| Claudius and Gertrude | *send for Guildenstern and Rosencrantz (Hamlet’s friends) to spy on him* they summoned his friends to Elsinore in the hope that they might be able to cheer Hamlet out of his melancholy, or at least discover the cause of it. |
| Polonius enters with Voltimand and Cornelius | * they tell Claudius that the King of Norway saw the letters and stopped his nephew Fortinbras from attacking Denmark.*In return he asks Claudius if they can peacefully pass through to get to Poland. |
| Polonius tells Claudius about the letters Hamlet sent to Ophelia | *Polonius says he’s crazy because she has rejected him; says Hamlet is crazy in love with her.*Polonius and Claudius plot to see what is really going on with Ophelia and Hamlet*Hamlet reads alone in the lobby, they will send for Ophelia to meet up with him to see how he acts with her; meanwhile they will be secretely watching. (pg. 93) |
| Polonius attempts to talk with Hamlet | *Hamlet appears insane; he calls the old man a “fishmonger” which is an insult*Hamlet tells Polonius not to let him out of his sight because he will get her pregnant.*Polonius begins to think Hamlet is up to something (line 223) |
| Guildenstern and Rosencrantz enter and try to talk with Hamlet | *Hamlet questions why there are there and admits to them he feels trapped in Denmark* Hamlet tries to figure out if they are there for him or if they are there because Claudius and Gertrude asked them to check on Hamlet; he admits to them he’s been very depressed.*Hamlet finally admits to his friends that he is pretending to be crazy (lines 403-403) |
| Troops of Players (Actors) | *Rosencrantz tells Hamlet they passed the troop of players on the way to the castle; they are kid actors; tells Hamlet to shape up because they will be there soon.*Hamlet wants to know everything about the players; he is trying to find out if he can use the actors as part of his plan for revenge agains Claudius*Hamlet tests the actors to see if they can reenact the murder Claudius committed against his father. |
| Hamlet’s plot/plan for revenge (pg 109) | *Hamlet writes the speech for the actor to recite in front of Claudius and Gertrude*Hamlet wants to see Claudius’s reaction to the actor’s presentation.*Hamlet wishes he has the nerve to just kill Claudius but can’t, he is using this actor to spark a reaction from Claudius; his reaction will help Hamlet decide to kill him or not (he needs a reason to kill)*he’s a thinker and doesn’t want to react too quickly |
Hamlet Act II Scene ii
September 2, 2019