‘Hamlet’ Act II Scene I
• Start of Act II with the other domestic family unit – threatened?
• L7 “Danskers are in Paris”: using other Danes in Paris to spy on Laertes –
wants to be proven right? Would make him superior?; wants control over his
son even across borders. Spying is acceptable within the court, politically or
domestically.
• L8-9 “And how, and who, what means, and where they keep, / What company,
at what expense, and finding”: desire to know everything – a kind of
possessing, possession of knowledge gives power.
• L15 “do you mark this, Reynaldo”: he is probably looking bored – no stage
directions. Audience learns his name.
• The theme of honour: Laertes; the family; Denmark?
• L17 “’And in part him, but’, you may say, ‘not well/”: removing R’s voice –
coercive.
• L20-1 “What forgeries you please. Marry, none so rank / As may dishonour
him”: acceptable for him to get up to a certain amount of questionable things,
but only some.
o ➔ L25-6 “Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, / Quarrelling, drabbing –
you may go so far.”
▪ “swearing” → swearing false oaths.
▪ “drabbing” → whoring.
• L27 “dishonour him”: higher standard than Polonius.
• L29/33 “not put another scandal” / “fiery mind”: way of excusing his
behaviour – spin unacceptable.
• L35 “But my good lord –”: R is clearly against this action. P is out of touch?
• L40 “a little soiled with working”: just a bit corrupt.
• P wants R to make something up in order to get people to respond with actual
truths – R thinks it will only dishonour him further.
• L45-7 “’Good sir’ (or so), or ‘friend’ or ‘gentleman’, / According to the phrase
or the addition / Of man and country”: not reaching an actual point – lacking
concentration.
• L49 “What was I about to say?”: bumbling, despite being an authority figure,
uses filler phrases, and witters on.
• L51 “At ‘closes in the consequence’.”: perfect courtier, if of lower rank.
• L72 “I have been so affrighted”: runs to her father seeking comfort. Also, she
may be obligated to tell him everything. Primarily upset.
• L75 “Lord Hamlet”: mixing/returning to this aspect of the play.
• L75-81 “Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced…And with a look so
piteous in purport / As if he had been loosed out of hell / To speak of horrors,
he comes before me”: characteristic figure of the Elizabethan monarchy -
medieval/cultural image and concept. Extremely understanding and
compassionate, considering the distress it must have given her.
• Start of Act II with the other domestic family unit – threatened?
• L7 “Danskers are in Paris”: using other Danes in Paris to spy on Laertes –
wants to be proven right? Would make him superior?; wants control over his
son even across borders. Spying is acceptable within the court, politically or
domestically.
• L8-9 “And how, and who, what means, and where they keep, / What company,
at what expense, and finding”: desire to know everything – a kind of
possessing, possession of knowledge gives power.
• L15 “do you mark this, Reynaldo”: he is probably looking bored – no stage
directions. Audience learns his name.
• The theme of honour: Laertes; the family; Denmark?
• L17 “’And in part him, but’, you may say, ‘not well/”: removing R’s voice –
coercive.
• L20-1 “What forgeries you please. Marry, none so rank / As may dishonour
him”: acceptable for him to get up to a certain amount of questionable things,
but only some.
o ➔ L25-6 “Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, / Quarrelling, drabbing –
you may go so far.”
▪ “swearing” → swearing false oaths.
▪ “drabbing” → whoring.
• L27 “dishonour him”: higher standard than Polonius.
• L29/33 “not put another scandal” / “fiery mind”: way of excusing his
behaviour – spin unacceptable.
• L35 “But my good lord –”: R is clearly against this action. P is out of touch?
• L40 “a little soiled with working”: just a bit corrupt.
• P wants R to make something up in order to get people to respond with actual
truths – R thinks it will only dishonour him further.
• L45-7 “’Good sir’ (or so), or ‘friend’ or ‘gentleman’, / According to the phrase
or the addition / Of man and country”: not reaching an actual point – lacking
concentration.
• L49 “What was I about to say?”: bumbling, despite being an authority figure,
uses filler phrases, and witters on.
• L51 “At ‘closes in the consequence’.”: perfect courtier, if of lower rank.
• L72 “I have been so affrighted”: runs to her father seeking comfort. Also, she
may be obligated to tell him everything. Primarily upset.
• L75 “Lord Hamlet”: mixing/returning to this aspect of the play.
• L75-81 “Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced…And with a look so
piteous in purport / As if he had been loosed out of hell / To speak of horrors,
he comes before me”: characteristic figure of the Elizabethan monarchy -
medieval/cultural image and concept. Extremely understanding and
compassionate, considering the distress it must have given her.
