# Scene II explained — Hamlet

> Chapter companion for Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Hamlet is confronted by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about the whereabouts of Polonius's body. He speaks in riddles and insults them, calling them sponges for the king, and refuses to give a straight answer before agreeing to go to the king.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Spying

Hamlet's cryptic responses and the interrogation by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern highlight the atmosphere of surveillance and deceit.

### Corruption and Decay

Hamlet's remark about the body being 'compounded with dust' and his metaphor of the king as a 'thing of nothing' evoke decay and moral rot.

## Character check-ins

### Hamlet

Taunts Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with cryptic remarks about the body and the king.

### Rosencrantz

Demands to know where Polonius's body is, but is mocked by Hamlet.

### Guildenstern

Accompanies Rosencrantz and is similarly dismissed by Hamlet.

## Key lines

> Compounded it with dust, whereto ’tis kin.

I mixed it with dust, which is its relative.

_Hamlet cryptically says he has returned the body to the earth._

> Ay, sir, that soaks up the king’s countenance, his rewards, his authorities.

Yes, you soak up the king's favor, rewards, and power.

_Hamlet calls Rosencrantz a sponge, implying he absorbs the king's benefits._

> The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body.

The corpse is with the king, but the king is not with the corpse.

_Hamlet plays on words to confuse Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about Polonius's location._

## Links

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