Polonius says of Hamlet's responses, "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't." What is the method, or purpose, of Hamlet's behavior in this interaction?
In this scene (Act II, scene ii), Hamlet enters the room reading a book and speaking nonsense as Polonius clocks his actions. What Polonius does not know is that Hamlet is intent on tricking the old spy in order to make sure he believes his act of pretending to...
Polonius says of Hamlet's responses, "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't." What is the method, or purpose, of Hamlet's behavior in this interaction?
In this scene (Act II, scene ii), Hamlet enters the room reading a book and speaking nonsense as Polonius clocks his actions. What Polonius does not know is that Hamlet is intent on tricking the old spy in order to make sure he believes his act of pretending to be mad is completely real. Polonius believes the method to Hamlet's madness or the reason behind it is that he is lovesick over Polonius's daughter, Ophelia. He concludes that Hamlet is in a state of "love-melancholy." Polonius is in fact in that very time and place to observe the young Danish prince for evidence that his madness is real and report his findings back to the King and Queen. Hamlet plays on this, speaking nonsensical words and making light of Polonius's age. His endgame is to make sure that Polonius and Claudius think he is mad and simply just dismiss his behavior so that they will let their guards down around him. If this happens, he will be at a better advantage to get revenge on Claudius for killing his father.
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