What happened in Act 2 of Hamlet?

What happened in Act 2 of Hamlet?

Act II. Polonius sends a spy, Reynaldo, to France to keep an eye on Laertes. Polonius, certain that Hamlet is madly in love with Ophelia and that it was Ophelia’s rejection that put him in this state, decides to meet the king to concoct a plan to spy on Hamlet in conversation with Ophelia.

Is Hamlet mad in Act 2?

Madness: In Act II, Hamlet starts to use the cover of being mad, or crazy, to exact his revenge on his uncle King Claudius for killing his father. Polonius thought that Hamlet went mad after Ophelia rejected him and Gertrude and Claudius think he is mad from the loss of his father.

Why does Claudius think Hamlet is mad in Act 2?

In Act 2, Scene 2 of ‘Hamlet,’ we see the prince becoming more caught up by court politics. Claudius is worried about domestic policy, where Hamlet, whether mad or sane, is the greatest threat, and about foreign affairs. Polonius is convinced Hamlet’s just lovesick. Hamlet himself hatches a plan.

What happened in Hamlet Act 2 Scene 2?

Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 2. The King and Queen enter with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and others. King Claudius has summoned Hamlet’s two school chums to Elsinore to have them spy on the Prince and report back to Claudius, recounting Hamlet’s every move. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agree.

What does Hamlet’s soliloquy in Act 2 Scene 2 mean?

Scene II. This soliloquy illustrates Hamlet’s continued inability to do anything of consequence. He lacks the knowledge of how to remedy the pain caused by his present circumstances, so he wonders how an actor would portray him, saying, ‘[he would] drown the stage with tears’.

Who comes to Elsinore at the end of Act 2?

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter, surprising their friend Hamlet. The three friends banter philosophically for a good while before Hamlet asks the two why they have come to Elsinore. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern try to dodge this question, declaring that they have come for no other reason than to visit him.

What is the lesson in Hamlet?

But the truth is everyone in Hamlet acts shamelessly and for us the moral of the play is the production of shame in its audience. Not too much, just enough. “Stay, Illusion!” Illusion is the only means to action.

Why is Hamlet the best play?

Many people say Hamlet is the greatest play of all time. Shakespeare does that through the soliloquy – the character alone on stage talking to himself, opening up his mind – and Hamlet just does that more than any other character. So there is that psychological complexity. That’s one reason the play is revered.

Which is better Hamlet or Macbeth?

Both. The order doesn’t matter. Hamlet is a more “important” play from a cultural standpoint, but Macbeth is probably more entertaining, especially if you’re just getting started.

What do Hamlet and Macbeth have in common?

Macbeth and Hamlet both start out the same with supernatural occurrences and end the same with a lot of blood and death. They have many things in common such as all of the bloodshed and craziness, but the main characters have different purposes. Hamlet killed for revenge while Macbeth only killed for power and greed.