Hamlet
Act II Questions
1. In 2.1. Ophelia is greatly concerned over Hamlet's behavior. What evidence does he give that something is wrong? What are the possible explanations given by Polonius in 2.1 and 2.2? Do you agree with his reasoning?
2. Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and what are they doing at court? How are we supposed to feel about them?
3. One of the play's major themes, illusion versus reality, begins to take center stage in Act 2. Where do you find evidence of this theme being explored? What possible messeges could Shakespeare be trying to convey?
4. Take another look at Polonius. Is he the same man you thought initially? What evidence is there that he's not the man we were led to believe in Act 1.
5. When the players arrive, at Hamlet's request they reinact a selection from Aeneas and Dido. Why this play? How does it echo Hamlet's main storyline.
posted by dconlay @ 11:35 AM
26 comments
26 Comments:
Taylor Brown
1. Ophelia describes Hamlet as being crazy and wild-eyed. Polinius believes that he is mad because he is deeply in love with Ophelia and he has not been able to see her since Polinius told Ophelia to stop talking to him.
2. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are old friends of Hamlet and they are there because the king and queen have sent for them to try and cheer him up. They kind of seem shady because they are there trying to uncover why Hamlet is so messed up right now.
3. Hamlet is told by the kings spirit that he was murdered by his brother so now in Act 2 Hamlet is very suspicious of his uncle and he is also acting very strangely. But, we as the reader still do not know if the kings spirit is even real which still makes it an illusion.
4. No, before I thought he was just hard on his children but now he seems kind of shady. Since he is hiring someone to spy on his son when he leaves for France.
5. Hamlet chooses this play because it’s a lot like what Hamlet believes his uncle did to his father so he wants to try and test his uncle to see if he is guilty or not.
1. Hamlet walks in to Ophelia’s room dressed in a bad way. His clothes were dirty. “ Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced ; no hat upon his head ; his stockings fouled (82).” Polonius thinks that maybe it is because Ophelia has cut off all communications with Hamlet. I do not agree. I think it is because of his father and not Ophelia. I do not think he puts Ophelia above his concerns for his dead father.
2.Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two courtiers and former friends of Hamlet. They have been summoned by Claudius and Gertrude to fins out the cause of Hamlet’s strange behavior. We are supposed to fell warm towards them. They do not seem to bring ill will to Hamlet.
3.When Hamlet believes that Ophelia’s father is a mere fisherman it is an example of illusion and reality. He does not seem to know what is real and what is fantasy. Shakespear is trying to say that people can not see past their noses. That people see and believe what they want and not what evidence suggests.
4.He is not the man I though initially. I thought he was mean and only cares about himself. He may still be that, but now he seems more human. The fact that now he wants to put Ophelia with Hamlet is evidence that he is not the man we were let to believe. Now he sees how much they care for each other and want them together.
5.He request that play because it resembles what happened to his father. He wants to see if Claudius will confess the murder after watching it.
evelez-sanchez p.3
Act II Questions
1. The evidence that Hamlet gives that something is wrong with him, is that he is crazy in love with Ophelia. “My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced, no hat upon his head, his stockings fouled, ungart’red, and down-gyved to his ankle; pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other, and with a look so piteous in purport as if he had been loosed out of hell to speak of horrors-he comes before me” (37). This quote reflects how Hamlet is behaving, by going into the room of Ophelia and scaring her a bit. I really don’t agree with the explanations that Polonius gives about Hamlet’s behavior, because right at the beginning of the play, he did not like Hamlet and restricted Ophelia to see him. I believe he is just using Hamlet’s behavior as an excuse.
2. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two of Hamlet’s friends from Wittenberg. Since Claudius was a bit concerned about the irregular change that Hamlet has been showing, the king and the queen have summoned his friends to Elsinore in the hope that they might cheer up Hamlet or even discover what is wrong with him.
3. The major theme, illusion versus reality, begins in the following quote: “Ham- Into my grave? Pol- Indeed, that is out o’ the air. [Aside] How pregnant sometimes his replies are! A happiness that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. I will leave him and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between him and my daughter” (47). In other words, this quote shows how Hamlet is crazy for Ophelia and through his talk with Polonius, he was sort of talking nonsense. The possible message that Shakespeare is trying to convey is that he wants us to see how he is fooling all of the people from the castle and he is planning the murder of his uncle Claudius.
4. No, I think that he is a bit overprotective with his daughter because he is afraid of the love that Hamlet feels and shows for Ophelia. Furthermore, he talks to the king and the queen about Hamlet and how he is behaving. “I have a daughter who in her duty and obedience, mark, hath given me this. Now gather, and surmise. Queen- Came this from Hamlet to her?”(43). In other words, this quote shows how Polonius is making Ophelia read the letter that Hamlet has given to her, to read to the queen and king. This shows that he Polonius has respect for Hamlet but does not trust him a lot.
5. Hamlet decides to use that unique play because is portrays the fact that he will be killing King Claudius. Also, in the play, he inserted some of his own words. This play is a great example of foreshadowing because it shows that he is set to kill the king with his bare hands.
1.) The evidence which Hamlet gives to show that something is wrong is seen in his interactions with Ophelia. He holds her face and wrist and sighs at her, but does not speak. Polonius suggests that the reason he has done this is because he is madly in love with her and since she has avoided him he has furthered in his madness. I disagree with Polonius' reasoning because it was obvious that Hamlet was already metally unstable before he had his daughter avoid Hamlet.
2.) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two old friends of Hamlet who have visited Hamlet because they were called to court by the King and Queen who hope that they can help Hamlet come back to his senses. They seem to be completely alike, so much so that it's hard to know which is which, and they evoke a common feeling with a reader/listener as they are essentially normal people caught up in a royal phenomenon.
