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ACT 2
SCENE 1
- Polonius commands Reynaldo to spy on his son
- Polonius gives instructions for Reynaldo to say false information about Laertes so people can either disagree with him and tell him the truth or agree with him to confirm his statement
- Polonius wants Reynaldo to appear innocent but in reality he is lying to get the truth from others
- Shows how he is an manipulative father
- Polonius gives instructions for Reynaldo to say false information about Laertes so people can either disagree with him and tell him the truth or agree with him to confirm his statement
- When Ophelia enters crying to his father, she explains that Hamlet is mad and is not himself
- The audience does not know whether or not he is really mad or appearing to be mad
SCENE 2
- Rosencrantz and Guilderstern are summon by Claudius because he wants them to spy on Hamlet to figure out why is mad
- Rosencrantz and Guilderstern does not realize that everyone is trying to manipulate them
- Rosencrantz and Guilderstern think that everyone is concerned about Hamlet but they fail to realize that they are just using them
- Q: "I doubt it is no other but the main:/ His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage" - Gertrude
- Voltemand announces that Fortinbras will not attack Denmark and look for honour by attacking the Poles instead
- Audience questions whether he will keep his promise or break it. Is he really being nice or appearing to be nice?
- Q: "At such a time I'll lose my daughter to him" - Polonius
- When Hamlet is talking to Polonius, Polonius believes that "though this be madness, yet there is/ method in't" (II, ii, 2O4-2O5).
- Hamlet is only pretending to be mad but in reality he is just mocking Polonius
- Polonius misinterpret Hamlet's intention and believes he is truly mad
- Q: "Nay then, I have an eye of you: if you love/ me hold not off" - Hamlet
- Hamlet becomes energized when he finds out that the players are preforming
- In this play, Hamlet experiences reality through the play and the players
- He finds himself happier in a play than in reality where everything is corrupted and evil
- Though Hamlet is obsessed by finding out the truth, it is surprising that he is in love with acting (since everything is just an act and is not reality)
- In Hamlet's soliloquy, he expresses his concern that the ghost may be evil and is just using him since he is weak
- He is confused between the ghost's appearance and intent
- Before he thought he was good but now he is doubting himself that the ghost might be evil
- "The spirit that I have seen/ May be the devil" (II, ii, 596-597)
So much happened in this scene! There's some thing I would like to point out:
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