Hamlet Act II

1
Hamlet Act II

• Think of the parallels between Laertes and Hamlet
  how Polonius asks Reynaldo to spy on his son,
  while Claudius calls Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
  to spy on Hamlet
• Ophelia is horrified at Hamlets behaviour,
  describing his look as, so piteous in purport/As
  if he had been loosèd out of hell/To speak of
  horrors

2
Hamlet Act II

• The audience know from Act I that Hamlet has
  said he will, put an antic disposition on and
  has warned that, The time is out of joint.
• This signals that the disorder central to a
  Shakespearean tragedy has begun the ghosts
  request at the end of Act I that Hamlet, Revenge
  his foul and most unnatural murder also signals
  that the elements necessary for a revenge tragedy
  are in place.

3
Hamlet Act II

• When Claudius speaks to Rosencrantz and
  Guildenstern, his statement that
• What it should be,
• More than his fathers death, that thus hath
  put him
• So much from thunderstanding of himself,
• I cannot deem of.
• II.ii.7-9
• indicates to the audience that Claudius has seen
  Hamlets suspicion and mistrust. The remedy
  that he suggests, must therefore be suggestive
  is Shakespeare representing Claudius as
  considering murdering the young Hamlet too?

4
Hamlet Act II

• Polonius tells the king and queen that he knows
  the cause of Hamlets madness, but Gertrude feels
  it is just his fathers death and their own
  oerhasty marriage
• Norway has quashed his nephews military
  intentions against Denmark and Fortinbras has
  agreed never to attack Claudius.
• The success of Claudiuss ambassadors does show
  his own success as King is he as good a king as
  Hamlet? In fact, Fortinbras will take command of
  Denmark at the end Claudius has committed a
  terrible crime by killing the king the word
  unnatural used by the ghost indicates this.
  Ironically, Claudius gives Fortinbras permission
  to march across Denmark to attack Poland

5
Hamlet Act II

• Polonius tells Gertrude that her son is mad
  the repetition here emphasises the madness he
  attributes to Hamlet (II.ii. 97-100)
• He reads a letter from Hamlet to Ophelia this
  calls her beautified made beautiful (also
  puns beatified) its rather a peculiar letter
• Polonius tells how he forbade Ophelia to
  encourage Hamlet and that it is this that makes
  Hamlet rave Claudiuss question to Gertrude,
  Do you think tis this? sounds almost desperate
  the audience would realise that this would be
  preferable to Hamlet suspecting murder

6
Hamlet Act II

• Polonius, Gertrude and Claudius come up with a
  plan to eavesdrop on Hamlet and Ophelia
• Hamlets entry immediately afterwards means that
  directors can imply he has overheard this
  conversation managing the entry time allows this
  implication to be clear to the audience.
• The next part can raise laughs the comment that
  Polonius is a fishmonger can be interpreted
  differently see the notes on page 120 of your
  books

7
Hamlet Act II

• The sexual implications of the words Hamlet uses
  would be apparent to the audience Polonius does
  after all seem to regard Ophelia as a commodity
• Hamlets conversation with Polonius does suggest
  madness however, if he is sane, it suggests
  contempt for Ophelias father evident in These
  tedious old fools (II.ii.234)
• Another thing to look out for is Poloniuss
  comment that, Though this be madness, yet there
  is method int
• Hamlets comment, You cannot, sir, take anything
  that I will more willingly part withal except
  my life, except my life, except my life
  (II.ii.230-2) is perhaps indicative of the
  melancholy once more

8
Hamlet Act II

• Hamlets greeting of his old friends plays with
  words strumpet, genitals etc. There are more
  serious ideas played with that only the end of
  the world will bring honesty
• He asks why they have come to this prison
• Note the famous words, there is nothing either
  good or bad, but thinking makes it so. (II.ii.
  265) from this point, the discussion seems to
  become more serious the notes in your edition
  suggest that this is a playing with of ideas

9
Hamlet Act II

• Hamlet again asks why they are there although
  they reply that they are visiting him, he
  persists, asking if they were sent for they
  confess they were.
• Hamlet begins his speech (the one you looked at
  before we began reading the play) though it
  begins with a positive, What a piece of work is
  a man what a wonder is man, it ends with, man
  delights not me this is very reflective of
  Renaissance Literature

10
Hamlet Act II

• Rosencrantz informs Hamlet that there is a group
  of actors on the way this is received
  enthusiastically by Hamlet He that plays the
  king shall be welcome
• In the production you saw, the actors seemed to
  bring life and vivacity to the court there are
  many outsiders that come Horatio, Rosencrantz
  and Guildenstern, consider what they bring
  Hamlet refers to Elsinore as a prison how can
  this be represented? In Stratford, the stage was
  surrounded by grey walls did this represent a
  prison?

11
Hamlet Act II

• The discussion that follows is very relevant to
  actors, playwrights and theatres your edition
  suggests that it has no relevance to the plot of
  Hamlet however, Hamlet comments on the fact that
  his uncle is on the throne and seems to imply
  that this causes problems for players
• Hamlet warns his friends he is only, mad
  north-north-west

12
Hamlet Act II

• The main actor recites a poem Hamlets
  favourite from The Trojan War this importantly
  focuses on Hecuba she grieved after the killing
  of her husband
• Hamlet asks them to play The Murder of Gonzago
  and offers to supply an extra speech
• Hamlets 2nd major soliloquy here he wonders
  how the actor can carry out intent, while he,
  with reason for revenge, cannot. He feels
  ashamed, but also doubts the ghosts
  information/intentions. He will test Claudius
  through the play, representing his fathers
  death The plays the thing /Wherein Ill catch
  the conscience of the King this will confirm
  the ghosts story or not