ACT+2

JACKIE + TOMA

MOJTABA + JOHN


 * ACT II**
 * by: Jackie & Toma**

In this scene, we see Polonius and Reynaldo discussing on Laertes adventure to France for school and Hamlets madness for Ophelia’s love. Polonius hands his messenger, Reynaldo, money to be given to his son, Laertes. Polonius does not trust his own son, so he advises Reynaldo to go and spy for him and to bring back any information he can get from Laertes whereabouts. Polonius wants his messenger to follow Laertes everywhere he goes, whether he will be drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling or drabbing. Polonius and Reynaldo say their goodbyes and Reynaldo leaves to France. Ophelia enters the room and discusses horrible news with Polonius. Ophelia feels that Hamlet is rejecting everything that she is saying to him and he is not showing any passion towards her. Ophelia feels very discouraged and upset about Hamlet's actions towards her.
 * SUMMARY**
 * __Scene I:__**

In Act II Scene II, the King sends for Hamlet’s friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to spy for him. He wants them to figure out the cause of Hamlet’s new found craziness. Hamlet does not know of this plan, and is surprised at their arrival, but will soon figure out that they are not there for him. Although they are sent to spy, it is Polonius who suggests that the cause of the insanity is because he had been rejected by Ophelia. To try and prove himself, he shows the King and Queen a letter Hamlet had written to Ophelia. To try and get Hamlet back to normal, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern send him a group of actors to put on a show for him. Right away Hamlet insists that they do a play that he has come up with. The piece closely mirrors the death of his father, in hopes that his uncle will show his guilt for the murder.
 * __Scene II:__**

1. Who does the King send to spy on Hamlet? 2. What is Ophelia's 'bad news'? 3. What does Polonius think the cause of Hamlet's craziness is? 4. Why does Hamlet start acting crazy towards Ophelia as well? 5. Why does Hamlet insist on writing the play that will be performed?
 * __Study Questions:__**

to help you remember this scene, please enjoy this clip from //The Lion King//. We chose this because it represents the play about Hamlet's uncle killing his father. []
 * Dear Classmates...**

__** Summary of Act 2 **__ Act two begins with Polonius who is instructing his servant, Reynaldo, to go after Laertes in France and spy on him. He sent Reynaldo to his business, while he has told him his sneaky plan about Laertes. Just after Reynaldo leaves, Ophelia enters while she is frightened and frustrated. She talks about Hamlet, who came into her room and disturbed her with his bad language and manner. Further on Ophelia describes; as her father said she refused all of Hamlet’s letters and didn’t contact him. After Ophelia’s speech Polonius concludes that Hamlet’s madness is because of this rejection and he has been heart broken. He thinks that it is why that Hamlet is acting crazy. Polonius is rushing to tell his discovery to king because he thinks Claudius is interested to know about Hamlet's behaviours.
 * Act 2, Scene 1 **

King Claudius and queen are sending Rosencrantz and Guildenstern after Hamlet to find out why is he acting unnatural. On the other hand Polonius enters and tells the king about his new discovery. He says about Hamlet who experienced a failed love course. He then reveals the letters, which Hamlet has sent Ophelia, to Claudius. After these conversations with king, Polonius goes to talk to Hamlet. While Polonius tries to talk to Hamlet, he answers his questions irrationally and he doesn’t take it seriously. When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive to Hamlet's place, as the king was ordered, Hamlet happily greets them but after a while he realizes that they are here to spy on him and get some information about his strange behaviors. They finally confess the truth and Hamlet still acts strange in front of them because he knows that they will tell this to the king. So far Hamlet is suspicious about his father’s death. He believes this was all a “planed murder”. He wants to make a play in front of the king and queen, which resembles the same story as his father’s death. If he sees the Claudius’ reaction and signs of guilt in him, he will then find out that Claudius is the murderer of his father.
 * Act 2, Scene 2 **


 * Study Questions **
 * 1) Why Polonius sends people after his son to report for him?
 * 2) Why Hamlet suddenly changed his opinion about Ophelia and starts to harass her?
 * 3) What is the significance of the king knowing the reason of Hamlets crazy actions?
 * 4) What do you think is the motive of Ophelia?
 * 5) Do you think Ophelia really loves Hamlet? then why she didn't contact him in secret?

=** Imagine Now **= =**Act 2 Scene 1**=

=**Act 2 Scene 2**=

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