Hamlet Act 2

“Before you visit him, to make inquire of his behavior” Polonius to Reynaldoreferring to Laerteshe wants reyn to spy on laertes iornic because it is the very act of spying that kills PoloniusIt would be wonderfully wise of you, my dear Reynaldo, to ask around about his behavior a little before you visit him.
“Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir,Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris,And how, and who, what means, and where they keepWhat company at what expense; and findingBy this encompassment and drift of questionThat they do know my son, come you more nearerThan your particular demands will touch it.” Polonius to ReynaldoAsk around and find out what Danish people are in Paris—who they are, where they live and how much money they have, who their friends are. And if you find out in this general sort of questioning that they happen to know my son, you’ll find out much more than if you asked specific questions about him. ask indirect questions
“do you mark this, Reynaldo” Polonius to ReynaldoDo you understand? Do exactly as I say
“What forgeries you please: marry, none so rank as may dishonor him, take heed of that, but sir such wanton wild and usual slips as are companions noted and most known to youth and liberty” Polonius to Reynaldo Then just make up whatever you want—of course, nothing so bad that it would shame him. I mean make up any stories that sound like your average young guy, the kind of trouble they get into.do not put a scandal on him
“Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing,Quarreling, drabbing—you may go so far” asyndetonpolonius to reynaldosuggest that he has seen Laertes doing these things so he can see how ppl react
‘Faith, no, as you may season it in the charge.You must not put another scandal on him Polonius to Reynaldodont put a scandal on him
“Marry sir, here’s my drift, and I believe it is a fetch of wit” Polonisu to Reynaldoheres what I’m thinking and it is brillianthe is arrogant…thinks he’s amazing
“Mark you, your party in converse, him you would sound,Having ever seen in the prenominate crimesThe youth you breathe of guilty, be assuredHe closes with you in this consequence:”Good sir” or so, or “Friend,” or “Gentleman,”According to the phrase or the additionOf man and country.” Polonius to Reynaldo As you talk with someone and hint about my son’s faults and little sins, you’ll watch his reaction, and if he’s ever seen Laertes do any of these things, it will only be natural for him to agree with you, at which point he’ll call you “sir,” or “my good friend,” depending on who the person is, where he comes from, and so on.
And then, sir, does he this, he does— What was I about to say? By the mass, I was about to say something. Where did I leave? Polonius to Reynaldoacts like he loses his train of thought for two reasons:1. make sure Reynaldo is paying attention2. does not want Reynaldo to suspect him….has to take a deep breath and calm downadds an air of casual conversation to amek Reynaldo less tense
“I know the gentleman. I saw him yesterday, or he other day, or then, or then, with such or such, and as you say, there was a gaming, there overtook in s rouse” Polonius to ReynaldoThis is what you are going to say and exactly how you are going to say it
“See you now, your bait of falsehood take this carp of truth, and thus do we of wisdom and of reach, with windlasses, and with assays of bias, by indirections find directions out; so by my former lecture and advice shall you my son. You have me have you not?” Polonius to ReynaldoMetaphor: fishing…planting a falsehood to catch the truthdo you undersand?Make sure your little lie brings out the truth. We’re doing this wisely and intelligently, indirectly, finding out things by roundabout means. That’s how you’ll find out what my son is up to in Paris. You get my point, don’t you?
“By indirections find directions out” Polonius to reynaldoby asking indirect questions we will find out the answersby leading people astray the truth comes back to you
“Observe his inclination in yourself” Polonius to Reynaldoreferring to laertesDon’t forget to see what he’s up to with your own eyes. Don’t trust gossip.says this after he tells Reynaldo what to do
“My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet withi his doublet all unbraced, no hat upon his head, his stickins fouled, ungartered, and down gyved to his ankle, pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other, and with a look so piteous in purport as if he haad been loosed out of hell to speak of horrors- he comes before me” Ophelia to Poloniusreferring to Hamletimagerydescribes Hamlet being a messsynatical arrangment: one long periodic sentenceconverys her emotional distressFather, I was up in my room sewing when Hamlet came in with no hat on his head, his shirt unbuttoned, and his stockings dirty, undone, and down around his ankles. He was pale as his undershirt, and his knees were knocking together. He looked so out of sorts, as if he’d just come back from hell. He came up to me.
“Mad for thy love” Polonius to Opheliareferring to Hamletnot paternal..responds with no emotionno fatherly “whats wrong honey”jumps to conclsionhamlet is going crazy because you rejected him
“he calls to such perusal of my face as a would draw it. Long stayd he so” Ophelia to Polonius talking about hamlet’s apparence in Ophelia’s roomhe was staring
“He raised a sigh so piteous and profound as it did seem to shatter all his bulk and end his being” Ophelia to Polonius referring to Hamleta man in pain…he didnt even say anythinghe sighed like it was his last breath.