3.) The theme of illusion versus reality begins to play out in Act two as Hamlet gives an illusion that he is mad while he is actually quite thoughtful, though quite confused. Shakespear seems to be trying to convey that people cannot be absolutely certain of what they think. Hamlet is not certain that his uncle has murdered his father, Polonius cannot be certain (nor is he correct) that Hamlet is madly in love.
4.) Polonius, in Act II appears different from the protrayal of him given in Act I. Polonius seems much more calculating than he did before. This is seen in his dispatch of his servant Reynaldo to spy on his sons personal life, and in his treatment of Hamlet. He desires to set up a meeting which would prove if Hamlet is madly in love. Also, he seems to understand that there is some vague meaning in Hamlet's words.
5.) Hamlet chose this play because it echo's his own situation, he is considering murdering his uncle who is the current king. Of course, in the play cited, the king and queen are murdered as well.
J-Aranda Per.3
1. The evidence that Hamlet gives to show that something is wrong is by the way he is expresses himself towards Ophelia. He comes into her room dressed in an inappropriate way, not like the prince he is. “Ophelia-Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,/And with a look so piteous in purport,/As if he had been loosed out of hell/To speak of horrors-he comes before me.” (Scene 1: Lines 81-84) Hamlet seems to have a deep affection towards Ophelia. Polonius explains to the King and the Queen that Hamlet has gone mad because of love towards Ophelia. I believe that his explanations might seem true but I believe that Hamlet’s behavior is caused by the fact that he is trying to avenge his father’s death.
2. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are friends of Hamlet from Wittenberg. They have been asked from the King and Queen to come over to their court to find out what is wrong with Hamlet. They might be helpful in helping out Hamlet to feel better or discover what is troubling him. We are to feel that they are some sort of spies for the King and Queen. They are not trustworthy friends for Hamlet.
3. The theme of illusions versus reality takes place in Act 2 through the talk that Hamlet has with Polonius and his two friends. With Polonius, Hamlet seems to speak with him in a foolish way, but in reality he is trying to say the truth mysteriously. “Hamlet- Let her not walk i’ th’ sun. Conception is a blessing, but as your daughter may conceive, friend, look to’t.” (Scene 2: Lines 185-187) Hamlet also tries to be in illusion that his friends have come to visit him out of their own will. Yet, he makes them tell him the truth of the reason why they have really come to see him. Shakespeare is trying to convey through this theme that Hamlet is trying to act foolish while he is trying to plan the murder of his uncle.
4. Polonius seems to be the same from the time we first met him. He is still being over protective with his daughter. “Polonius- And then I prescripts gave her,/That she should lock herself from his resort,/Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.” ( Scene 2: Lines 142-144) Yet, he also tries to be friendly with Hamlet. He is friendly towards Hamlet just to find out what is making him go mad.
5. This play is a way to foreshadow the death of the King. Hamlet is trying to portray the death of the King. Hamlet inserted some of his own words to show that this play resembled a plan for him to kill the King.
T. McClanahan
1. When Hamlet comes into Ophelia’s room, he does not speak, but proceeds to hold her arm tightly and examine her, both with his eyes and his hands, perusing her face “as if to draw it” (Act 2, Scene 1), for some time, before leaving, though never taking his eyes from her, even as he walks to the door and opens it. In Act Two, Scene One, Polonius believes that Hamlet is “Mad for thy [Ophelia’s] love” and that is what is causing his strange behavior. “This is the ecstasy of love” he later says, confirming his stance that Hamlet’s madness is caused by his love for Ophelia. He later, in scene two, brings his ideas to the King, who gives Polonius permission to try and see if his perceptions are true. I believe that Hamlet is acting as such to make others believe that his madness is caused by love, though he is feigning the madness altogether.
2. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two of Hamlet’s friends from school, whom the King and Queen have summoned to try and decipher Hamlet’s madness. We’re expected to like them for they genuinely want to help Hamlet, but have been (and will be more in the future) manipulated by the court to do as they please. Their characters are interchangeable, as in Act 2, scene 2, the king says “Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern,” and the queen corrects, “Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz,” and they are often treated as one entity.
3. From Hamlet’s promise to Horatio that he will be feigning madness to keep his motives secret, we know that he is acting in what he does that causes suspicion, and is not truly mad. To the court, he appears mad, but it is an illusion, and their belief that it is really him and not his acting gives Hamlet an advantage in what he plans to do. Also, a troupe of actors arrives, and actors use illusion to create a scene in which one sees characters and events that are not really happening – they are all scripted; such is what Hamlet is doing in his acting, and that is why he embraces the actors so vigorously when they arrive.
4. In the first act, we see Polonius as a lord of the court doing his duty to the crown and as a loving father, giving his son words of advice before departing to France and trying to protect his daughter from a love he feels will not be fruitful. But then, in the first scene of the second act, we see him giving instructions to Reynaldo to spy on his son in France, and even give advice on how to spy on Laertus. He then becomes paranoid about Hamlet and his daughter, thinking Hamlet madly in love with her, so passionately in love that he is going mad and must be stopped. He is much more manipulative that the audience first sees in the first act.
5. He requests this play to try and get a reaction from Claudius as the story mirrors Claudius’ murder of Hamlet, Sr. and the destruction of the life of the king’s wife. Though Hamlet believes that Claudius murdered his father, he doesn’t have proof, and he feels that an emotional reaction from Claudius would be tell-tale proof that he was implicated in the murder of the late Hamlet.
1. The evidence that he gives that something is wrong is when he met his father's ghost. When he comes back, he meet Ophelia. She describes to Polonius of what he saw and encountered with Hamlet. “Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced, no hat upon his head, his stockings fouled... to speak of horrors, he comes before me” (lines 85-92). Hamlet's physical surprises her and also his action that he took against Ophelia, which describes in lines 97 to 110. His appearance and actions tells that he saw something frightening. In act two, scene one, Polonius explains that Hamlet is mad because he thinks in is madly in love with Ophelia, but she won't let him see her because Polonius have commanded her to refuse to contact her (lines 118-131). In scene two, Polonius goes into details describing what must of happen, in is opinion, when Hamlet was not allow to see Ophelia, “That she should lock herself from his resort... and he, repelled – a short tale to make – fell into sadness... and all we mourn for” (lines 149-157). I do not agree with Polonius because I believe that Hamlet has gone something wrong because he saw his father's ghost and that ghost told him secrets about the family and his death. Hamlet is still in a stage of shock from the news he has learned fro his dead father.
2. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are friend's of Hamlet when they he was young. “I entreat you both that, being of so young days brought up with him, and since so neighboured to his youth and behavior...” (lines 10-13). In lines fourteen through eighteen, the king tells them to keep an eye on Hamlet and company him so he does not get worse. We are supposed to feel sympathy for them because they are friends of Hamlet, but they have to follow the king's orders because he is the king who has control over them.
3. In act two, we can see that illusion versus reality is taking place in the play. During the conversation between Hamlet and Polonius, Hamlet is trying to make a plan to have a revenge for his uncle while Polonius assumes that Hamlet has gone mad. The possible messages that Shakespeare might be trying to convey are assumptions and knowledge. People should not assume anything about the other person because he or she may not know well enough to know what the person is thinking. The other one is that people do find out what have happened about the past in some way.
4. When I first met Polonius, I thought he was a father who is trying to protect his daughter. As I read act two of the play, I noticed that he cares for Hamlet more than Ophelia. “I will leave him and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between him and my daughter” (lines 222-223). He is trying to cure Hamlet by using his daughter.
5. Hamlet request Aeneas and Dido because he wants Polonius to realize what happened during the death of Hamlet's father, which is described in lines 464 to 513. The play echo's Hamlet's main storyline because it describes how Hamlet will take revenge on his uncle for killing his father.
imuradian, p3
1. Hamlet provides evidence of some unidentified problem afoot through his questionable actions toward Ophelia. In spite of Hamlet's motioning many gestures and physical contact with his beloved Ophelia, not once does he directly communicate with her. The possible explanation given by Polonius holds that Hamlet is deep within the ocean of love with Ophelia and her negligence of him has only amplified the matter. I agree with Polonius's reasoning in that Hamlet has proved himself thus far to be a compulsary, rather rash figure in times of inner conflict.
2. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Hamlet's friends from long ago. Their presence at the court is due to their summon by the King and Queen for purposes of attempting to bring rationality back to Hamlet. The reader is meant to relate with these two characters due to their humbleness and non-aristocratic nature.
3. Act II is the first demonstration of the theme of illusion versus reality. A particularly instance in which the theme is illustrated is when Hamlet falsely shows himself as insane when in reality he is in full contemplation and thought. Shakespeare is attempting to convey the absurdity of certainty in human thought. This is portrayed through both Hamlet and Polonius, the former unable to unequivocally confirm his father's murderer and the latter far from being certain of Hamlet's extent of passion.
4. In hindsight, Polonius is not the same man I envisioned initially. He takes a dramatic shift in character in Act II as he is given a much more complex, analytical personality. Perhaps the most convincing example of this change in character is seen when he orders Reynado to spy on his son. This is not an action I would have assumed from Polonius in Act I, as he seemed much more lax and consoling. Furthermore, he attaches himself closer to Hamlet and his issues in Act II, which further accentuates his alteration.
5. Hamlet requests that the players reinact a selection from Aeneas and Dido mainly because the foundation of this play is very similar to the plot brewing in his own mind. In Aeneas and Dido, the king and queen are killed for vengeance. Similarly, Hamlet is devising a plan to murder his uncle, for he believes it was he who murdered his father.
1. Hamlet is acting mad like Horatio told him to. In the second scene Polonius goes to the king and queen and tell them that Hamlet is madly in love with Ophelia and this is why Hamlet is acting strange.
2. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Hamlet’s friends that the king and queen sent for to try and cheer Hamlet up. However hamlt catches on that they arnt hear just to vist him, as they told him, and rather, that the king and queen sent them hear. However he tells them to stay which tells us that Hamlet likes them.
3. With the illusion of Hamlets father you see this theme. Also when Polonius is trying to tell people that Hamlet is in love with Ophelia and this is why he is acting crazy, this is just an illusion to him, when in reality it is because of the appearance of his father’s ghost.
4. Polonius now seems to be sneaky and somewhat stupid. He sends a messenger to go spy on his son. After, he claims the reason that Hamlet is acting crazy is because he is madly in love with Ophelia. However, he still seems concerned, as he did in act one.
5. The play that the players perform involves a king’s death, which relates to the story of Hamlet, because the whole play is centered around the death of King Hamlet.
kZichp3
1. The evidence Hamlet gives to show that something is wrong when Ophelia was greatly concerned over Hamlet's behavior was that he looked like a mess and was acting in an erratic behavior. “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 purport as if he had been loosed out of hell to speak of horrors,--he comes before me.” Also, Hamlet did not speak a word to Ophelia. Polonius came to the conclusion that by having Ophelia avoid Hamlet, Hamlet spiraled down into a mad state. I disagree with Polonius’s reasoning for the reason that Hamlet seemed to be emotionally unsteady before he demanded Ophelia to avoid him.
2. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet’s good friends, were summoned by the king and queen to help Hamlet out of his madness and into a rational and normal state. The readers are supposed to like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern because they seem like good normal friendly friends.
3. Evidence of one of the play's major themes, illusion versus reality, can be seen in Hamlet as he is said to be completely mad but is in reality of perfect thought and completely sane. By this, Shakespeare is possibly trying to convey the message that human thought is ill thought and humans are quite tunnel-visioned.
4. Polonius is not the same man I thought initially. He seems a bit more conniving that he was in Act 1 and this is seen when he sends out a spy to spy on his son in France. He seemed much more caring, compassionate, and trusting in Act 1 and by sending out a spy, he shows that he does not trust his son so much as what the reader was lead to think in Act 1.
