Hamlet Act Two

Act Two, Scene One

Polonius asks Reynaldo to give Laertes some money and a letter (Reynaldo is going to Paris to check up on Laertes)

Ophelia comes to Polonius and tells him that Hamlet visited her and scared her because:

Grabbed her wrists Pale/messed up clothes He was the perfect image of the “mad lover”

Polonius believes that Hamlet’s lovelorn behaviour is sincere, and that Polonius should report it to Claudius

Scene Two

Claudius and Gertrude employ Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in finding out why Hamlet is acting so crazily

Polonius then enters (he’s a windbag who wants to know it all) and tells C&G that Hamlet is mad with love

Queen Gertrude in line56-57 acknowledges that it’s probably her marriage and Hamlet Sr.’s death

Voltimand brings information brings news that young Fortinbras will not invade Denmark; rather, he is just marching through.

Polonius will spy on Hamlet and Ophelia together HOMEWORK: Finish reading Act 2 scene 2 Focus on lines 297-315 AND lines 552-610 HW check! tomorrow

Polonius has a private conversation with Hamlet and recognizes that Hamlet’s words have meaning beyond what he says

Line 206 “Though this be madness, yet there is method in it.”

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter and Hamlet is happy to see them and throws off his antic disposition for a moment

Hamlet suspiciously asks R&G why they came and finally gets the information that they were sent for by C&G Lines 297-314 IMPORTANT! He speaks of all

the wonderful things that humans can do—and then is despondent because he is not happy with men/women.

Rosencrantz tells Hamlet that the players are coming to court (actors who put on plays for the entertainment of the nobles)

Polonius enters—players enter Hamlet asks for a speech—demonstrates

Hamlet’s patronage of the arts (education) Speech reflects Hamlet’s feelings loss of the

King (Hamlet Sr.) Polonius notices how upset Hamlet is made

by the speech (reference to dead King) Hamlet asks the player to put on the play—

The Murder of Gonzago—Hamlet is going to add some of his own lines to it

“Now I am Alone” soliloquy lines 553-610 Feels alone—happy to be alone Angry with himself Hasn’t got control over the situation Angry that he has not taken action in response

to his father’s murder ACTION: The play will reenact the murder of

Hamlet SR. Hamlet will watch Claudius’ reaction “the play’s the thing

Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king”