Within Act II of Hamlet, the plot begins to branch out as a wide variety of spying and instigating is taking place between various characters. Within scene 1 Polonius sends his servant Reynaldo to spy on his son Laertes to see how he has been behaving while in France. Then in scene 2, the King and Queen bring in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet to see why he is still acting so melancholy. Polonius then comes into the scene expressing that Hamlet’s love for his daughter is the reason for his crazy behavior, because of this the Kind and Polonius conspire to spy on Hamlet, while left alone with Ophelia, to identify his true feelings for her. The whole while Hamlet is playing everyone, making them all think that he is truly mad. But with Hamlet’s smart observations as described within the final scene, we know that Hamlet truly isn’t mad at all.
The character that stood out to me within this Act would have to be Polonius. At this point within the story Polonius is beginning to be viewed more as an antagonist than simply a foil, having to be involved in other people business and know what everyone is up to. He is definitely a busy body within this Act. Both scene one and two had Polonius present, within scene one Polonius sends his servant to spy on his son who is currently in France, the only reason for this would be for Polonius to know his son’s actions while being in France. Then in scene two Polonius suggest to the King that they spy on Hamlet to help identify Hamlet’s feeling for Ophelia. When this idea doesn’t work, Polonius continues to keep a close watch on Hamlet whenever he is present within the scene.
One of the themes viewed within this Act is madness. Hamlet did a wonderful job of making everyone around him think that he was mad, first shown with his conversation with Polonius in the castle. Hamlet first refers to Polonius as a “fishmonger” (1619), then jumping from one notation to another, speaking about honest men and then changing to conversation asking if Polonius has a daughter. Of course he has been acting mad before this point within the story as everyone around him is trying to identify the root of Hamlet’s madness.
I like what you put about Polonius being viewed as more of an antagonist than a foil. He does become more of a hindrance than just a nosy person in this act. I agree that Hamlet is mostly faking the madness that he is showing, but maybe not what he is really feeling. What I mean is that just because Hamlet is a very smart person and fakes his insanity when it benefits him, he may still be affected by his fathers death.
ReplyDeletePolonius is most definitely a foil to Hamlet. This is evident through the way that they act and think. Hamlet is a thinker and a planner, and Polonius has a tenancy to take action without considering the consequences at all. I'm a bit unclear as to how he could be considered the antagonist. Isn't Claudius the antagonist of the play? After all he is the one who killed Hamlet's father.
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about Polonius character being a "busy body" in this Act. I think that is a perfect way to describe him. The means to his end could be seen as very selfish, however, and that is what gives him the motivation to get in everyone's business. He does step out as a main character in this Act, but I don't feel as though he is quite that, I think he is a foil used to reveal additional information with regards to Claudius and Hamlet and their relationship throughout the play.
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