... . Summary: Polonius sends Reynaldo to France with money and written notes for Laertes, he orders him to spy on Laertes personal life. Polonius suspects that Hamlet may be madly in love with Ophelia and that may be the cause of Hamlet's moodiness. ACT 2 SCENE 2 Characters: King, Guildenstern, Rosencrantz, Polonius, Hamlet Setting: Room in castle. (After midnight) Summary: Polonius declares, that the ... of the castle, so when he does, they could hide behind a curtain while Ophelia confronts Hamlet, allowing them to see for themselves whether Hamlet's madness is really caused from his love...

• Word Count: 1180
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... of the play when he was advising her against believing Hamlet's love, albeit in a domineering way, just like Hamlet's attitude with his mother, the only other female in the play, as when he was advising her against sleeping with Claudius in the future. Therefore, one can note that both characters ... is known for its study of philosophy and religion, where as Laertes studies in Paris and is eagerly waiting to go back after attending the coronation of Claudius in Denmark, not so much for studying but for the life of "drinking, fencing, swearing, quarreling, drabbing" (II, ii, 25). Therefo...

• Word Count: 777
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Graduate

... the supporting characters that he affects. Although Hamlet has a profound impact on every character in the play, the effects on Ophelia, Polonius, and Claudius seem to be the most significant. The relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia rapidly changes with the modifications of Hamlet's state of mind. Initially, ... next interaction occurs during the play where Hamlet lets on to his knowledge of his father's murder. In Act II, Scene 1, Polonius and Claudius observe while Hamlet and Ophelia have their first conversation in the play. The final interaction between Hamlet and Polonius takes ...

• Word Count: 922
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... loves whom he bitterly rejects when he learns she has betrayed him. Cunning and inventive, Hamlet changes the lines of a play performed before King Claudius to divine whether King Hamlet's Ghost told him the truth about his father's death. At the end of the play, Hamlet kills both ... Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (indirectly), Laertes and finally King Claudius before dying himself from a wound inflicted by Laertes. Horatio: Friend to Hamlet and the one person Hamlet truly trusts. Witnesses King Hamlet's Ghost ... consternation of Hamlet who believes his mother has betrayed him and his fa...

• Word Count: 1060
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... are to deliver to the King of England. The king owes favors to Denmark. Claudius sent letters directing the king to see that Hamlet dies. Ophelia is distraught over her father's death and her loss of Hamlet's love. Her brother, Laertes arrives from Paris to revenge the death of his father, ... Polonius. He discovers that not only has his father been killed but that is sister has gone mad. Ophelia commits suicide. Claudius tells Laertes that Hamlet is the right target ... hide and discover that the funeral is for Ophelia. Laertes openly curses Hamlet. Hamlet jumps into the grave and the t...

• Word Count: 1136
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... was able to distract those around him and concentrate on finding out whether or not Claudius murdered his father. He convinced his mother (Gertrude) and Polonius that he was mad toward the fair Ophelia, mad for her love. While Rosencrantz and Guildenstern don't know what to make of his mental state, ... when they report back to Claudius. But Claudius is never convinced his madness was driven by love and makes plans to send Hamlet to England. While creating a new ... not have to guess or suspect is what brings his excitement. By the end of the play Hamlet no longer seems insane just heate...

• Word Count: 924
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... the play, Hamlet's father, King Hamlet, dies. Just over a month later while Hamlet is still mourning, Hamlet's mother, Gertrude, remarries with Hamlet's uncle, Claudius. The actions of his mother cause Hamlet to feel outrage along with grief. Others believe that the cause of Hamlet's madness is that his lover, Ophelia, ended ... their relationship. Polonius is so sure that the root of Hamlet's madness is love that he sets up an encounter between Hamlet and Ophelia so that Polonius and Claudius can spy on Hamlet and see if love truly is the cause of his madness. The majority of the people...

• Word Count: 1191
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• Grade Level: High School

... obvious; the powerful man. In the play Hamlet, Gertrude is faced with a similar situation. She must choose between Hamlet, the less powerful man, and Claudius, the extremely powerful man. Hamlet confronts her and asks what her decision is, to which she replies: "O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in ... the purer with the other half." (III, IV, 157-158). Hamlet is simply saying that he is the "purer" part of Gertrude's heart, and Claudius is the "worser" part. As in most cases, Gertrude sides with the "worser", but more powerful man. Aside from just choosing the more powerful man ... p...

