5. When Hamlet says that he thinks the ghost that he has seen 'may be a devil' in the last lines of this act, the audience may be justifiably surprised. Nowhere previously in the act has Hamlet doubted the ghost's words or identity. In a way, it is convenient for Hamlet to believe that the ghost is a devil.
6. Hamlet says to Polonius: 'Use every man after his desert and who shall 'scape whipping' (II.ii.485). This is a casual remark and is in part an insult to Polonius, suggesting that if he were treated according to what he deserves then he would be whipped.
7. When he visits Ophelia shortly before II.i., Hamlet's madness is supposedly that of melancholy unrequited lover. He is pale, mournful and silent, seemingly driven to distraction by the loss of
Ophelia, according to …show more content…
As noted above, Claudius has intuitively divined that there is more to Hamlet's madness than meets the eye. There is a hidden secret which needs to be 'opened' if Claudius is to rule safely.
10. This is an odd section of the play and one which is very frequently cut from performances. There is no consequence of this scene: Reynaldo never comes back from France and so directors need fear no loose ends if they do cut it. In terms of character, the scene enhances our understanding of Polonius. He is shown to be suspicious and cynical, even regarding his own son.
1. maggots in a dead dog (II.ii.179) the air ... appeareth ... to me ... a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours (II.ii.285)
1. Appearances being at odds with reality is a major Shakespearean theme appearing in nearly all of the plays. The answer to the question is, of course, nearly everyone.
Claudius is obviously covering up the fact that he's a murderer and is pretending to be the concerned uncle.
2. Hamlet's friends have turned out to be the King's spies. The tragedians of the city, actors of genuine skill according to Hamlet, have been banned from the city. They are, in any case, happy to move on because their place has been taken by child performers. People who used to make faces at Claudius will now pay a fortune for a miniature of the