Scenes in this act
- Scene I Polonius has Laertes spied on
Polonius gives a purse of money to Reynaldo and sends him to Paris to watch Laertes: he must seek out the Danes who live there, pretend to know the young man vaguely, and launch light slanders at him, such as gambling, drinking, brawls and fencing, to hear what the others reply.
- Scene II Spies, actors, and a plan
Claudius and Gertrude receive in the hall Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, childhood friends of Hamlet, and ask them to stay at court, distract the prince and find out what troubles him, with the promise of a reward worthy of a king.
Reading the act
Analysis
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