5. Hamlet requests that they reinact a selection from Aeneas and Dido because it echoes Hamlet’s main storyline. In the selection from Aeneas and Dido, the king and queen are both murdered and Hamlet is planning on murdering his own uncle, the king, which thus reflects the play.
ParsonsS
1. Ophelia is upset because Hamlet goes to her in a very unsettled state. He comes in without saying a word, and with wide eyes. He slowly approaches Ophelia and touches her face, and deeply sighs. Then, he leaves the room, while still staring at her the entire time. Ophelia’s father’s reasoning is that Hamlet has been driven to madness by his unrequited love to his daughter. “That hath made him mad. I am sorry that with better heed and judgment, I had not quoted him…” (p.75, 2.1). Here, Ophelia’s father is stating his fear. I disagree with this reasoning because Hamlet was driven to his new state of insanity from seeing the ghost of his father. The reason he goes to Ophelia is because she is the woman that he loves and he wants to find comfort with her.
2. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Hamlet’s friends from school that have been sent for by his uncle and mother. They were hoping that the presence of his friends would bring Hamlet out of his awful mood. As readers, we feel that these two friends are sneaky, and not really interested in helping their friend for old-time’s sake. “Anything but to th’ purpose. You were sent for, and there is a kind of confession in your looks which your modesties have not craft enough to color. I know the good King and Queen have sent for you,” (p.97, 2.2). Through this, Hamlet conveys a sense of betrayal that makes the reader dislike the friends for their motives.
3. Illusion versus reality is explored first, when Hamlet and the ghost of his father converse in the woods. This scene is an obvious investigation into this because the belief that spirits exist is a controversial one. Also, in Act II, Hamlet begins to act more openly insane to the entire court, by saying things that make others feel awkward, etc. “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t. –Will you walk out of the air my lord? ... Into my grave,” (p.91, 2.2). Here we can see that Hamlet has death on his mind, and his responses are very wild and have no tact.
4. In the beginning of the story, in Act I, we are led to believe that Polonius is a trustworthy member of the Court, and is also a loving and caring father. However, in the second Act, we find out that he is actually sneaky and conniving. “You shall do marvelous wisely, good Reynaldo, before you visit him, to make inquire of his behavior,” (p.69, 2.1) While Polonius told his son that he trusted him to live his life well in Paris, by sending his servant to spy on him, he shows that he does not really trust him, and that he didn’t mean what he said.
5. This play is chosen because Hamlet wishes to watch his Uncle’s reaction to a storyline that follows the sequence of events that Hamlet believes happened in his own family. If Claudius looks guilty at the part of the traitorous murder, then Hamlet will know whether or not he committed the murder like he suspects.
Hkeenawinna Period 3
Act 2
1) Ophelia doesn’t understand what is going on with Hamlet. He’s acting strangely and almost mad and the only reason that she thinks he is like this is because she has ignored him. “At last, a little shaking of mine arm, And thrice his head thus waving up and down, He raised a sigh so piteous and profound As it did seem to shatter all his bulk And end his being: that done, he lets me go” Polonius believes that he is being this way because he is in love with his daughter Ophelia. He believes that his moods are caused from him being away from her. “That she should lock herself from his resort, Admit no messengers, receive no tokens. Which done, she took the fruits of my advice; And he, repulsed--a short tale to make--Into the madness wherein now he raves, And all we mourn for.” I know in the beginning the real reason why he si like he is but I could understand why he might react to this conclusion because of how Ophelia feels for him and how she might have interpreted Hamlet’s strange behavior.
2) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are friends of Hamlet from Wittenberg and they are brought by Gertrude and Claudius to find out about Hamlet’s unshakeable mood. We mustn’t feel anger towards them because they are only trying to help out a friend and they were asked by his mother and stepfather who were worried about him.
3) When Hamlet and Polonius are talking to each other for the first time, it is Polonius quizzing him slightly and as he is talking to him, he is stopping in the middle of his conversation with Hamlet and having little revelations to the side, breaking the illusion. Hamlet also pretends to be mad to make them worry about him so that he may have time to think of a plan. Shakespeare may be trying to give a message that not everything is as it seems. The image that Hamlet is crazy because of his un-returnable love for Ophelia is the illusion while he is actually thinking up of way to trap his step-father into confession.
4) I actually thought that he was a simple character and I did not think he would come to the conclusion about Hamlet being love-sick. He shows more love for his daughter and also seems to be finally emerging into the scene. “Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul Lends the tongue vows: these blazes, daughter, Giving more light than heat, extinct in both, Even in their promise, as it is a-making, You must not take for fire.” In Act one he seems so sure of himself and he seems arrogant as well but in the other quote, he is confused and begging for them to believe him but again arrogant because he believes he is right. There is no question about his idea. “I assure my good liege, I hold my duty, as I hold my soul, Both to my God and to my gracious king: And I do think, or else this brain of mine Hunts not the trail of policy so sure As it hath used to do, that I have found The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.”
5) Aeneas and Dido is a play about two lovers who cannot be together because of Aeneas’s duty to Rome and he leaves Dido. Dido kills herself because she cannot bear to live without him. Hamlet’s reason may be because he is trying to put the melancholy of death in the palace so that he may use from this mood to start his speech and catch the king in a guilty position. It echoes Hamlet’s storyline because it is what happens in the end, Ophelia takes her life because he is forced to do his duty to his father.
Chelsea Leon
Hamlet
Act II Questions
1) Ophelia’s evidence that something is wrong with Hamlet is when she goes to her father in the middle of the night telling him of Hamlet’s frightening visit with her. Polonius says that he may have been wrong about Hamlet’s true feelings for Ophelia and that he may actually be obsessed in love with her from the way he acts.
2) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were two of Hamlet’s old friends who were summoned for to find out why Hamlet had been acting so strange. We are supposed to like them and think that they are good friends who care and are also obedient to the king.
3) Illusion versus reality is explored when the players come and perform for Hamlet. After they perform the vengeful scene, we see Hamlet’s intense desire to kill the king for the murder of his father. Shakespeare could be trying to show illusion is in plays but then you face reality when the players break character and then you realize that Hamlet is a play.
4) No. I’m still not sure what to think of the man. He seems like he is just an overprotective father who cares for the well being of his daughter whether she likes it or not.
5) Hamlet asks the players to perform a selection about the fall of Troy and the death of the Trojan king and queen. This echoes Hamlet’s main storyline by revealing his true passion toward the murder of his “uncle father and aunt mother”.
Amikol per3
1. He gives evidence that he is troubled in a way that his soul is troubled and that he can't control himself properly. The given reasons by Polonius are that he is in love with Ophelia, or he has seen something that scares him and that his uncle and aunt(mother) got married too soon after his father died. I believe that he wants to hold onto his father when no one else can so he is probably hallucinating seeing his father.
2. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are supposed to psychologists of some sort to solve the problems that Hamlet has. We are supposed to feel annoyed by their presence because we want to side with Hamlet and his plea for sanity.
3.The theme of illusion versus reality takes effect majorly when there is a long monolougue of his dead father of what happened to him and how e died and why he is haunting the forest and the revenge he wants against the current king. The messages that Shakespeare is trying to convey is that being in your right mind may not always be right and that even though society may teel you one thing, it's not the right thing for everybody.
4. Polonius is always a person who will be changing because being the king's right hand man ahas perks and downfalls. The only way to operate in that situation is to have more than one frame of mind in order to keep a straight face. Evidence of this is tha he is having private talks of matters that are not of business but of personal matter and opinion.
5.
per.3
PPham
1. Evidence which Hamlet displays to show that something is wrong is seen in his jesters that he exchanges with Ophelia. In their meeting he does not speak and makes many strange worrisome jesters. Polonius believes that Hamlet has become mad with love for Ophelia, I do not agree with this because, Hamlet is fixated on his fathers ghost and has ignored everything else.
2. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern old friends of Hamlet. They are at the court to visit Hamlet because; they were summoned by the King and Queen in hopes that they could bring Hamlet out of his negative state. It can be believed that Shakespeare used them as average unintelligible people caught up in royal catastrophe.
3. The theme of illusion versus reality begins to take center stage in Act two as Hamlet seemingly becomes mad, but in actually is very calculated and thoughtful in the way he acts. Shakespeare is trying to convey that certainty is something that does not exists.
4. Polonius, has changed dramaticly from the first initial perspective that he saw him in the first act. In the second act Polonius seems more maniacal and is seemingly more calculated. He has set up man insidious plans to spy on his own son, and set up a plan to find out if Hamlet is truly mad from love.
5. He chose this play because it echoes his own situation; he is contemplating killing his uncle who he suspects killed his father.
--E.VIVAR
period 3
1.) Ophelia is concerned about his behavior because he held her face and wrists. His physical actions were worrying her, although he never spoke. According to Polonius, he’s in love with her and he’s reacting like that because he desperately wants her. I agree with his reasoning because all this affection is a result from desperation.
2.) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern basically are two courtiers which are former friends of Hamlet. They were brought and called by Claudius so he could try and find out what the cause of Hamlet’s behavior is. The way were supposed to feel about them is that whatever they are doing is only for the good of everyone. We can’t sympathize or anything likes that for them, their job is simply self explanatory.
3.) An illusion is made by Hamlet when he reflects upon his actions with Ophelia. Also, another illusion was that of the murder of his father by his uncle. From that, he made a conclusion to take revenge on him. Shakespeare by this is trying to convey the message that our mind plays tricks on us and we should think before we act. Were not always sure of something, and in this case, Hamlet’s knowledge might be false and might lead to the death of Claudius.
4.) Initially, Polonius is more attentive, caring, and humble. Towards act two, it seems like he’s more worried, in this case sending his servant to spy on his son. This transformation is due to him worrying about his family and keeping it strong. In act 2, he cares more, to the extent where he sets up a meeting to discover Hamlet’s love for his daughter.
5.) Dido and Aeneas is a story where the Queen of Carthage Dido and the Trojan refugee Aeneas fall madly in love in a shipwreck. Little did she know, Aeneas had to leave to Rome and as a result, she wanted to commit suicide. This kind of sets the basis for Hamlet where Hamlet is in love with Ophelia, but along the way they encounter some obstacles that prevent their love to happen. That is how it echoes Shakespeare’s storyline in this play.
e.vivar. per.3
J Hellmich
1. Hamlet is acting very strangely ever since his meeting with his father's ghost. We know that something is wrong simply by Ophelia's description of Hamlet. In lines 88-94 she describes him "as if he had been loosed from hell." His clothes are all array, he's pale and he's shaking. He also acts very strangely toward her, grabbing her wrists but not saying a word. Polonius explains the weird behavior as a love sickness. He thinks it's just because Ophelia hasn't been talking to him anymore and he longs for her love. He even tells his reasoning to the King and Queen. I think he's being selfish. His father just died, his mother married his uncle ina very short time after his father's death, and his girfriend broke up with him. There's more to becoming a lunatic than just breaking up with a girl.
2. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are friends of Hamlet. The King and Queen called them because they thought the boys could cheer him up and maybe even find out what is wrong. As an audience, we know that they grew up together and they are very close friends. They are here to help.
3. We can find evidence of the theme illusion versus reality when Hamlet plots to show the King a play that is similar to the way his uncle killed his father. Plays are for fun. They are not real and they are supposed to be a break from reality. Hamlet's idea is to take this illusion, or the play, and make the King think of what he did in reality. The play is showing a made-up thing, but the King knows what he did in actuality and it might bring back feelings of guilt and make him nervous.
