2.1 - Polonious Begins His Spying

Question 1

“ Put on him what______you please”

Answer 1

Forgeries

Question 2

What is the significance of P saying that Reynaldo can “ put on him what forgeries you please”

Answer 2

Not only is the metaphor of currency continued to Laertes - IT shows how P sees his relationship with his children in purely transactional terms.

Question 3

‘Ay……….”

Answer 3

Drinking, fencing, swearing//quarrelling,drabbing

Question 4

What does P’s listing convey

Answer 4

the listing ( fencing, drabbing etc) conveys the harsh extents that P is willing to go in order to get what he wants and protect HIS reputation within the royal court. ( P seems to love his children….his means if action however are totally corrupt)

Question 5

After P says “ Ay drinking,fencing,swearing, drabbing” how does Reynaldo respond?

Answer 5

“ my lord, that would dishonour him”

Question 6

What does Reynaldo’s response show?

Answer 6

Shakespeare utilises his character in order to highlight P’s moral indifference

Question 7

What Context could be paired with this scene?

Answer 7

Surveillance- In 1570 Elizabeth I was excommunicate by the pope and labelled a heretic, meaning she was an enemy of the catholic state ( meaning the catholics still practicing secretly within England). IN order to combat the threats on her life - she developed a spy network headed by Sir Francis Walsingham in order to unearth plots ( such as babington in 1586)