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Act II - Hamlet. What’s really wrong with Hamlet? “The play’s the thing…”. IIi– Polonius’s house Polonius sends off Reynaldo to monitor Laertes’ behavior and actions Ophelia enters and reports on “unusual” behavior by Hamlet
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Act II - Hamlet What’s really wrong with Hamlet? “The play’s the thing…”
IIi– Polonius’s house • Polonius sends off Reynaldo to monitor Laertes’ behavior and actions • Ophelia enters and reports on “unusual” behavior by Hamlet • After reporting that she did as commanded and spurned him with notes, Polonius concludes that Hamlet’s depressed and crazy b/c he’s mad in love with Ophelia • They exit to inform the king
IIii – a room in castle Ellsinore • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (boyhood friends of Hamlet’s) are asked by the king and queen to visit with Hamlet, try to cheer him up and find out what’s up with him • They go • Polonius enters – Norway report • Voltimand • Polonius tells king that Hamlet’s mad in love
King and Queen exit • Hamlet enters and abuses and mocks Polonius • Polonius exits • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern visit and Hamlet figures out their motive • He confesses to them that he’s only pretending to be crazy and tries to explain his melancholy (in prose) • Players enter
They’ll perform the next eve • Hamlet is going to set up a scene to “catch the conscience of the king”