Saturday, May 23, 2015

With reference to Act II, who does Hamlet spy on? What is Hamlet's plan and reason for spying? Explain the reason.

I think you must be referring to Hamlet's plan to put on the play, "The Mousetrap" in front of Claudius to see if he can see any signs of guilt. It's the nearest thing I can think of to Hamlet actually spying on anyone - though he is spied on - at least, observed - himself by Polonius earlier in the scene, sort of.

Hamlet decides to put on the play to trap Claudius, and watch him in the audience, to see his reaction:

Hum, I have heard
That guilty creatures, sitting at a play,
Have by the very cunning of the scene
Been struck so to the soul that presently
They have proclaim'd their malefactions.

Though the play scene itself doesn't actually occur in Act 2: only Hamlet's idea and his revelation of the plan in his soliloquy right at the end of Act 2, Scene 2.

Do post again if this isn't what you mean - or you need further help.

No comments:

Post a Comment

What is the main function of the fool in "King Lear"? What is the secondly function?

The fool as a character is confusing, but part of this is the difference between the 1600s and today, as well as the difference in place. If...