Spying and Secrecy in Hamlet - Shakespeare

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Spying and Secrecy in “Hamlet” English G10 Carla Trigoso Spying and Secrecy in “Hamlet” English G10 Carla Trigoso Spying and Secrecy in Shakespeare’s Hamlet “Hamlet”, one of the greatest plays written by William Shakespeare, has instances of spying throughout the whole play. When someone spies on somebody else it is because he or she is being distrustful and curious. This conveys to the play a sense of suspicion and it is also the justification of the actions of several characters. After all, spying is not only something smart to do but also dangerous. When the spying between different characters is so frequently seen it becomes part of the attraction and mood of the play. One of the first instances of spying in the opening scene is when Reynaldo is told by Polonius to spy on his son, Laertes, during his stay in Paris. He tells him: “You shall do marvelous wisely, good Reynaldo, before you visit him, to make inquire of his behavior…Inquire first what Danskers are in Paris: And how, and who, what means, and where they keep, what company, at what expense…” (Shakespeare) Following, the second example is when Hamlet spies on Ophelia as she farewells her brother, Laertes, and as her father, Polonius, talks to her about him (Hamlet). He prohibits her to speak to Hamlet because, according to him, his samples of affection are not real, and he is not taking her seriously. Hamlet spies her from the second floor of one section of the castle. He hears attentively and preoccupied to know what Ophelia is being told to do. Obviously, Hamlet loves her and with this, he knew what Polonius thought about him and his loving feelings. The third instance is Polonius trying to spy on Hamlet through his letters to Ophelia. He notices Hamlet’s strange behavior and goes to the King and Queen to tell them that he believes Hamlet is mad. Polonius supposes then that the

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