Hamlet Act II Response

[maribarraza]

I was very shocked to find out how far most of these characters would go to make sure other characters would follow or believe them. For example Polonius tells Reynaldo "That’s not my meaning. But breathe his faults so quaintly" (pg 43) which means that he wants to make sure Reynaldo is keeping an eye out on Hamlet. Another example would be Hamlet, because he uses Ophelia. He is able to ensure that Ophelia will tell Polonius that he is crazy. On page 46 she says that Hamlet was in her room and he did not look like himself. After telling Polonius, he then goes to tell the king and queen. They are suprised to hear that he is going crazy. But yet why dont they do anything to try to sincerely help him? It seems like they are just like oh hey my son is not himself and it might have something to do with the fact that we married each other. Im interested to see how his mother Gertrude handles the situation when Hamlet gets worse, that is if he gets worse. :)

[derekdowney]

It is much like our school actually. Hamlet is the newest gossip, and as such the story of his madness is being spread like wildfire through Elsinore. The reader just has the ability to watch the channel of news trickle through to each charecter in turn. In Shakespear's time madness had no treatment, so although they know Hamlet is mad they know neither what is causing the madness nor how to treat said madness. I to wish to see how Gertrude reacts and if we get to read a segment between herself and Claudius and obtain some answers as to the crime.