“He seemed to find a way without his eyes, for out a doors he went twithout their helps, and to the last bended their light on me” Ophelia to Poloniustalking about Hamlettheir helps—personificationhe leaves the room staring at hershe was the only constant thing in his life, and now he doesnt have herthis is the last time he can show true emotionmaybe he wants to tell her about the ghost
“This is the very ectasy of love” Polonius to Opheliatalking about Ham;let’s odd appearenace to Opheliauses his daughter as evidence—neeeds to tell Claudius….not paternalThis is definitely love-craziness.
“That does afflict our natures. I am sorry- what have you given him any hard words of late?” Polonius to OPheliaDid you tell him anything that might have hurt his feelings lately?
“No, my good lord, but as you did command I did repel his letters, and denied his access to me” Ophelia to Poloniusshe rejected his letters and cut off all ties
“That hath made him amd” Polonius to Opehliajumps to conclusion that Ophelia’s cutting off all ties with Hamlet is what made him crazysets everything in motion
“I had not coted him. I feared he did but trifle and meant to wrack thee, but beshrow my jealousy” talking to himselfpolonius to Ophelia I thought he was just toying with you and meant to ruin your reputation. Damn my suspicious thoughts!
“Come we go to the king. this must be known, which being kept to close, might move more grief to hide, than hate to utter love” Polonius to Ophelia Come on, let’s go see the king. We’ve got to discuss this matter, which could cause more trouble if we keep it secret than if we discuss it openly.coupletslant ryhmecommands her
“Moreover that we did much long to see you” King to Rosencranz and Guildensternfalse—uses you instead of thou I’ve wanted to see you for a long time now,
“Something have you heard of Hamlet’s transformation, so call it” King to Rosencranz and Guildensterngets right to the point
“What it should be, more than his father’s death, that thus hath put him so much from the understanding of himself, I cannot dream of. I entreat you both that, being of so young d ays brought up with him” King to Rosencranz and GuildensternI can’t imagine what’s made him so unlike himself, other than his father’s death. Since you both grew up with him and are so familiar with his personality and behavior, I’m asking you to stay a while at court and spend some time with him. inverted syntax—what it should beemphasis on Hamlet’s problems so he wont show his true intentionsputs the emphasis on the end
“Some little time, so by your companies to draw him on to pleasures, and to gather so much as from occasion you may glean, whether ought to us unknown afflicts him thus, that, opned lies with our remedy” King to Rosencranz and Guildensternget hamlet into a comfortable situtationour remedy—the use of the royal we
“Your visitation shall recieve such thanks as a king’s rememberance” Queen to Rosencranz and Guildensternher focus is on Hamlet’s wellbeingtone shiftIf you’ll be so good as to spend some time with us and help us out, you’ll be thanked on a royal scale.
“Good gentlemen, he hath much talked of you, and sure I am two men there is not living to whom he more adheres” Queen to Rosencranz and Guildensternmore gentle and welcoming tonefocuses on the freidnship
“And I beseech you instantly to visit my too much changed son” Queen to Rosencranz and Guildenstern Go now to Hamlet
“The embassadors from Norway my good lord, are joyfully returned” Polonius to King
“Heavens make our presence and our practices pleasant and helpful to him!” Guildenstern apostropheI hope to God we can make him happy and do him some good!
“Both to my God and to my gracious king; and I do think, or else this brain of mine” Polonius to kingperiodic sentence I’m only doing my duty both to my God and my good king. And I believe—unless this brain of mine is not so politically cunning as it used to be
“As it hath us to do, that I have found the very cause of Hamlet’s lunacy” Polonius to Kingthat I’ve found out why Hamlet’s gone crazy.
“Give first admittance to the embassadors; my news shall by the fruit to that great feast” Polonius to KingI will tell you after you meet with the ambassadors since my news will be like desserticing on the cake
“He hath found the head and source of all your son’s distemper” King to PoloniusYour—formalno longer the royal we
“I doubt it is no ther than the main, his father’s death and our overhasty marriage” Queen to KingShe believes that Hamlet’s sadness is because of the marriage and death she does not suspect Claudius at all
“Upon our first, he sent out to suppress his nephew’s leviesm which to him appeared to be a preparation against the Polack; but better looked into, he truly found it was against your highness” Voltemand to Kingmade him see the truth
“Was falsely bourne in hand, sends out arrests on Fortibras, which he, in breif, obeys, recieves rebuke from Norway, and in fine, makes vow before his uncle never more to give the assay of arms against your Majesty” Voltemand to King
“it likes us well, and at our more considered time we’ll read, answer, and think upon this business” King
“Therefore since brevity is the soul of wit, and tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be breif. Your noble son is mad: mad call I it” polonius to Kinginverted syntax—-your noble son is mad: mad call I it”
“More matter with less art” Queen to PoloniusPlease, stick to the point.
“That hes mad, tis true, tis true, tis pity, and pity tis tis true- a foolish figure” Isocolon It’s true he’s crazy, and it’s a shame it’s true, and it’s truly a shame he’s crazy—but now I sound foolish
“That we find out the cause of this effect, or rather say, the cause of this defect, for this effect defective comes by cause” Polonius to KingMore build up