act 2

King Claudius and Gertrude send two friends of Hamlet in Wittenberg to investigate Hamlet's abnormal and erratic behavior recently, “Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz:/And I beseech you instantly to visit my too much changed son./ Go, some of you,/and bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.” (Act II, Scene 2) Polonius comes in and tells Claudius that Hamlet's madness is due to the rejected love for Ophelia, “For this effect defective comes by cause: thus it remains, / and the remainder thus. / Perpend. / I have a daughter--have while she is mine--Who, / in her duty and obedience, / mark, / hath given me this: now gather, / and surmise.” (Act II, Scene 2) Polonius wants to substantiate his thought and proposes a plan to investigate Hamlet by having Ophelia to confront him and both Gertrude and Claudius will have a scrutiny toward the reason of Hamlet's madness. Before having Ophelia does it, Polonius gives the first shot. He tries to find a clue of Hamlet's insanity, however, he is tricked by Hamlet's “insanity”. For example, when Polonius announces his leave, Hamlet tricks him: “You cannot, / sir, / take from me any thing that I will more willingly part withal: except my life, / except my life, except my life.” (Act II, Scene 2)