Portugal, Nicholas

AP English Literature & Composition B8

May 14, 2014
Hamlet Study Guide: Analyzing Act II

Identifying Facts

1) Who is Reynaldo, and what is his job?

A: Reynaldo is the servant of Polonius, and he is sent to Paris to question Laertess acquaintances,
regarding what Laertes is like while away from Denmark. Reynaldo must ask around generally, as in
learning of rumors, not including specific details regarding any sort of close connection with Laertes,
which may tarnish his reputation among his peers.

2) Examine the line: Your bait of falsehood take this carp of truth (II, i, 70). Who is fishing? For what?
What kind of bait is being used?

A: In this part, Polonius is telling Reynaldo to carefully pick his questions, and use roundabout speech to
gather information regarding Laertess whereabouts. Its ironic since Polonius is basically advising
Reynaldo to lie in order to find out the truth, rather than the other way around, hence the term bait of
falsehood, because otherwise people will question him and he runs a chance of not fishing for the
information he has been dispatched to uncover, much how in fishing, a fisher has to use deceptive
practices in order to lure in the fish, or juicy facts.

3) How is Ophelias report to her father concerning Hamlets behavior evidence of his antic
disposition?

A: When Ophelia tells her story to Polonius, he reacts by saying, This is the very ecstasy of love. This
means that according to the actions described by Ophelia to him, it is apparent that Hamlet is madly in
love with Ophelia, almost desperate to an extent, And leads the will to desperate undertakings. In terms
of the phrase antic disposition, it signifies a ludicrously odd mood or attitude, which Hamlet
exemplifies with his appearance in the last part of Ophelias report. When she tells him that she denied his
access to her, and that she sent back his letters, Polonius explains that is the reason why he acted in the
crazy manner he did. He maintains his interpretation, and tells Claudius and Gertrude in the next scene
that this is why Hamlet is experiencing declension.

4) Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? How is Claudiuss speech to them like Poloniuss speech to
Reynaldo?

A: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two childhood friends of Hamlet, who were sent by Claudius and
Gertrude to spy on him, similar to how Polonius asked Reynaldo to spy on Laertes. Claudius is essentially
telling Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to go around the bush with their intentions and ask Hamlet to have
fun with them, while in this manner, they might be able to find out if theres something in particular
that is disturbing him, and it they could potentially fix it. Another aspect that makes Claudiuss speech to
them like that of Polonius is the fact that he commands Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to execute their
desires, while Polonius also does the same to Reynaldo, rather than asking them politely.

5) How is the attitude of the uncle to Fortinbras like that of Claudius to Hamlet?

A: The uncles attitude to Fortinbras could be characterized as being similar to that of Claudius to Hamlet,
because Fortinbras also wishes to avenge his fathers death by invasion of Denmark, hence Marcelluss
previous statement, Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Since both Claudius and Fortinbrass
uncle dont want this to happen, Claudius decides to pursue Fortinbrass revenge by murdering King
Hamlet.

6) How has Ophelia betrayed Hamlets trust in the matter of his letters?

A: Ophelia has betrayed Hamlets trust by opening Hamlets letters that he sent to her, and perusing them,
but letting other people read them, including her father Polonius, King Claudius, and the Queen, which
not only dishonors Hamlets reputation, but also makes him appear weak and desperate. She further
betrays Hamlet by not responding to any of his letters, as she is being obedient to what her family
admonished in the previous act. Ophelia appears to be quite docile and submissive, only adhering to her
fathers and brothers wishes rather than realizing that her happiness is also important, as evidenced by
this quote, This, in obedience, hath my daughter shown me, and more [above], hath his solicitings, as
they fell out by time, by means, and place, all given to mine ear.

7) What trap does Polonius set to get Hamlet to reveal what may be on the young mans mind? How does
Hamlet play it? Is he wise to the trick?

A: Polonius schemes to try and understand what might be going on in Hamlets mind by taking advantage
of Hamlets seemingly aimless yet routine strolls around Elsinore, making Ophelia meet with him at an
opportune moment, as to observe how Hamlet acts around her. Their conversation would be eavesdropped
by Polonius and Claudius, as they hide themselves behind an arras, which is a hanging wall-tapestry. He
believes that if in what Ophelia told him was true, that Hamlet submitted himself to her completely
wasted and slovenly simply due his insensitivity of realizing her rejection of him, that he could easily
succumb to his sly hoax, however this is not the case. During the meeting between Polonius and Hamlet,
Hamlet finishes by saying, You cannot, [sir], take from me anything that I will more willingly part
withalexcept my life, except my life, except my life, which signifies that Hamlet probably knows what
Polonius is up to, and while Polonius talks to him using very roundabout speech, Hamlet does the same,
purposely mistaking him for a fishmonger and referencing ideas from the book he was reading. This
quote might also seem to suggest Hamlets wise play to Poloniuss trick: Slanders, sir; for the satirical
rogue says here that old men have gray beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging thick
amber and plum-tree gum, and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams
Right after he admits in an aside These tedious old fools.

8) What is the source of the transformation of Hamlet according to (a) Polonius, (b) Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern, and (c) Gertrude?

