Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 1

Hamlet

Act 2, Scene 1:

In this scene Polonius is giving instructions to his servant Reynaldo to spy on Laertes, his son, in Paris. (Again, note the theme of spying)

Polonius is giving Reynaldo money to give to his son, but tells him to “to make inquire of his behavior”.

“Inquire me first what Danskers are in town….”

This is an example of elision or omission of words (words are intentionally left out to insure the lines scan in iambic pentameter.) What word or words are left out?

Dansker: Danes

Polonius tells Reynaldo to inquire about Laertes’ behavior in a roundabout general way: “encompassment and drift of question” and by this way will arrive at the truth faster and more completely than by asking directly (“…come you more nearer / Than your particular demands will touch it.”) Do you think that’s true?

Polonius further instructs Reynaldo, the servant, to say that he doesn’t know him well, but has some “…distant knowledge of him…”

Mark: Listen well! Are you paying attention? Do you understand?

Forgeries: lies

Polonius: Put on what forgeries you please –

But none so rank as may dishonor him….

Tell what lies you want as long as they are not so bad (rank) that they will dishonor him.

“Such wanton, wild and usual slips

As are companions noted and most known

To youth and liberty.”

In other words such things that a normal, healthy young man on his own might do.

Gaming: betting

Drabbing: patronizing brothels and prostitutes.

Reynaldo protests that asking about drabbing would dishonor Laertes, but Polonius replies:

Polonius: “You might season it in the charge.”

State the drabbing in such a way that it is not scandalous.

Incontinency: sexual promiscuity

Quaintly: cleverly

Polonius:

“But breathe his faults so quaintly

That they may seem the taints of liberty,

The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,

A savageness in unreclaimed blood,

Of general assault.”

Polonius is saying to ask the questions so cleverly that his behavior may be seen as typical, normal, healthy behavior of a robust young man.

Sullied: dirtied

Prenominate: aforementioned

Polonius:

“Your bait of falsehood take this carp of truth” is an example of metaphor.

“And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,

With windlasses and with assays of bias,

By indirections find directions out…” is another example of metaphor.

Polonius uses gaming metaphors (windlasses is a hunting term; assays of bias is used in bowling – throwing the ball on a curve lets the ball curve closer to its goal) to show the indirect way is the best way to arrive at the truth.

Apostrophe: calling out to someone who is not there or to a thing or concept that cannot answer back.

Apostrophe: also shows that something or someone is missing.

Cannot = can’t

The apostrophe shows that something (in this case the “o”) is missing.

Example: “O death, where is thy sting?”

Kacey:

Polonius tells Reynaldo to spy on his son who is in Paris.

Nelson:

Ophelia comes in and says that Hamlet is acting crazy. Polonius thinks that Hamlet has been driven mad because he is in love with her and she has rejected him.

Literary Devices:

Page 79:

Simile and possibly allusion:

And with a look so piteous in purport

As if he been loosed out of hell.

Marry: oath that vaguely refers to the Virgin Mary.