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Polonius's Self-Conflict In Act Two Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare

638 Words3 Pages

Act two of Hamlet is known to be the rising action of the play. It's considered to lead up to the climax because it offers a shift in Polonius’ character from a sycophant to orchestrating a plan to show Hamlet’s madness. It showed Hamlet’s self-conflict, and it also demonstrates the relationship between Polonius and Hamlet. At the beginning of the play, Polonius is introduced as a sycophant that wanted to please King Claudius at any cost. In act two, Polonius starts off the scene asking Reynaldo to accomplish a task. From giving advice to his children and even the King. For example, he is the reason the King and Queen think his suffering because of a heartbreak. In this case, we got to see more of his scheming. Polonius ordered Reynaldo, ”With …show more content…

Hamlet begins to act crazy around Polonius “ Excellent well, you are a fishmonger,” This began the tension them two. As the scene goes on Hamlet continues the act, but Polonius still needs to confirm the reasons why he has gone mad. As Hamlet continues Polonius wonders if this act is real because he seems to only act crazy around Polonius. While Polonius plans to uncover the truth Hamlet seems to be fighting himself due to the fact he doesn’t fully believe what his father’s ghost told him. Hamlet mentions that he has lost all amusement. “I have of late-but wherefore I know not-lost all of my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises.” This feeling is making him rethink his agenda towards Claudius. He has a self-conflict of whether to continue to fight for his father’s death or forget what he knows. After talking to Rus and Guild he realizes they are trying to spy on him. This makes him wonder if the King and Queen are involved. His self-conflict makes him realize he isn’t doing enough to find the truth. “ Post thou hear me, old friend can you play,” The murder of Gonzago?” The play begins his fight against his own thoughts since it will prove if what his father’s ghost was actually

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