4. In the first Act Polonius is a nice old man who cares for his son and the well being of his daughter. In Act II, he seems sly and conniving. He sends a man to spy on his son while he's away, and he begins to plot against Hamlet. His character is developing a lot in the second Act.
5. The excerpt that the players recite from Aeneas and Dido is about Pyrrhus slaughtering Priam. This relates to Hamlet's Uncle killing his father. Hamlet is filled with hate, anger, and vengeance after seeing his father's ghost. He wants to do everything he can to remind his uncle of the murder and make him feel guilty about it.
TMorley P. 3
1. Hamlet is a completely different person after seeing the ghost. He has a second personality that is much nlike what the people are used to. This new face is clearly covering his emotions and is showing that something just isn’t right. Polonius gives the reason that there are problems with the court and that he is using love as an outlet. He proposes to go to the court and fix the problems publicly. I do, since the embarrassment caused by the public resolution would force Hamlet into surrendering his attempts at love with Ophelia.
2. Rosencrans and Guildenstern are the 2 actors that come into the court to entertain the royalty with their acts. They are supposed to break up the plot a little bit and we are supposed to see them as lighthearted outlets for Hamlet’s crazed new face. They are merely puppets of Hamlet’s, and he can use them any way he likes, sort of his restoration of power.
3. This theme is explored many places. There is evidence in the ghost sighting, where there is a true figure not in true form. We also see this in the acting of the players, since they are re-enacting something and creating an illusion of the times when the play was first performed. This serves to show that people have a hard time distinguishing the two and that Hamlet is one of the few that has the power to see the different worlds. People think he’s crazy for embracing the world of illusion and making it part of his life
4. Polonius has a new side revealed in act 2. He takes his support and protection for his kids too far and becomes nosy and imposing. He wants to spy on his son to try and help him, and solve Ophelia’s problems publicly. He seems as though he isn’t as trusting as we first see, and that he is a protective, worrisome parent.
5. The play shows flight and divine intervention. Hamlet wants to flee (by removing himself) from the court because his mother married his uncle and he isn’t happy about that. He also experiences some intervention from the ghost of his father to tell the truth, much like Dido did when he needed to know what was the right thing to do. They are similar in many ways.
KPJones
Hamlet
Act II Questions
1. In 2.1. Ophelia is greatly concerned over Hamlet's behavior. What evidence does he give that something is wrong? What are the possible explanations given by Polonius in 2.1 and 2.2? Do you agree with his reasoning?
Hamlet provides some evidence of a mysterious problem through his actions toward Ophelia. Hamlet has a very Physical relationship with Ophelia, but he does not ever talk to her straightforwardly. With Ophelia now neglecting Hamlet, this could be an explanation of what is wrong. I disagree with Polonius’ reasoning that hamlet has gone mad with love for Ophelia, for it is obvious that Hamlet’s current state has been brought on by the King, and the loss of his father.
2. Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and what are they doing at court? How are we supposed to feel about them?
These two characters are two old friends of Hamlet, although they come into the play with skeptical motives. They are summoned by the king and queen to try and help Hamlet deal with his current state. We are supposed to feel like they are good friends of Hamlet, like Horatio, but we get a sense that they are something that they are not.
3. One of the play's major themes, illusion versus reality, begins to take center stage in Act 2. Where do you find evidence of this theme being explored? What possible messeges could Shakespeare be trying to convey?
Act II demonstrates the theme of illusion versus reality with the scene of Hamlet and his father’s ghost. This is brought about as it is introduced by Polonius’ proposal that Hamlet is mad from his love for Ophelia. So we have the two components of this theme: the ghost being illusion and the reality being love and Ophelia.
4. Take another look at Polonius. Is he the same man you thought initially? What evidence is there that he's not the man we were led to believe in Act 1.
After taking a second look at Polonius, we come to see that he is not the same man we initially thought him to be. He may have great concern for his son and daughter, but we cannot be fooled by his fatherly ways. In act two, he begins to attach himself to Hamlet, and is more concerned about proving Hamlet mad than he is with his own children.
5. When the players arrive, at Hamlet's request they reinact a selection from Aeneas and Dido. Why this play? How does it echo Hamlet's main storyline.
Hamlet Requests that the players reinact a selection from Aeneas and Dido mainly because the foundation of this play is very similar to the plot brewing within Hamlets own mind. In Aeneas and Dido, the king and queen were killed for vengeance. This is along the same line as Claudius killing King Hamlet to take his throne and wife.
Josie Flores
Ophelia is concerned about Hamlet because of his strange and crazy behavior. He showed up to her room at an odd hour not speaking, he just grabbed her and glared at her in a crazy manner. Polonius enterprets Hamlet’s odd behavior as love sickness. He believes that because Ophelia cut off interaction with him that he is going mad. I don’t agree with this reasoning, I believe that Hamlet is acting odd because of the presence of his father’s spirit.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are old friends of Hamlets. They were invited to the court by Hamlet’s mother in order to cheer him up from his father’s death and his depressing behavior. We are supposed to view them as close friends of Hamlet only looking out for his best interest.
To me, it seems as if one of the biggest themes in this play is illusion. Many things are not what they seem in this play. Everything from his fathers death, the spirit of the former king, and Hamlet’s new behavior seem to something else than what they really are.
Polonius first seemed to be a man revolved around the family. He had forbidden his daughter to see Hamlet because of what he though Hamlet’s intentions were. However, after Hamlet’s weird behavior toward Polonius he finds hope in that Hamlet may truly have feelings for her. He than changes his attitude from his daughters best interest into his own.
This play had a strange plot to it. The plot was very similar and easily resembled the play of Hamlet. Aeneas and Dido was strangely repetitive over the story plot which is happening in this play.
