Hamlet- Act II

Scene 1: Polinius and his servant are talking. Polnius wants Reynaldo, his servant, to go to Paris to inquire about his son Laertes. He wants to know what Laerets is doing. He wants Reynaldo to act like he knows of Laertes, but he doesn't know him. He tells Reynalod he can make up stories about how Laertes acts, but he shouldn't make up ones that would ruin his reputation. By seeing other people's reactions, Reynaldo can see if they are true or not in order to find out Laertes actions in an indirect way. Reynaldo is also supposed to physically spy on Laertes. He leaves then, and Ophelia arrives. Ophelia retells a frightening experience she just had with Hamlet. Hamlet had come to Ophelia's sewing room looking disheveled. Polonius wonders if Hamlet had gone crazy over his love for Ophelia. Ophelia says that Hamlet had grabbed her wrist, and then looked at her like someone about to paint her portrait. He then just left. Polonius instructs her to come with him in order to tell the King. Ophelia remarks about how she had sent Hamlet's letters back, and Polonius says that must be the reason why he was mad.

Scene 2: Claudius and then Gertrude want Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet to see why he has gone crazy. He says he wants them to spy in order to try to fix the problem. They then exit, and Polonius enters. Polonius tells him that the ambassadors are back. Also, he tells Claudius that he too thinks Hamlet has gone crazy because of his love for Ophelia. The ambassadors then come and say that the King of Norway has stopped his nephew's plans by arresting Fortinbras. The King of Norway was happy, and then declared he would never attack Denmarks, and he would let his nephew attach the Poles if Claudius would allow them to cross over Denmark's land . Claudius says he will think about it and thanks them. Polonius then reads a letter written to Ophelia where Hamlet declares his love for her. Gertrude agrees that Hamlet's love for Ophelia could be why he has gone crazy. Polonius then devises a plan to hid behind tapestries in order to listen to Ophelia and Hamlet to discover if that is the reason he is crazy or not. Hamlet then enters and asks Polonius if he sells fish, which makes Polonius believe that Hamlet has certainly go mad.

Response: In the beginning of the act, you can tell that Polonius is kind of sneaky. He is having someone spy on his son for him. He obviously does not trust him. Polonius' distrust and sneakiness is more evident then later in the act when he devises a plan to spy on Hamlet. In Scene II, Gertrude says " I doubt it is no other but ht main, His father's death, and out o'erhasty marriage" (56-57). This makes you kind of assume that Gertrude is now regretting her quick marriage to Claudius. She may now see her son's point of view and agrees that she should have waited a little bit to marry Claudius. When Hamlet says "whilst this machine is to him, Hamlet" (123-125) in his letter to Ophelia. It makes you think that Hamlet doesn't really plan on being alive for much longer. When Hamlet and Polonius are speaking, Hamlet says, "Let her not walk i'th' sun. Conception is a blessing, but as your daughter may conceive, friends, look to't" (184-185). Hamlet uses language once again like sun which could mean he is telling Polonius to not let Ophelia walk with him, and he is referring to himself once again as a son. When he says conception, it could also mean understanding or pregnancy which could be confusing because others may not know what he is meaning. Hamlet saying that Polonius is a fisherman and asking who he is definitely adds to Polonius' case that he has gone crazy. Some of the things that Hamlet says though seem really thought out, so it kind of makes you think that Hamlet has not really gone crazy and is instead just trying to act like he has.