Hamlet: Act Ii

1. The dramatic purpose that Polonius serves at the


beginning of act II is the portrayal and delineation


of his character, the Lord Chamberlain.   We see in the


artificiality of his discourse how cynical he is.   We


also see he cares for the actions of his children,


mostly because they can blacken his name.   He is


suspicious of other people, thus he trusts no one.






2. Polonius asks Reynaldo to go on a trip to Paris in


order to give money to Laertes.   Polonius also wants


Reynaldo to spy on Laertes and to ask other Danes in


Paris who might know him of his actions.






3. Polonius is willing to tolerate in Laertes any


behavior which might not make him look bad,


considering he is a youth.   He gives the examples of


gaming, drinking, fencing, swearing, quarreling and


drubbing.






4. Ophelia is frightened by Hamlet’s first visit


because she believes his disheveled appearance is her


fault because, obeying her father’s wishes, she has


been refusing his love.






5. Polonius interprets Hamlet’s actions as those of


love-madness.   He intends to tell King Claudius about


it.






6. Polonius wants to test his theory about Hamlet’s


madness by allowing Ophelia to meet with the Prince,


while he and Claudius hid themselves and observe the


encounter.






7. Claudius and Gertrude have brought Rosencranz and


Guildentstern to Denmark to ask them for a favor.


Because the two are Hamlet’s friends, the King and


Queen want them to try to get information about this


transformation.






8. Polonius is laughable and pathetic because he seems


to think everything revolves around him and his


family.   He never once doubts that Hamlet’s madness
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