Hamlet Act 2 Scenes 1-2

Act 2 begins with a conversation between Polonius and Reynaldo, Polonius's servant. Polonius asks that Reynaldo spy on Laertes by asking Laertes' friends casual and innocent questions that could reveal more about him. Ophelia enters as Reynaldo exists, and she explains to her father what has been going on between her and Hamlet. She explains that she took her father's advice about distancing herself from Hamlet and tells of how disheveled Hamlet looked one night, "As if he had been loosed out of hell To speak of horrors - he comes before me" (2.81-82). Polonius replies that the reason why Hamlet has been acting differently is because of his love sickness for Ophelia. This theory will become clearer in the next few scenes of the play.

The second scene of act 2 takes place in The Great Hall of Elsinore Castle. Because they are worried about Hamlet and do not know why he is still gloomy, Claudius and Gertrude hope that Hamlet's friends from school, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, can cheer him up. Polonius then enters and states that Hamlet is crazy with love for Ophelia. After more discussion about Hamlet and their plan to prove Polonius's theory, Gertrude and Claudius exit leaving Polonius and Hamlet alone.

Polonius tries to make conversation with Hamlet, but Hamlet's responses make is look more insane. However, some of Hamlet's "insane" responses have really a deeper and harsh meaning behind them (such as calling him a fishmonger).

Then Hamlet's friends enter, and Hamlet is pleased to see them. They converse but then Hamlet asks why they have come to see him - were they ordered, or did they come on their own? - but he knows that Claudius and his mother sent them. Hamlet confesses to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that he lost has lost his sense of fun and interest in things, and he feels like the world feels sterile and worthless. He tells his friends they are welcome to stay and that his “uncle-father and aunt-mother” do not know what is really going on.

Polonius enters again announcing the arrival of the actors. Hamlet greets them and asks one to recite lines from a play. He is impressed and requests that they preform “The Murder of Gonzago” the next night (with a few new lines written by Hamlet).

Hamlet is now alone and thinking about how well the actor was able to show such emotion to something he had not connection with. He is frustrated that he shows no more emotion about his father’s death. He knows that he was asked to seek revenge by a ghost. In his soliloquy, he says he knows that if people are guilty to a crime, and are watching a scene that mimics the crime they have committed, then they would confess out loud. The new lines that he will write to be performed in the play will resemble his uncle murdering his father. Hamlet will be watching to see how Claudius reacts to the play.

 In class, I think it would be beneficial to analyze the interaction and conversation between Polonius & Ophelia and Hamlet & Polonius, and Hamlet’s soliloquy.