# Scene I explained — Hamlet

> Chapter companion for Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Polonius sends Reynaldo to spy on Laertes in Paris, instructing him to use indirect methods to gather information. Ophelia then reports Hamlet's strange and distressed behavior, which Polonius interprets as madness caused by love for Ophelia, and decides to inform the king.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Spying

Polonius instructs Reynaldo to use falsehoods and indirect methods to spy on Laertes, exemplifying the theme of deception.

### Appearance vs. Reality

Hamlet's disheveled appearance and strange behavior are interpreted by Polonius as madness from love, but the reality of Hamlet's motives remains ambiguous.

## Character check-ins

### Polonius

Polonius instructs Reynaldo on spying tactics and later interprets Hamlet's behavior as lovesickness.

### Reynaldo

Reynaldo is sent by Polonius to spy on Laertes in Paris.

### Ophelia

Ophelia reports Hamlet's alarming visit to her closet, describing his disheveled appearance and silent, intense behavior.

### Hamlet

Hamlet appears in Ophelia's closet in a disheveled state, acting strangely and silently, which Polonius attributes to lovesickness.

## Key lines

> And thus do we of wisdom and of reach, With windlasses and with assays of bias, By indirections find directions out

We wise and far-sighted people use indirect methods and roundabout approaches to discover the truth.

_Polonius explains the value of indirect inquiry to Reynaldo._

> He took me 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, He falls to such perusal of my face As he would draw it.

He grabbed my wrist tightly, then stepped back, holding my arm at full length, and studied my face intently as if trying to memorize it.

_Ophelia describes Hamlet's intense and silent examination of her._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/chapters