Act 2, Scene 1 and 2

Scenes 1 and 2 of Act 2 begin to show the substantial deterioration of Hamlet’s wellbeing. As Polonius schemes to spy on his own son, Ophelia approaches her father and explains an encounter with Hamlet and his blatantly distressed disposition. Ophelia explains what she saw, “Lord Hamlet with his doublet all unbraced, / No hat upon his head, his stockings fouled, / Ungartered, and down-gyved 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 loosed out of hell…” (2.1.76-81). Ophelia and Hamlet’s family members are more concerned with Hamlet’s outward appearance and presentation than the root of the issue. Instead of feeling they should address his apparent sorrow, they continue to consider it a fleeting emotion and dismiss it. Frankly, Gertrude and Claudius do not care enough about Hamlet to put aside their own selfish motives. If having a mother willing to take part in an “incestuous” marriage wasn’t enough, she is being influenced by the malicious Claudius and offering large sums of money to Hamlet’s old school friends to spy on him. She has a complete disrespect for Hamlet’s individuality and security. Hamlet’s own family, even when they are in the wrong, aim to control his life and thoughts. Thankfully, Hamlet has not lost his wit and devises a play where he will reenact the death of his own father, as described by the Ghost, in front of Claudius and Gertrude. The utter lack of trust throughout the entire play involving family members is anxiety-inducing. That build of anxiety is evident as the story itself builds too.