Class Notes: February 18, 2009

Act 2: Scene 2

• R and G twist Hamlet's words, "Man delights not me." R and G laugh at Hamlet suggesting that he is gay. In reality Hamlet meant that no one in humanity pleases him. (This is a small joke used to please the groundlings, becuase they love crude, sexual humor.) After Hamlet asks them why they laughed they change their rational: R and G say that the reason they were laughing is because the players are coming and Hamlet is going to give them a very cold welcome. But...Hamlet is very excited that the players are coming! (This confuses R and G, and also is a play inside of a play, which is kind of what Hamlet's character represents, aka Appearance vs. Reality. Shakespeare is writing about being something that he is not)
• Hamlet is playing a role to R and G, like forgetting their names, proving that Hamlet is not too close to them (as friends). But Hamlet needs them for his plan, and will use them to the best of his ability.
• The ghost is not mentioned, we can assume that the ghost is around, but not appearing in the play, to create confusion. (Reminder of a 5 act play structure, complications)
• Before the players came back Polonius comes back. R and G think one thing about Hamlet, and Polonius thinks another, because Hamlet told each of them different stories. (Complication: He is in the room with both of them!) Hamlet quickly thinks of a common ground to assure that no questions will be asked. Common Ground: He mocks Polonius, but how he gets away with it is more important...Hamlet tells R and G that he is going to act crazy right now! (which is normal to Polonius). Life comes full circle, tells 2 children to mess around with the old guy. R and G just think that Hamlet is just messing around, (which also looks like madness to Polonius), and tells a story about a daughter, (which makes Polonius think about the Hamlet and Ophelia controversey.
• Hamlet's genius plan gives him no problems, and a quick solution.
• Hamlet says his actions are as changeable as the wind. He can change at a moment...NNW=crazy. Hawk and a Handsaw=proverb that means "I can distinguish between things that do not resemble each other." Hamlet confesses to R and G that he is not crazy, Hamlet is playing games with R and G. Ultimate tragic flaw is pride, Hamlet has so much pride and is flaunting it by messing with R and G.
• He inserts children into the play because it was happening while he was writing Hamlet, in London. Children are actors in great tragedy's.

John Leskow