Act 2 Scene 1 Flashcards
Plot summary
Polonius intends Renaldo to spy on Laertes to find out his behaviour and actions
He also says slander Laertes telling his friends that he’s heard rumours of debts , gambling etc and see whether they defend him
What if it starts rumours? But polonius insists
Reynaldo leaves and Ophelia comes in and recounts an unseen scene where Hamlet aggressively addresses her, unkempt and wild - he frightened her - Polonius interprets this as Hamlet being mad for her loved
Father and child relationships
Act 2 scene 1
Ophelia seeks Polonius’ advice and received a different response this time
Polonius instructs his man to spy on Laertes - hardly imagine of loving trusting father.
It seems more likely that Polonius is concerned for family honour and reputation and suspects that Laertes behaviour away from home can cause rumour and scandal
Love in Act 2 scene 1
Polonius believed Hamlet is ‘mad with love’ after being rejected by Ophelia
Form structure and language act 2 scene 1
A new location
Polonius’ house is one of the rare times we’re outside “the castle” as a staging.
Although in some cases it may be a suite of rooms within the castle, it seems it’s actually seperate in Act 3 Hamlet commands the gates to be shut on Polonius when he’s learning at home
Form structure and language act 2 scene 1
Polonius’ forgetfulness
In speaking with Reynaldo, he forgets what he was about to say implying he’s an older courtier
Possible not functioning at his best
Rather than a shrewd political advisor
Which casts doubt on his other advice throughout the play
Form structure and language act 2 scene 1
An unseen scene
Ophelia recounts scene to Polonius - only have Ophelia description of it
Hamlet is mad, unkempt and aggressive on it - v different to despairing Hamlet
Dramatic irony- we know why he is acc mad
It increases our sympathy for Ophelia who is manipulated by Polonius to uphold honour or help him into further place of power
She’s seemed in love w Hamlet but had to reject him and must be upset about now
Form structure and language
Act 2 scene 1
Secrets
Polonius says that to hide the difficulty Hamlet is facing would cause more grief then to discuss it
While this is partially self serving- he’s now in a position to see Hamlet as in love with his daughter and make their relationship closer, raising his family up - nature of secrecy in play which causes more problems then can ever solve
Key quotes Act 2 scene 1
Ophelia - ‘He raised a sign so piteous’ ‘shatter’ against ‘all his bulk’
Polonius- ‘come go with me’ ‘ecstasy of love’ ‘violent’
Explain
‘He raised a sign so piteous’ ‘shatter’ against ‘all his bulk’
Description of impact of love is troubling
Hamlet is verging on madness
As an audience we know depths of despair he is due to ghost but Ophelia does not
Strong verbs ‘shatter’ against ‘all his bulk’ emphasises how unhappy Hamlet is and depth of his melancholy
Explain
‘come go with me’ ‘ecstasy of love’ ‘violent’
Polonius is still commanding his daughter despite his apology for not believing Hamlet loved her
The declarative ‘come go with me’ gives her no opportunity for her opinion or say in what happens next
The juxtaposition of ‘ecstasy of love’ and ‘violent’ reminds us of not sides of love and Polonius comments that it ‘leads the will to desperate undertakings’ could be tragic foreshadowing of Ophelia’s death
Act 2 scene 1
Polonius close analysis
‘Beshrew my jealousy!’
‘It is as proper to our age
To cast beyond ourselves in opinions
As it is common for the younger sort
To lack discretion’
‘Move’ ‘love’
Unusually reflective comment from Polonius
His exclamative ‘Beshrew my jealousy!’ Suggests wondering of himself or maybe even anger as missed opportunity for daughter to prove heir
His other comments on age implies a criticism of old and young - the old think they know all and the young lack the restraint that come with age
The final two lines Polonius said could rhyme in Shakespeare’s original pronunciation- summarise his suggestion that secrecy would cause more grief
Can be critique later in play esp as Polonius is at heart of many future secrets
How it opens
En media’s res
Tension
Suspension
Confusion
Mystery
How the king described hamlets madness
Dangerous
Turbulent
Lunacy
Makes hamlet out as unsafe
