Little Lies Week 11

  When Polonius tells Renoldoe to spy on Laerties, he tells him to make up little lies, not ones that would ruin his reputation.  If this is true then, they will not be shocked, it would be natural to them.  However, if it isn't, then they will be shocked and appalled.  This is really risky.  It is also, in my opinion very dumb.  Polonius tell Renoldoe to go and gossip, but then tells him not to trust gossip.  Gosh, time for Logic class!

Opening Scene Week 11

     I am really not quite sure why they opened Scene 2 with Polonius giving Renoldoe instructions.  But, this is what I think.  They opened this scene with something simple because Hamlet just saw a ghost.  After Polonius gives instuctions, Ophelia barges in his room terrified of Hamlet.  You need to know that Hamlet has had time to go into her room and take her "by the wrist and held me hard.

then goes he to the length of all his arm, and, with his other hand thus o'er his brow" as well as stay like that for a long time.  If the scene opened with Ophelia barging in the room, it would not have been as convincing.  If the scene did not open with this, where else would it fit in?  Shakespeare thought out the little details.  The play needed these scenes and they had to be places stratigicly.  That is why the scene opened the way it did.

 

Quite a Fright! Week 10

     When Hamlet visited Ophelia, she describes him as..."with his doublet all unbraced; no hat upon his head; his stockings fouled,ungartered, and down-gyvèd to his ankle; pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each other; and with a look so piteous in purport as if he had been loosèd out of hell..."  This would scare anyone, especially to someone who is used to having somone look...normal.  The description is very vivid in this scene, it has to be since you really don't see Hamlet look like this ANYTIME in the play, when you see him, he is immaculenty groomed.  If you didn;t have this description, you would be left hanging.