L. You
Per. 3
Act. II
1. Ophelia suspects that there is something wrong with Hamlet’s behavior because he approached her with wild eyes and just grabbed her and held her, sighing deeply without saying a word. When she tells Polonius about her concerns, he believes that it is because of Hamlet’s deep love for Ophelia. In a way, I can understand where Polonius is coming from since he is only trying to protect Ophelia from Hamlet’s madness but I do not believe that Polonius should have ordered Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet.
2. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were Hamlet’s friends from Wittenberg and they were summoned by the king and queen because they were concerned about Hamlet’s behavior. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were asked to help cheer up Hamlet from his melancholy mood or to find the source of Hamlet’s erratic behavior. I do not think that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are a threat to Hamlet but I do not think that it is right for them to keep tabs on Hamlet and then report back to the king and queen.
3. When Polonius confronts Hamlet after Claudius and Gertrude leaves, he believes that Hamlet is indeed mad because Hamlet calls him a “fishmonger” and answers Polonius’ questions irrationally. Polonius reports to Claudius saying that Hamlet is indeed mad but his comments seem “pregnant” in meaning which means that Hamlet’s replies have some sort of ‘illusion” to the actual reason.
4. The first impression of Polonius I had was that he was a clever and slightly noble gentleman. But when he orders Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet and then believes that Hamlet is mad without trying to help Hamlet, I started to dislike his deceptiveness.
1.) Hamlet doesn’t know how to put in words his problems to Ophelia, he can only merely hold her head, hands with his hands and leave with a sigh. Polonius believes this action was caused by Hamlets love for Ophelia and since they have not been with each other for so long, he sighs for her. Although this is a convincing reason why Hamlet would do such a thing, the audience knows better then to believe Polonius. We know very well that Ophelia has his confidence, but at that time he was too confused to goto her to talk about his father’s death.
2.) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern the oldest of friends to one another as well as to Hamlet. They were sent to the kingdom to help the king and queen and insight the happenings of Hamlet. The two are very similar to the other and are always mentioned together and truly compliment each other which clearly. I feel like the two are hard to distinguish separately but together they are a force against Hamlet since they are the ones informing Hamlet’s enemy, Kind Claudius. To the audience or reader, they are simply people who know how to regurgitate information.
3.) The theme of illusion versus reality starts off, really, in Act two when Hamlet confuses all the court memeber that he has lost his rocket. The truth, Hamlet was very careful in his choices to act, he may come out to be barbaric but it was oly to hide his true very own scheming mind. I believe that illusion verses reality is a important theme to follow. People allow themselves to believe in the nonsense that we give one another. The truth is, we should be able to tell that Hamlet is up to something, but at this time no one is on to him. They allow what is the obvious to rule what they understand and look no further. If the court had been paying attention they could see that Hamlet was actually talking in symbols, but they were quickly to diagnosis him with insanity.
4.) The difference from the Polonius in the first act and act two is his true intentions with his children. During the first act we believed that he was a caring souls that loved his children but when he sends out his man servant to spy on his son to tell him his whereabouts, I concluded that he was a untrusting man, possibly because he is not trustworthy himself. He is cool and witty and he understands that Hamlet may have more on his mind then lunacy, maybe a love lust for his daughter or maybe something deeper.
5.) Hamlet chose the play Aeneas and Dido because it was a tragic story of how a great king was killed. He was loved by his people and his wife greatly and Hamlet saw the virtue in that. At their deaths they stay loyal to one another or at least the promise to do so, a trait he believed hi mother had forgot. He wanted to have the “king’s” death as similar to the death his ghostly father told him how his own brother, King Claudius has ended his life. If he does this, and the court sees this play, Hamlet will be able to tell whether the ghost was truly his father or the devil trying to damn him.
Post By Julia tasedan
1.) Hamlet doesn’t know how to put in words his problems to Ophelia, he can only merely hold her head, hands with his hands and leave with a sigh. Polonius believes this action was caused by Hamlets love for Ophelia and since they have not been with each other for so long, he sighs for her. Although this is a convincing reason why Hamlet would do such a thing, the audience knows better then to believe Polonius. We know very well that Ophelia has his confidence, but at that time he was too confused to goto her to talk about his father’s death.
2.) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern the oldest of friends to one another as well as to Hamlet. They were sent to the kingdom to help the king and queen and insight the happenings of Hamlet. The two are very similar to the other and are always mentioned together and truly compliment each other which clearly. I feel like the two are hard to distinguish separately but together they are a force against Hamlet since they are the ones informing Hamlet’s enemy, Kind Claudius. To the audience or reader, they are simply people who know how to regurgitate information.
3.) The theme of illusion versus reality starts off, really, in Act two when Hamlet confuses all the court memeber that he has lost his rocket. The truth, Hamlet was very careful in his choices to act, he may come out to be barbaric but it was oly to hide his true very own scheming mind. I believe that illusion verses reality is a important theme to follow. People allow themselves to believe in the nonsense that we give one another. The truth is, we should be able to tell that Hamlet is up to something, but at this time no one is on to him. They allow what is the obvious to rule what they understand and look no further. If the court had been paying attention they could see that Hamlet was actually talking in symbols, but they were quickly to diagnosis him with insanity.
4.) The difference from the Polonius in the first act and act two is his true intentions with his children. During the first act we believed that he was a caring souls that loved his children but when he sends out his man servant to spy on his son to tell him his whereabouts, I concluded that he was a untrusting man, possibly because he is not trustworthy himself. He is cool and witty and he understands that Hamlet may have more on his mind then lunacy, maybe a love lust for his daughter or maybe something deeper.
5.) Hamlet chose the play Aeneas and Dido because it was a tragic story of how a great king was killed. He was loved by his people and his wife greatly and Hamlet saw the virtue in that. At their deaths they stay loyal to one another or at least the promise to do so, a trait he believed hi mother had forgot. He wanted to have the “king’s” death as similar to the death his ghostly father told him how his own brother, King Claudius has ended his life. If he does this, and the court sees this play, Hamlet will be able to tell whether the ghost was truly his father or the devil trying to damn him.
