Hamlet

Act 2

Act II Scene i

• Characterization of Polonius – “'And in part him; but' you may say 'not well:

But, if't be he I mean, he's very wild;Addicted so and so:' and there put on himWhat forgeries you please; marry, none so rankAs may dishonour him; take heed of that;But, sir, such wanton, wild and usual slipsAs are companions noted and most knownTo youth and liberty” (17-24).

Act II Scene i

• Characterization of Polonius– Wants Reynaldo to spy on Laertes– Say he’s wild but nothing to dishonor him

• Not sex crazy

– Long-winded • Controlling and demanding • In everyone’s business

– Spying – Comical

Act II sc i• Hamlet’s “madness:

– “My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced;No hat upon his head; his stockings foul'd,Ungarter'd, and down-gyved to his ancle;Pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each other;And with a look so piteous in purportAs if he had been loosed out of hellTo speak of horrors,--he comes before me” (76-83).

– Ophelia very concerned– Did not look like himself, looked crazy

Act II Scene i• Hamlet’s “madness”

– “He took me by the wrist and held me hard;Then goes he to the length of all his arm;And, with his other hand thus o'er his brow,He falls to such perusal of my faceAs he would draw it. Long stay'd he so;At last, a little shaking of mine armAnd thrice his head thus waving up and down,He raised a sigh so piteous and profoundAs it did seem to shatter all his bulkAnd end his being: that done, he lets me go:And, with his head over his shoulder turn'd,He seem'd to find his way without his eyes;For out o' doors he went without their helps,And, to the last, bended their light on me” (86-99).

• Strange actions and behaviors• Insanity?• Because of her betrayal?• Theme of acting • Because of love? Death of his father? The marriage?• Part of a plan?

Act II Scene i• Hamlet’s “madness”

– “That hath made him mad.I am sorry that with better heed and judgmentI had not quoted him: I fear'd he did but trifle,And meant to wreck thee; but, beshrew my jealousy!By heaven, it is as proper to our ageTo cast beyond ourselves in our opinionsAs it is common for the younger sortTo lack discretion” (109-116).

– Polonius feels it is his fault– Because of unrequited love– He’s old and doesn’t understand the young

Act II Scene ii• Claudius’s suspicions

– “Something have you heardOf Hamlet's transformation; so call it,Sith nor the exterior nor the inward manResembles that it was. What it should be,More than his father's death, that thus hath put himSo much from the understanding of himself,I cannot dream of:” (4-10).

• Why Hamlet seems sad• Because of his father’s death but worried?• Childhood friends, he’ll confide in you• How can we “remedy” the situation

– Spying – Irony- only for his own good

Act II Scene ii• Norway

– “His nephew's levies; which to him appear'dTo be a preparation 'gainst the Polack;But, better look'd into, he truly foundIt was against your highness: whereat grieved,That so his sickness, age and impotenceWas falsely borne in hand, sends out arrestsOn Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys;Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fineMakes vow before his uncle never moreTo give the assay of arms against your majesty” (63-71).

• Planning on attacking us• Told nephew he can’t attack

– will not attack, receive money and safe passage through Denmark to attack Poland

Act II Scene ii

• Polonius’ plan– Arrange for Ophelia to meet and talk with

Hamlet and we will listen in• “At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him:

Be you and I behind an arras then;Mark the encounter: if he love her notAnd be not from his reason fall'n thereon,Let me be no assistant for a state,But keep a farm and carters” (162-167)

– Spying

Act II Scene ii

• Polonius and Hamlet– “You are a fishmonger” (174).

• Insults Polonius • Seller of fish?• Procurer?

– Hamlet insults Ophelia– Implies she is a whore

• “Let her not walk i' the sun: conception is ablessing: but not as your daughter may conceive.Friend, look to 't” (184-185).

Hamlet and Polonius

• First Encounter– “For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog,

being a good kissing carrion—Have you a daughter?...Let her not walk i’ th’sun. Conception is a blessing, but, as your daughter may conceive, friend, look to ‘t.” (II.ii.197-199, 201-203)

Hamlet and Polonius

• Pregnancy Imagery– Closely related to decay and death imagery

• Symbolic of Hamlet’s view of humanity?» “something rotten in the state of

Denmark”

– Mocking Polonius?• Insight into Hamlet and Ophelia’s

relationship?– Sexual relationship?

Act II Scene ii• Hamlet and Polonius

• Polonius implies that Hamlet is truly mad – There are many meanings to his replies

• Ramblings or a mad man?

– Meet with Ophelia to see for sure• “How pregnant sometimes his replies are! a happiness

that often madness hits on, which reason and sanitycould not so prosperously be delivered of. I willleave him, and suddenly contrive the means ofmeeting between him and my daughter.--My honourablelord, I will most humbly take my leave of you” (207-213).

Act II Scene ii

• Hamlet and G&R– They try and find out what is wrong– Hamlet is privy to their questions

• “Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but Ithank you: and sure, dear friends, my thanks aretoo dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is ityour own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come,deal justly with me: come, come; nay, speak” (242-246).

Act II Scene ii• Hamlet a G&R

– Hamlet explains he is upset b/c he has lost all faith in humanity

“I have of late--butwherefore I know not--lost all my mirth, forgone allcustom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavilywith my disposition that this goodly frame, theearth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this mostexcellent canopy, the air, look you, this braveo'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof frettedwith golden fire, why, it appears no other thing tome than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason!how infinite in faculty! in form and moving howexpress and admirable! in action how like an angel!in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of theworld! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me,what is this quintessence of dust? man delights notme: no, nor woman neither, though by your smilingyou seem to say so” (265-280).

• G & R indicate that actors are coming to perform a play & that should cheer up Hamlet

• Actors & Hamlet discuss a story from Greek mythology- allusion– Aeneas’ Tale– Priam, King of Troy (Trojan Horse), was killed

by Phyrrus seeking revenge for the death of his father, Achilles.

– Hecuba was Priam’s wife: mourned & vowed revenge

– Reminiscent of Hamlet’s situation– Indicates her sorrow with his death (Gertrude)

Act II Scene ii

Act II Scene ii

• Hamlet and G&R

• Hamlet talks to the players & asks if he can add a few lines to their play– “Dost thou hear me, old friend; can you play the

Murder of Gonzago?” (477).

– “We'll ha't to-morrow night. You could, for a need,study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines, whichI would set down and insert in't, could you not?” (479-480).