hamlet has only lustful designs on his daughter and is convinced that Hamlet’s love for Ophelia has driven him mad and he rushes to tell the king.

Long-winded and Selfimportant: Polonius’ love of his own voice is again evident in the longwinded instructions given to Reynaldo. As earlier, he is convinced of his own wisdom, telling Reynaldo to spy on Laertes and immediately assuming to know the cause of Hamlet’s madness. His selfimportance makes him long to be at the centre of the court’s affairs and sends him rushing to the king with news of Hamlet’s strange behaviour. Polonius A Meddling Schemer: Polonius has a tendency towards plotting and scheming. We see this when he sends Reynaldo to spy on his son. He is also a meddler who cannot resist involving himself in other people’s business. This is clear when he rushes off to tell Claudius about Hamlet’s behaviour. Instead of focusing on the concerns of his own daughter he inserts himself into royal affairs.

Acting Insane? : Hamlet Ophelia’s report suggests that Hamlet is behaving in an extremely strange manner. He seems to be acting on the warning he gave in Act 1 Scene V when he said that he would put on an “antic disposition”. Or is it possible that this is not an act at all?

Ophelia Innocent and Trusting: Ophelia comes across as an innocent and obedient daughter, doing exactly as her father would wish, coming straight to him with news of Hamlet’s strange behaviour. She seems to have followed her father’s instructions to distance herself from Hamlet.

ACT TWO SCENE II: KEY POINTS Claudius’ flattering manner masks his cunning nature. He flatters “dear Rosencrantz” and “gentle Guildenstern” and feigns concern for Hamlet when he really wants them to spy on Hamlet. He also agrees to Polonius’ plan to eavesdrop on Hamlet and Ophelia’s conversation. Polonius continues to be a cynical and unscrupulous character. He is more than willing to use his daughter as bait in order to discover the source of Hamlet’s unhappiness. Hamlet is disillusioned with love and life. He feels weighed down with the responsibility of restoring order to Denmark. Yet Hamlet is still a shrewd judge of character. It doesn’t take him long to discover his old friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have been summoned to spy on him. Despite recognising his own inability to act, Hamlet still puts off action until he has more evidence against Claudius – he plans to use the visiting players and their play to “catch the conscience of the King”

Hamlet Acting Insane? Ophelia has already described the strange behaviour of Hamlet, now Claudius tells us he has undergone a “transformation”. He is behaving as if he has lost his reason. Polonius refers to his “lunacy”. Hamlet also behaves in a deranged manner during his encounter with Polonius. He seems to think that Polonius is a “fishmonger”. He asks Polonius if he has a daughter though he knows Ophelia well. He takes advantage of his mad behaviour to savagely mock Polonius’ age: “for yourself, sir, should be as old as I am, if like a crab you could go backwards” There is little doubt that Hamlet’s mad behaviour here is largely an act. He admits to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that he is “but mad north-west” suggesting he is, at most, a little mad. Hamlet appears rational and perceptive in his conversation with his old friends, quickly guessing that they have been summoned to spy on him by Claudius. The prince also comes across very sane in his warm welcome to the players. Furthermore his soliloquy at the end of the scene also reveals the workings of a logical and rational mind.

Mental Anguish: In Act 1 Hamlet expressed suicidal thoughts. Similar sentiments are expressed here. He says there is nothing he would part more readily with than his life: “You cannot sir, take from me anything that I will not more willingly part withal; except my life”. He expresses disgust at the world in which he is forced to live. Hamlet movingly expresses how futile life seems to him. Humankind is often considered the “paragon of animals”, yet to him it is no more than a “quintessence of dust”. Hamlet Procrastination and Self. Accusation: In the final soliloquy Hamlet gives full vent to his feelings of selfdisgust caused by his lack of action against Claudius. He lists the very good reasons for taking Claudius’ life. And yet, the prince has done nothing. He calls himself names and is disgusted by his tendency to analyse, to be a man of words rather than a man of action. He wonders why he must “like a whore unpack my heart with words”. However, perhaps he is being hard on himself here. He has no definite proof of Claudius’ guilt and it is possible the Ghost was a demon.

POLONIUS Ø LONG-WINDED: He once again comes across as someone who loves the sound of their own voice. He tells the royal couple that Ophelia is the cause of Hamlet’s madness in such an irritatingly long-winded fashion that even Gertrude gets annoyed and tells him “ More matter, with less art” Ø SELF-IMPORTANT: He is convinced of his own wisdom, telling the king he has never been proved wrong in anything before. He is absolutely certain his theory about Hamlet is correct. Polonius’ self-importance makes him long to be at the centre of royal affairs. He prolongs his moment of importance by telling them he has found the “cause of Hamlet’s lunacy” but then not sharing his theory until after the ambassadors leave. Ø A MEDDLING SCHEMER: Polonius’ scheming tendencies are once more clear. He comes up with a plan to observe Hamlet while he talks to Ophelia in order to prove his theory about Hamlet’s madness. Polonius is meddling in affairs that are none of his business and he intends to use his daughter as bait in his scheming.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern • They are Hamlet’s old school friends and the close relationship is clear when Hamlet greets them as “most excellent good friends”. • They have been placed in a difficult position. The king has essentially asked them to spy on their old friend and Hamlet guesses immediately what they are up to. Though they try to deny it, Hamlet eventually shames them into admitting the truth. • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, therefore, find themselves torn between the king who has summoned them and the friend with whom they share an “ever-preserved love”. As they themselves say, how can they disobey the “sovereign power”, the most powerful man in the kingdom? Yet can they betray Hamlet’s friendship by continuing to spy and inform on him?

ACT TWO SCENE II: KEY QOUTES Gertrude: “More matter, with less art” Polonius: “At such a time I’ll loose my daughter to him” Hamlet: “I am but mad north-west” Hamlet: “Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave, That I, the son of a dear father murdered, Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must like a whore, unpack my heart with words” Hamlet: “The play’s the thing Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King”

Think about it! 1. Do you agree, that in this scene, Claudius shows himself to be highly skilled in his dealings with people? Explain your answer. 2. In this scene, many characters try to discover the truth about others. Provide and discuss examples of this.

Revision Quiz Q 1: According to Polonius what is the cause of Hamlet’s strange behaviour? Q 2: What instructions does Polonius give to Reynaldo? Q 3: In Act 2, Scene I, Ophelia tells her father that Hamlet came to her room looking and acting strangely. Describe how Hamlet looked and behaved. Q 4: Why does Claudius summon Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? Q 5: What do the ambassadors from Norway report to Claudius? Q 6: Polonius proposes a plan to Claudius that he hopes will uncover the reason for Hamlet’s strange behaviour. What is this plan?

Revision Quiz Q 7: What news does Hamlet hear from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that lifts his spirits? Q 8: Describe Hamlet’s plan “to catch the conscience of the King”. Q 9: Who says each of the following: (a) brevity is the soul of wit (b) Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t (c) The play’s the thing / Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King (d) For it cannot be / But I am pigeon-livered and lack gall / To make oppression bitter