A. Polonius: That hath made him mad. I am sorry that with better heed and judgment I had not coted
him. I feared he did but trifle and meant to wrack thee. Essentially, he believes that the reason why
Hamlet is so changed is due to Ophelias rejection of him.
B. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Hamlet tells them, I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all
my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises, and indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition that this
goodly frame, the Earth, seems to me a sterile promontory He is openly telling them that he has
lost his senses, that the earth is filled with emptiness and filled with corruption and a pestilent
congregation of vapors in the air.
C. Gertrude: I doubt it is no other but the mainHis fathers death and our [oerhasty] marriage.
Gertrude highly doubts any other explanations other than the main reason as to why Hamlet is
rackling his brains and undergoing such changes, that it has to do with his fathers death and her
incestuous marriage to Claudius. However, after Polonius describes his reasons and reads the letter
Hamlet sent to Ophelia, she believes another reason why Hamlet is so changed has to do with his
rejection.

9) How does Hamlet compare himself to the actor he has auditioned? How does he propose to use the
visiting actors in his conflict with Claudius?

A: During his final soliloquy of Act II, Hamlet says, Is it not monstrous that this player here, but in a
fiction, in a dream of passion, could force his soul so to his own conceit that from her working all [his]
visage wanned, tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect, a broken voice, and his whole function suiting
with forms to his conceitand all for nothing! For Hecuba! While the player could express such passion
and emotion with his speeches for a fictional character, Hamlet could not express nearly the same for a
king upon whose property and most dear life a damned defeat was made Next, Hamlet proposes to use
the visiting actors to reenact the murder of King Hamlet by Claudius, as to make him guilty for
committing such a horrific sin. This is supported by this quote by Hamlet in the last part of his soliloquy,
For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak with most miraculous organ. Ill have these players
play something like the murder of my father before mine uncle. Ill observe his looks; Ill tent him to the
quick.

Interpreting Meanings

10) What does the Queen know, and when does she know it?

A: Queen Gertrude realizes that what troubles Hamlet so grievously is attributed primarily to his fathers
tragic death and his aunts posthaste marriage with Claudius. She knew this ever since Act I, but later in
Act II, Gertrude believes that a possible reason for change in Hamlets behavior is due to the love he
possesses for Ophelia, that Ophelia has rejected him, simply based on what Polonius explained to her and
Claudius.

11) Cite three evidences of Hamlets sense of humor in his exchanges with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
In each instance, whats the joke?

1. Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of her favors? Basically, if Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern are not at the top of Fortunes cap, nor at the soles of her shoes, then they must be
right in the middle at her waist, or a clever way to say Im feeling so-so.
2. O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I
have bad dreams. Hamlet says that he could live in a walnut shell and feel like the king of the
universe, although the only aspect restraining him is his bad dreams.
3. Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs and outstretched heroes the beggars shadows? Shall
we to th court? For, by my fay, I cannot reason. Hamlet is purposely revering beggars as actual,
moral human beings, while everyone else of class is fake and as shadows of beggars. Its ironic
since he says previously that man has less worth than dust, and Rosencrantz laughed at that statement.
12) If Hamlet is acting as one distracted and confused in the scene Ophelia reports to Polonius, why is he
doing this, if he loves her?

A: This relates to Poloniuss comment during that particular scene, This is the very ecstasy of love,
whose violent property fordoes itself and leads the will to desperate undertakings as oft as any passions
under heaven that does afflict our natures. It is possible that while Hamlet was then currently feeling
distraught and angry about his fathers unjustified death and her mothers marriage to Claudius, Ophelias
rejection of him was superfluous, and he hoped to show his true colors this way, that she might accept
him for who he is and all of his problems rather than appear to harbor all of his wrath within and
experience quiet grief.

13) By the close of Act II, we have several fishing parties organized (see question 2, above): by
Claudius, Polonius, and Hamlet himself. Who is being used by each man to fish for information or truth
under the surface of things?

1. Polonius & Reynaldo: Polonius is using Reynaldo to fish out information regarding Laertes and his
whereabouts and relationships in France.
2. Claudius & Rosencrantz/Guildenstern: Claudius requests Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to fish out the
thoughts, emotions, and feelings that Hamlet is currently experiencing, as to develop a reasonable
explanation as to why he is so changed.
3. Hamlet & Drama Company: Hamlet uses the visiting actors of the drama company to portray a
similar murder scene to that of King Hamlet, and fish for Claudiuss reaction to it, as to affirm the
secret that it was him who killed his father.

14) How do these actions relate to the idea of life as theater? Which characters are not involved in the
make-believe? Which are wearing masks of one kind or another? What kind of act are they putting on?

A: Overall, these actions relate to life as a theater because just like in a play, as experienced actors can
depict accurate emotions and feelings of the characters they play, in real life, all of these same emotions
can be depicted, yet theres always a deeper meaning behind them, and sometimes when people put a
front to their true feelings or actions, it can be compared to wearing a mask in a theatrical production.
Characters that would not be involved in the make-belief include Ophelia and Gertrude. Ophelia is being
completely honest through all of her actions, though her statements throughout the play dont seem to
develop enough emotion from her perspective. On the other hand, while Gertrude commits incestuous
actions, she isnt involved in the make-belief, as she doesnt have awareness of the dramatic irony that the
audience is aware of, such as only observing the mere surface of events concerning Hamlet (e.g. her use
of the word seems in Act I, and her assumption in Act II that the only thing that could be bothering
Hamlet regards his fathers death and her posthaste marriage to Claudius). Furthermore, the character that
is wearing a certain mask includes Claudius. Claudius acts with two personalities; one of a beneficent
king, and the second of a murderer. While from the outside, Claudius only appears to be the successor of
the king and that his ascension to the kingship was due to political manipulation, he actually is only a
murderer on the inside trying to use Queen Gertrude to legitimize his position as king, and this only
occurred due to Claudiuss killing of King Hamlet with poison.