Act 2 Scene 2

This is a really long and important scene in Hamlet, which establishes several developments in various plot points. Straight out of the gate, we are introduced to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who are two of Hamlet’s schoolmates from Wittenberg University. Claudius informs them of the “change” that has occurred to Hamlet’s personality, that they chalk up to his father’s death and his mother’s hasty remarriage. While Claudius is determined to put an end to Hamlet’s grief, he commissions the two men, who have known Hamlet since childhood, to find out some information about what’s bothering him and then report back to the King. This is somewhat a betrayal on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s behalf – while they do have to obey the orders of the King and Queen, they are ultimately giving Hamlet more reason to be suspicious and mistrustful (even though the two men were actually manipulated by the royals to oblige).