Hamlet by William Shakespeare Act II Hamlet Act

Hamlet by William Shakespeare Act II

Hamlet – Act II l Scene One: l Polonius sends a servant to spy on his son. l Ophelia tells Polonius that Hamlet is behaving strangely. l Polonius assumes that he is mad because he cannot have Ophelia. l Polonius admits that he misjudged Hamlet’s intentions.

Hamlet – Act II l Scene two: l Claudius and Gertrude have sent Hamlet’s friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to spy on Hamlet. l Polonius arrives and after conducting some business, tells Claudius and Gertrude that Hamlet has gone mad because Polonius forbade Ophelia to see Hamlet. l Polonius tells Claudius that they should set Hamlet up by having Ophelia run into him.

Hamlet – Act II l Scene two continued: l Once set up, Hamlet arrives, engrossed in a book. l Polonius sends Claudius and Gertrude away, so that he can speak to Hamlet l Polonius is convinced, by Hamlet’s encrypted answers, that Hamlet has gone mad (crazy). l Rosencrantz and Guildenstern appear, and Hamlet quickly ascertains that they are spies for Claudius.

Hamlet – Act II l Scene two continued: Hamlet tells them that he is wise to their plan, and they admit guilt. l Hamlet tells them how depressed and disappointed he is. l A group of actors appear, and Hamlet welcomes them, telling them about a scene he once saw them perform. l He asks the players to perform “The Murder of Gonzago” (which he renames “The Mousetrap”). l

Hamlet – Act II l Scene l The two continued: play is scheduled for the following night, and Hamlet adds that he will write a few lines to be performed within the play. l In a soliloquy, Hamlet chides himself for not avenging his father’s murder more quickly. l He decides that he will test Claudius’s guilt by his reaction to the murder scene, and then he will take action.