Hamlet

1. Hamlet Act Two

2. Scene One • Polonius is sending a servant, Reynaldo, to check up on Laertes in Paris • Polonius wants Reynaldo to hint that Laertes is doing bad thing so that strangers will feel comfortable telling Reynaldo the truth about Laertes’s behavior

3. Scene One Continued • Ophelia tells Polonius that Hamlet has just scared her with crazy behavior • Hamlet came into her room with his clothes in a mess and he looked sick and pale • He held on to Ophelia’s wrists, shook them, sighed and left without saying a word • Polonius believes this means Hamlet is crazy with love for Ophelia

4. Scene One Continued • Before this event, Ophelia sent back Hamlet’s letters and told him she could not see him again • Polonius believes Hamlet is lovesick and they must tell the king about his behavior

5. Scene Two • Claudius brings in Hamlet’s friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to discuss Hamlet’s erratic behavior • Claudius believes the cause of this behavior is King Hamlet’s death, but he wants to be sure there is nothing else bothering Hamlet • Gertrude believes the reason for Hamlet’s behavior is obviously his father’s death and her quick marriage to Claudius

6. Scene Two Continued • Polonius enters with the ambassadors from Norway • Fortinbras’s uncle believed that his nephew was preparing to attack Poland, but ordered his arrest when he found out Fortinbras was really planning to attack Denmark • Fortinbras apologized to his uncle and in return his uncle gave him money and permission to attack Poland • Fortinbras needs to pass through Demark to get to Poland and he is asking Claudius’s permission and is promising to pass through peacefully

7. Scene Two Continued • Polonius tells the king and queen about Hamlet being love crazy • He shows them a letter he claims was written by Hamlet professing his love to Ophelia • They plan to see for themselves if Hamlet’s crazy behavior is a result of his unrequited love for Ophelia

8. Scene Two Continued • Hamlet calls Polonius a “fish monger” which means a pimp but Polonius doesn’t understand that Hamlet is making fun of him • Polonius believes that Hamlet is rambling because he is crazy and he believes there is meaning in everything he is saying

9. Scene Two Continued • Hamlet meets up with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and tells them, “Denmark’s a prison” • Hamlet questions why R and G are there and he quickly guesses that the king and queen sent for them because he has lost interest in everything that used to interest him • R and G admit to being sent for and inform Hamlet that his favorite company of actors is on their way to the castle

10. Scene Two Continued • Adult actors are now out of fashion in the city • People want to see child actors instead • Hamlet makes a connection between this change in the theater and the recent change in kings

11. Scene Two Continued • Hamlet makes fun of Polonius by pretending to be crazy • Hamlet compares Polonius to Jephthah who accidently sacrificed his daughter • Hamlet references a Greek drama in which a character seeks to avenge his father • The speech given by the actor is about the destruction and despair revenge causes everyone involved but Hamlet does not seem to notice

12. Scene Two Continued • Hamlet asks the actors to perform for the castle • He will write a part that describes his father’s possible murder and watch Claudius • Hamlet feels terrible that an actor can cry and feel real emotion over something fake when he has been acting like a coward • “The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king”