Hamlet Act 2 Scene 2 2/2/10

These are the notes for Tuesday. They will be out of order because someone already posted the Wednesday notes.

The purpose of Guildenstern and Rosencrantz

• spying
• philosophers
• college guys
• want to find out whats wrong with Hamlet- similar to Polonius

"Faith, her privates we."

• multiple meanings
• HER REFERS TO FORTUNE
• Private- is a person in the military - a foot solider- lowest rank- G&R are the lowest in fortunes army, therefore they simply do what she says.
• If your in good with fortune than you get what you want (sexual translation)
• Fortune is a whore

R&G are another source of comic relief when Polonius is not on stage

-Polonius is set up to believe that Hamlet's insanity is all about Love and a broken heart

-R&G are set up to believe that is because Hamlet has had bad dreams

* 2 reason for Hamlet's supposed madness is better than one

Pride is the ultimate tragic flaw- pride- Hamlet is beginning to think that he can out smart anyone - but the reality is that he can not. Hamlet believes in the power of his intelligence--will this lead to his demise?

QUESTION 20:

Maggots were originally thought to come from nothing - spontaneous generation

Hamlet wants to continue to encourage Polonius' belief that he has gone crazy because of his relationship with Ophelia

Hamlet loves to play verbal games and say one thing but mean something else (appearance vs. reality)

"Let her not walk in the sun"

-spontaneous generation idea- if she walks in the sun she might magically conceive

-don't let her be seen in the light - i.e.- don't let her be sought after

-conception is a blessing

These are the notes from Tuesday's class .

A quick recap for any confusion. During class we talked about the importance of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as characters. They provide an element of comic relief, they add to Hamlet's insanity plot, and they relate to Hamlet as college guys, and as fellow philosophers. We talked a little bit of Hamlet's flaw that he is beginning to feel as though his high level of intelligence will allow him to manipulate those around him. In addition to R&G involvement in Hamlet's on going plot we talked about Polonius and his relation to it- specifically with the quote regarding Ophelia.

-Kiera