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Hamlet Act II
25
Scene I
How We Learned
We both were responsible for reading separately. We then went over it together in hopes to clear up some detail. Websites such as shakespeare-navigators.com were really helpful for in depth summaries in modern language.
In this opening scene of Act II we have Lord Polonius speaking with Reynaldo about going to Paris to spy on his son, Laertes. Through this exchange we get our first look at Polonius' behaviors. He is extremely concerned about reputation, over-talkative, and a bit nosy.
One resource that really helped us put our reading into context was YouTube.
Next, Ophelia enters and explains to her father very dramatically that Hamlet had come to see her and exhibited strange behavior that Polonius is convinced is the product of being completely lovesick for his daughter.
What We learned
Hamlet Act II
by Serena & Jenna
To start, a general summary of the Act...
Scene II
Hamlet then speaks with Polonius and mocks him without Polonius being aware of it because he just writes it off as madness.
The King tells two of Hamlet's friends to keep a close eye on him and inspire him to break out of his melancholy mood. Polonius goes to Queen Gertrude and King Claudius with the intention to inform them of his findings. He tells them that the reason Hamlet has been acting completely mad is because he is in love with Ophelia. Polonius suggests a plan for spying on Hamlet and Ophelia together which the King agrees
to.
Hamlet has a conversation with his two "friends" Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in which he discovers they were sent as spies by the King to figure out what was wrong with Hamlet and they try to get information from him which angers Hamlet.
The Act comes to a close as Hamlet speaks with actors or "players" that have come to town to life his spirits. Hamlet tells one of them which play he wants which is one that goes with Hamlet's current situation. He is berating himself about the time that has elapsed since he swore revenge and works himself up to a point where he actually seems crazy because he feels as if it means he didn't love his father enough.