Hamlet

1. Scene 1 of the second act reveals some characteristics regarding Polonius particularly. The first line that Polonius says is "Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo", referring to Laertes. This could show that Polonius generally wants to take care of Laertes, making sure he has the money he needs. It seems that despite some of the ridiculous things Polonius does, he does genuinely care about his children. Although Reynaldo is being ordered by Polonius to go spy on Laertes, maybe this is out of concern for his son as well. He mentions drinking, fencing, swearing, quarreling, and Drabbing as some of the things in which Laetes could be doing. Polonius does not always need to appear as a terrible guy, just maybe a protective father. Further along in the scene, however, Polonius works to manipulate Reynaldo into going and seeing what it is Laertes does. He reaches him how should ask questions to Laertes' friends in order to find out what they are doing. Polonius says, "Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth" as well as "By indirections find directions". These statements suggest that Polonius is deceitful and wishes for Reynaldo to be just as tricky or sly in finding out about Laertes. The third incident that reflects the character or Polonius is seen in his conversation with his daughter, Ophelia. In his final statements to her he says, "it is common for the young sort to lack discretion". As previously seen in the story, Polonius dictates how Ophelia should live her life. By this comment he is suggesting that he is older and wiser. Polonius plays the role of the common male character, who is in control and all-knowing.

2. In scene two Rosencrantz and Guildenstern try to figure out the reason behind Hamlet's madness. Through their conversation it seems that Hamlet's madness is self-inflicted and is not truly crazy. I think the first sign of this is when Hamlet tells his friends that he knows the King and Queen have sent them to him. Being sure of this shows that Hamlet is aware of his aunt and uncle's concern regarding the madness that has come over him recently. Hamlet even goes on to say that he knows the reason for his friend's coming. He says they have come because he has lost his "mirth" and "forgone all custom of exercises". By recognizing the purpose of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's visit it seems that Hamlet knows how he's been acting and is doing it on purpose. He knows how his madness is causing his aunt and uncle to react and that is exactly what he wanted. Hamlet is clearly aware that he has changed, and admits to this when he recognizes the reason for the visit. After the trumpets sound and the players come it can finally be concluded that Hamlet is causing himself to be mad. He bluntly says, "my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived", meaning that he is in fact tricking them. He continues by saying "I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw". Hamlet is admitting that he only sometimes pretends to be mad, when really he is not. He is certainly choosing when he will appear crazy, and that is especially during the times he is in from of his aunt and uncle. Hamlet's madness is definitely purposeful.

3. Polonius and Claudius listen in on Hamlet's conversation in order to see if he is mad because of his love for Ophelia or not. Afterwards the king decides that it does not seem that Hamlet has been going crazy because of love, but Polonius still thinks that it could be the reason. Hamlet talks about suicide and acts as if the world is a terrible place for anyone to want to be. He becomes rude toward Ophelia and says that he no longer loves her. He tells her, "Get thee to a nunnery: why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?". It seems that Hamlet is not only mad at Ophelia but to everyone in general, but nonetheless his attitude toward her has become completely opposite than it was before. There is question on why this has happened, but it seems that perhaps one possibility is that Hamlet's life is now dedicated to searching and killing his father's murderer. That has become the most important thing to him and maybe Ophelia has become thrown on the back burner because of it. At this point it seems possible that he really does love her somewhere deep inside of him but he has let everything that is going on around him drive him crazy as well as gotten in the way of his love for Ophelia.