Act 2, Scene 2 Overview (Part 2)

After Gertrude and Claudius leave, Polonius and Hamlet converse for a short time. Hamlet keeps up his act of pretending to be crazy, leading Polonius onto believe exactly what Polonius thought was the reason Hamlet had gone crazy: because of his love for Ophelia. On his way out, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter.



Hamlet begins talking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and gets them to tell him that they were sent by the King and Queen to see what is wrong with him. Hamlet then goes on to say he is bored with men and women alike and enjoys nothing in the world. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are upset at this because they've asked an acting troupe to come by and cheer up Hamlet. The troupe they got is the same one Hamlet enjoyed when he was younger. When asking how the troupe was able to stop by, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern explain to Hamlet that they are now a traveling troupe because a new troupe with all small boys as actors are now more popular than the other troupe.



Polonius returns, telling Hamlet and the others that the troupe has arrived. In a brief conversation, Hamlet mocks Polonius and continues to lead him on thinking he is crazy in love with his daughter. The players (actors) then enter and Hamlet greets them. He recites the line from a play he saw them perform once and asks them to start their acting from there. The first player then goes on with the speech Hamlet asked for and stops after Polonius cuts him off because he is about to cry because of the sad story. Soon after this, Hamlet tells Polonius to see to it that the players are comfortable and are given more than they deserve. He then dismisses Rosencrantz and Guildenstern until the following day, leaving Hamlet alone on stage.


Hamlet speaks to the audience, asking how an actor can get so worked up by reciting a speech of a man he had never even met, and he, Hamlet, shows no external emotion for the betrayal of his uncle on his father. He wonders why he still has not done anything but go around pretending to be crazy. He then recalls a time when he saw a scene of a play that was so well done that the people of the crowd would confess their sins outloud. He then says he will put his uncle, the king, to the test, by having the troupe staying with him put on an act to see if King Claudius gives up any signs of guilt. He exits.