Scene II. A room in the castle
King Claudius and Queen Gertrude welcome Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, ordering them to spend time with Hamlet and report any oddities. The two agree to obey. The court then receives the ambassadors Voltimand and Cornelius, who announce that the Norwegian threat posed by Fortinbras has been resolved: Norway will pay three thousand crowns and allow passage for troops, removing the danger to Denmark. Claudius accepts the news and thanks them.
Polonius enters, declares that he has discovered the source of Hamlet’s “madness”: Ophelia’s love letters and his daughter’s rejection. He reads Ophelia’s love letters to the king and queen, interpreting their passionate language as proof. He advises that Hamlet be observed while Ophelia is hidden behind an arras; if Hamlet’s affection is genuine, he will reveal himself. Claudius and Gertrude agree to try this test.
Hamlet enters, reading a book. Polonius attempts a formal greeting; Hamlet derides him, calling him a “fishmonger” and launching a series of witty insults. Their exchange continues with Hamlet mocking Polonius’s age and honesty. Hamlet then launches into a long meditation on humanity, declaring “What a piece of work is a man …” and expressing profound melancholy and disillusionment.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern return, greeted by Polonius. Hamlet instantly recognises them as sent by the king and queen, and subjects them to probing questions about their purpose. He forces them to admit they were sent for, while accusing them of deceit. He then delivers a soliloquy about his lost mirth, describing the world as a prison and his ennui, before proclaiming the famous “What a piece of work is a man” passage. He learns that a troupe of Players is arriving, asks about them, and decides to use a play to “catch the conscience of the king.”
The Players enter, and Hamlet welcomes them, praising their reputation. He discusses with them the plot of “The Murder of Gonzago,” suggests he will insert a scene that mirrors his father’s murder, and plans to watch Claudius’s reaction. Polonius exits with the Players, and Hamlet remains, resolved to employ the play as a trap for the king.