• Word Count: 1154
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... 't even take the time to see who is in the closet; his state of mind and suspicion that it is Claudius causes him to attack without questions. If Hamlet had known it was Polonius, he would have decided on some other ... her father and now her blood is also on his hands. When Hamlet is banished to the English court by King Claudius for the murder of Polonius, the two courtiers, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, are sent with him to assure that he dies in ... their deaths. The last four deaths all occur in Act 5, scene 2 and are all caused by poison. Claudius supplies the poison, but the wea...

• Word Count: 911
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... loves her or not. Hamlet had loved her but started to act weird after seeing his father's ghost his mind was set on getting revenge towards Claudius so this lead Ophelia and Hamlet to tragedy because they were both acting crazy. Ophelia, as a female character is suppressed by hamlet in her romantic ... Hamlet, but there is also self-destruction throughout the play. Hamlet's urge for revenge is clouding his judgment and he doesn't realize trying to destroy Claudius is actually destroying himself at the same time, same thing for Laertes, wanting to avenge his father Polonius and sister Ophe...

• Word Count: 833
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... verify the truthfulness of the ghost and also to allow himself more time. After learning the truth, Hamlet still continues to procrastinate the killing of Claudius. Although Hamlet is full of purpose, he lacks the ability to carry out his intentions, and thus allows his character flaw to eventually destroy ... him. Another characteristic that acts against Hamlet is his excessive melancholiness. Hamlet experiences rejection from his true love, anger from the murder of his father, betrayal from his friends and family, and fear from what lies ahead. These feelings of pain and ... speeches....

• Word Count: 1213
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... -384). So says Horatio, best friend of Prince Hamlet in the final few lines of the play. He speaks these words after the deaths of Hamlet, Claudius, King of Denmark, Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, and Laertes, son of Polonius. Also dead are Hamlet, King of Denmark, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, former friends ... ghost, and eventually the ghost appears to Hamlet and speaks with him. The ghost surprises Hamlet by saying, "If thou didst ever thy dear father love "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder- (Hamlet, Act I, Scene 5, Lines 23 and 25). Hamlet had not realized that his father had ...

• Word Count: 944
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... topical theme of appearance vs. reality to evoke many issues within society and bring them to light. He presents us with two main characters to represent each belief; Claudius, as a Protestant, a politician who defies divine right by taking power not receiving it; and Hamlet as a Catholic, fighting for the restoration of order. Act ... irony within the twins, they are asked by the king to find out the truth by hiding within a lie, by pretending to be Hamlet's friends. Claudius is probably the character most hiding behind a mask. On the surface he appears to be an honest and honorable man...

• Word Count: 948
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... letter asking him to speak to Fortinbras. Old Norway, the uncle of Fortinbras, was unaware that his nephew was raising an army against Denmark. Claudius learns that Old Norway summoned Fortinbras to meet him as soon as he heard about his nephew's plans. Fortinbras complied with the summons and ... was forced to vow to never attack Denmark ever again and was allowed to attack Poland instead. Old Norway also wrote a letter to Claudius asking him to allow Fortinbras a safe passage through Denmark on the way Poland. Polonius convinced that Hamlet has gone mad brings a letter from Hamlet ... ...

• Word Count: 771
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• Grade Level: High School

... insane only at certain times. You are either insane or you are not insane. Hamlet is pretending to be insane so that he could later kill Claudius and get away with it by saying he was mad. There are many times in the play that Hamlet acted perfectly sane and announced his "antic ... disposition" to people. Hamlet's "antic disposition" begins when the ghost of his father tells him about how he was murdered by Claudius and to avenge his death. Hamlet firmly states to Horatio that he might begin to act odd or weird, and that when he does to not to ... had killed him there, all of Cladius'...

• Word Count: 1177
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... of being melancholy is his father's, Hamlet Sr.'s sudden death, and the hasty marriage between his mother, Gertrude, and his uncle, Claudius. Hamlet has his own belief that a marriage should not exist between family members. Hamlet shows his anger in his first soliloquy, because ... Claudius ever respect Hamlet Sr.? If they respected him even a bit, they would take more than one month to decide. Moreover, did they respect Hamlet? They could have ask Hamlet's permission or what he thought of the marriage. As a result, the hasty marriage compels Hamlet to confront his moral belief. Hamlet ...

• Word Count: 872
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... and believes that what the spirit tells him is the truth. Hamlet promises that he will kill Claudius, his uncle: "Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge" (Act I scene v.p23-24). However, after much examination an ... Although Hamlet anxiously wants to seek revenge and plans it out, he cannot bring himself to commit the murder and is in constant search of justification to kill Claudius. During his soliloquies he gets very emotional and questions and criticizes himself: "Am I a coward?" (Act II scene ii. p49) and "Why,...

