ACT II - Polonius's Deception grows with Hamlets Duplicity
This is a critical act for Polonius since this is when his character begins to grow, both as a manipulator and an deceiver. He tells him to ask leading questions to his friends around town and see if he can discover any gossip. Polonius really begins to grow in this act as a character who deceives. Hamlet also decides that he will try and trick Claudius into coming clean about his fathers death by reenacting how Claudius killed King Hamlet through the play, Murder of Gonzago.
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How False Appearances And Deception is used: In this scene, Polonius begins to grow as a deceptive character, along with Claudius. He shows how he can be deceiving by plotting against Laraetes with Reynaldo. This is a key scene for Polonius, since it is the first time he is really deceptive in front of the audience. It also shows that Reynaldo is in on this plot against Laraetes. Another example of deception in this act is the conversation between the king and queen and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlets closest friends. The King tells them to investigate Hamlets recent mood change and figure out what the problem is and how to solve it. This shows the audience that Hamlet has now been betrayed by his mother, uncle, and now best friends. Hamlet also tries to uncover the lies that are circulating around his uncle to his "friends", with little success. He tells them of his plans with the players when he says, "lest my extent to the players which I tell you, must show fairly out, should more appear like entertainment than yours. You are welcome: but my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived". Here he pleads with them to believe him, and to go along with his plan to foil his uncle's lies through the play. |  |
