Act 2 Quotes Flashcards
II,1
“make inquire
Of his behavior.”
Polonius
This is the first time the royal surveillance culture has been introduced to the audience. This scene mainly serves as comic relief but its inner themes of surveillance and spying will eventually lead up to Hamlets comment of Denmark being a prison. This is likely Shakespeare’s social commentary on the anxious Elizabethan spy culture as the English throne had many enemies.
The conversation also reveals Polonius’s nosy, scheming characteristics which is relevant in the plot later and ultimately leads to his death. Polonius loves to scheme and plan and feel he is so clever.
II,2
“With an entreaty, herein further shown,
That it might please you to give quiet pass”
Voltemand
Voltemand, the king’s messenger gives him some apparently good news but it is quite suspiciousto any mediumly intellectual audience member. King Norway asks for formal permission to have a huge army march through Denmark, the very country young Fortibras was hoping to seize. There are a few things we can learn from this.
New parallel has developed between fortibas and Hamlet, they both trick their respective uncles for their own ambitions/goals.
Second, we understand from the conversation between Voltemand and Claudius, that he is not truly a fit political leader for the state of Denmark. He may be cunning and scheming when it comes to private affairs but when it comes to geopolitical problems he is fooled easily.
Third, since Denmark is now in imminent danger politically we can say the health of the ruling body of Denmark is equally in danger. Tensions of revenge, tragedy and horror are already brewing everywhere.
good rising action
II,1
“O my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!”
Ophelia
Ophelia reports Hamlet’s bout of madness to her father. My theory is that this is done in deliberation. Hamlet and Ophelia did meet in her room and they had an understanding. To start of Hamlet’s ruse, Ophelia lets the royal family know that something is deeply wrong with him.
It is very unlike Shakespeare to have a docile, obedient one dimensional major character, especially since his repertoire consists of so many interesting, smart women who knew how to bend or break the rules. It is more surprising if the entirety of Hamlet did not have this strong element of a cunning woman who knows exactly what to do. And also not to mention, Ophelia is a looking glass for Hamlet if he were stripped of power and agency, she is still cunning and witty despite her challenges.
II,2
“Though this be madness, yet there is method in ’t.”
Polonius
Polonius is one of the first to recognise that Hamlet’s madness is planned out but hes is not smart enough to undertsnad what that entails. Hamlet essentially uses the guise of madness to have a fool’s pass.
As Kate Flint theorises, Hamlet’s madness ‘gives him the license of a fool to speak cruel truths, transgressing the language of social decorum’
II,2
“Denmark’s a prison.”
Hamlet
Hamlet says this in the rising action of the play but this is continually proven true again and again. Almost all the characters are under each others surveillance to some degree and Hamlet is the most watched of them all.
Aside the surveillance culture, Denmark is a pison that none of them can escape. none of them can escape fate more specifically. Hamlet is bound to his duties of honor and vengeance by extension, Ophelia is bound to Hamlet and her own honor, Claudius is bound to guilt but too bound to the throne and his wife to do anything about it. In a way, all of the characters live in an every day tragedy with little room for happiness.
II,2
“So as a painted tyrant Pyrrhus stood,
And, like a neutral to his will and matter,
Did nothing.”
Player 1
The allusion to Pyrrhus’s revenge on Priam is extremely relevant to the plot. Particularly this quote, exemplifies a momentary stall before the main action of vengeance. This is the phase Hamlet finds himself stuck in. for the next acts the winds will settle, the earth will quiet just as in Virgils poem, but the strike of thunder will enliven Hamlet to fulfill his deed. This is a metaphor ofcourse, when i say the world quiets down as if the calm before the storm, the characters around Hamlet tie up their lose ends and come together in the end in a final moment of tragedy. The thunder strike is Gertrude’s death.
All Hamlet can think of is revenge, all the stories he thinks of are deeply addled in themes of vengeance, but it is the action he lacks. Revenge is in the forefront of his mind and perhaps thats the problem.
Also Hamlet’s recitation of part of the poem indicates that he has a complex relationship with the idea of ‘acting’. He is very obviously into theatrics and is highly interested in strong actions taken impersonally. (most of his murders are impersonal ex rosencrantz and guildenstern, polonius)
II,2
“What’s Hecuba to him or he to Hecuba”
Hamlet
Hamlet gets insecure of his behaviour easily (we see this later when he sees Fortinbras’ army). Others reactivity to vengeance and betrayal never fails to subject him to an existential crisis.
Here, he laments that he pales in comparison to the sensible, empathetic player(1). Perhaps these epics about revenge make him feel worse, he thinks of the passion the great men who were in his position and were able to deliberately kill in the name of honor. His jealousy brings him to great degrees of self loathing.