• Word Count: 785
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• Grade Level: High School

... play writers of all times. Hamlet was an odd character in the play because of the way he acted. Hamlet is intelligent, mad, and selfish. Hamlet is a very intelligent character. Claudius and Polonius planned to send Hamlet to England to be put to death, escorted by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Hamlet was supposed to be killed in England by getting beheaded, but ... he found a way around it. "" My head should be struck off," (V, 2) ""Read it at more leisure"" (V, 2) and ""Devised a new commission, wrote it fair..." (V, 2) shows how Hamlet outsmarted Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Claudius, a...

• Word Count: 650
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... children who exhibit varying degrees of madness after their fathers" untimely deaths. Hamlet thought highly of his father, as a king and as a man, better than Claudius "so excellent a king; that was, to this / Hyperion to a Satyr; so loving to my mother / That he might not beteem the winds of ... (1. 2. 139-142). Here he is saying that comparing his father and Claudius is like comparing a god to a beast. Hamlet cannot believe that his mother could so quickly fall in love with Claudius when she seemed so in love with Hamlet Senior as well. When he finds out from his father's ... ghost t...

• Word Count: 1204
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... make the actors act out a play similar to the way his father was murdered to, "make mad the guilty and appall the free" (II,ii591), in order to see if Claudius was really guilty or not. A mad man would not be able to think of a plan like this. Also, when Hamlet finds ... he was confessing, the murderer's soul would go to heaven and Hamlet's father would not be revenged. He vows to kill Claudius, "when he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, or in th" incestuous pleasure of his bed" (III,iv,94-95), so that he would go to hell. A crazy person ... like he is insane only around the people he ...

• Word Count: 619
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... ambition; with the Queen and King, that it is their marriage that has upset him; and with Polonius and Ophelia, that it is frustrated love that has driven him mad. These rapid and clumsy changes, from rational speech with those he trusts to irrational conversation with those whom he wishes to ... impress, are strong evidence of fraud. However, Hamlet knows he must act mad if he wants Claudius to believe him, so Hamlet uses his confrontations with Ophelia to display it. Ophelia is manipulated by Hamlet for his own personal gain, but in ... he pays the ultimate price. On his way to solvin...

• Word Count: 1057
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... becomes as corrupt as those whom he seeks revenge on, and those whom seeks revenge against him. Hamlet loses his moral integrity by killing other people when Claudius is the only person he is supposed to seek revenge on. After killing Polonius, Gertrude makes a comment of what a bad deed this was but Hamlet ... to make her feel bad because Ophelia rejected him after he told her that he loved her. It would seem that he is trying to express love for his father by seizing revenge for him, but he is actually just causing chaos and corruption. Laertes also has a huge impact on corruption ... ...

• Word Count: 754
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... supportive of Hamlet, and people who are indifferent. Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern loathe Hamlet. Polonius, King Claudius? loyal subject and right-hand man, detests Hamlet because he thinks Hamlet is madly in love with his daughter Ophelia. Hamlet's refusal to be thus translated in what leads to Polonius's death. Polonius ... time. After this, he treats them as the tools they have become? (Mack 265). Hamlet realizes that these two are being used by Claudius to dupe him into going to England with the ulterior motive of having the King of England execute him. While they are divul...

• Word Count: 1248
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... himself. Ophelia feels that Hamlet's dress is one of someone who has been loosed from hell to speak of horrors. Hamlet's uncharted madness leads Hamlet to tell Ophelia, his dear love, he has never loved her. Hamlet's statement, "Get thee to a nunnery" was very cruel and cold. Hamlets madness doesn't stop with words. Unknowingly he lashes out and kills Polonius hoping ... that it was King Claudius. This is an irrational action. The shedding of innocent blood with no remorse prove to be enough evidence for insanity. As Polonius lay motionless on the floor , his murderer proves ... out wa...

• Word Count: 650
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... of appearance verses reality by ordering Ophelia to stop seeing Hamlet. He lies to her telling her that Hamlet does not love her, he only lusts for her, while in truth he does love her:Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul.? Throughout the ... melodrama continues Hamlet goes with the twins to reclaim money that another state owes Denmark. In actuality Hamlet is sent off to whither because the king, Claudius knows that Hamlet knows too much and must be killed. The twins show their appearance of being Hamlets friends but in truth they have a...

• Word Count: 835
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School