Hamlet – Act 2 Responses
1. In 2.1. Ophelia is greatly concerned over Hamlet's behavior. What evidence does he give that something is wrong? What are the possible explanations given by Polonius in 2.1 and 2.2? Do you agree with his reasoning?
Ophelia is concerned over Hamlet’s behavior since the last time they were together. Hamlet’s clothing was very disorganized, and his actions were very strange according to Ophelia. For example, he stared at Ophelia as if he was going to paint her. I do not agree with Polonius’ reasoning since the death of a family member can have its tole on a human being. Hamlet could be going mad from the death of his father.
2. Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and what are they doing at court? How are we supposed to feel about them?
They are the childhood friends of Hamlet chosen by Claudius to investigate why Hamlet posseses such strange feelings. We are supposed to feel as if they are insincere in their relationship with Hamlet since they are only helping Hamlet because Claudius ordered them to help Hamlet.
3. One of the play's major themes, illusion versus reality, begins to take center stage in Act 2. Where do you find evidence of this theme being explored? What possible messeges could Shakespeare be trying to convey?
The theme could be viewed during the player’s speech. A story of a murder recited in the speech is beginning to represent the possible murder that Hamlet will commit. Shakespeare could be explaining how reality is a spawn from illusion or thoughts since if there is no thought there is no action. How can Hamlet commit a murder without a thought?
4. Take another look at Polonius. Is he the same man you thought initially? What evidence is there that he's not the man we were led to believe in Act 1.
Polonius is not the same man that he was initially. The evidence is seen when Polonius creates his plot to follow Laertes’ actions by spreading negative rumors about Laertes to discover if these rumors are true. His plot is very complex and devious showing how conniving and controlling Polonius truly is.
5. When the players arrive, at Hamlet's request they reinact a selection from Aeneas and Dido. Why this play? How does it echo Hamlet's main storyline.
It echos Hamlet’s main story line since it involves murder. Hamlet’s story also revolves around murder since Hamlet wants to take revenge for his father.
Avery Williams
Period 3
1. Hamlet gives reason to Ophelia when he demonstrations questionable behavior. Hamlets seems not to directly communicate with Ophelia despite the fact that he expresses thoughts and feelings about her using hand gestures and physical touch. She becomes almost exasperated by his inability to settle down and communicate with her the problems that he is going through. We Ophelia seeks advice from her father, Polonius tells her that hamlet is deep within the ocean of love with Ophelia and her abandonment of his at his time of need has only intensified the matter. I agree with Polonius that Hamlet exhibits rash and compulsive mannerism when faced with inner conflict.
2. Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and what are they doing at court? How are we supposed to feel about them?
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Hamlet’s childhood friends. The court summons then at an attempt to bring back reasoning to the delirious and crazed Prince. The reader feels and immediate like of the two humble characters as they do not exhibit the aristocratic nature that the rest of the court has and that Hamlet mocks and loathes.
3. Act two is the first portrayal of the theme of illusion versus reality. An example of this is when Hamlet tries to convince everyone he has gone mad however in reality he is perfectly balanced in the sane region. Shakespeare goal is to draw attention to the absurdity in humans thought and emotions. This is demonstrated through both Hamlet’s charter and Plotinus’s the former unable to find proof of Claudius’s crime and the latter unable to correctly read Hamlet’s extent of passion.
4. After progressing in the story line of the play I have determined that Polonius is not the man I first thought he was. In Act two he demonstrates a more complex and thought provoking character. A good example if his shift of personality is when he orders Reynado to spy on his son. I would not have seen the Polonius in act one committing such an act as I felt he had more trust in Laertes and Polonius would not be spy on anyone as I assumed he was a more moral man. Another example is when he tries to become closes to Hamlet and the court which highlights the personal achievement he seeks
5.Hamlet request that they recite this particular play as it is similar to the one that he is imaging in his own head. He hopes that bye having them act out this play Claudius’s quilt will be apparent and it can confirm Hamlet’s suspensions.
SBarloon
1. Hamlet goes to Ophelia in the night and grabs her, but does not speak to her. Hamlet seems very upset and a little bit crazy. When Ophelia goes to her father to tell him of her encounter with Hamlet, Polonius thinks thinks that Hamlet’s behavior comes from his love for Ophelia. Ophelia, on orders from her father, has recently broken off her relationship with Hamlet, which is another reason Polonius thinks Hamlet is crazy about. Hamlet’s madness in this scene is because of the ghost sighting. I think he goes to Ophelia for comfort.
2. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Hamlet’s friends from school. Claudius sent for them to help him figure out Hamlet’s behaviors. At the court they seem a little bit shady and kind of sneaky because they are trying to lift Hamlet’s spirits for Claudius’ sake and not for Hamlet’s. I think Hamlet sees right through them and that is why he is not as close with them as he is with Horatio.
3. The theme of illusion versus reality can be seen in the discussion over whether or not Hamlet’s madness is real or just an act and what the actual cause of it is. Also, in this act Hamlet meets his father’s ghost in the woods, which leads to the question of whether or not the spirit is real. I think that Shakespeare is trying to convey that things aren’t always what they seem.
4. I think Polonius is a different man than the one in Act 1. He seems much more controlling and shady in Act 2 because of the way he treats Ophelia and the way he sends Reynaldo to spy on his son in France. Polonius does not appear to be the same loving and trusting father that he was in the first act. His actions in Act 2 make him fit in much better with Claudius’ twisted court.
5. Hamlet requests this play because it is similar to the events that have been occuring in the castle. Hamlet wants to watch Claudius’ face as the play unfolds to see if he looks guilty or uncomfortable. Hamlet is trying to catch Claudius for murdering his father.
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