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Horatio seats himself so as to view the king properly. After complimenting Horatio in the most sterling terms, Hamlet asks his friend to assist him in watching the king’s response to the play they are about to see (apparently Hamlet has by this time told Horatio what the ghost revealed). He sets the players to their preparations and then conferences with Horatio. Just as the play is about to begin, Hamlet instructs the players on the art of acting, telling them to act naturally and to avoid bombast. Polonius suggests in parting that Claudius arrange a private interview between Hamlet and his mother after the play that evening and Claudius agrees. Polonius endorses this plan, but persists in his belief that Hamlet’s grief is the result of his love for Ophelia. He determines to send Hamlet on a diplomatic mission to England before he can cause any serious trouble. The king states that he does not believe that Hamlet is mad because of his foiled love for Ophelia, or really mad at all, but tormented for some hidden reason. He then berates Ophelia, telling her off sarcastically and venomously, with the refrain, “Get thee to a nunnery,” or in other words, “Go become a nun to control your lust.” After this tirade, Hamlet exists, leaving Ophelia in shambles.Ĭlaudius and Polonius step out of their hiding place. Hamlet replies caustically, questioning Ophelia’s honesty. After a short conversation she attempts to return some of the remembrances that Hamlet gave when courting her. Hamlet enters and delivers the most famous speech in literature, beginning, “To be or not to be.” After this long meditation on the nature of being and death, Hamlet catches sight of Ophelia. They instruct Ophelia to pretend that she is simply reading a book and withdraw behind a tapestry. Polonius and Claudius then begin their plan to loose Ophelia on Hamlet and mark their encounter, hoping to find the root of his madness. They do mention, however, that Hamlet was very enthusiastic about the players’ performance that night, which prompts Claudius to agree to attend the play. The two reply that they have not been able to find its cause. Claudius asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern what they have learned about Hamlet’s malady. An entourage consisting of the king and queen, Polonius and Ophelia, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enters to begin the Act.