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Steven Dinsmore-George
Period 2
Interpretive Problems in Hamlet
Problem Stated:

When Hamlet says to Ophelia, “Go thy ways to a nunnery. Where’s your father?� does he know that he is being spied on by Claudius and if so, why does he not tell Ophelia?

Problem Explained:

In 2.2 Polonius has a talk with Claudius. In this discussion they plan to spy on Ophelia and Hamlet, the next time that they are together. When they are spying on Hamlet and Ophelia, Hamlet starts to tell Ophelia to get thee to a nunnery and, totally off topic, asks where is your father. Although this would be a likely question for Hamlet to ask Ophelia, the way he asks it shows the reader that he knows that he is being spied on.

Possible interpretations:
1. Hamlet knows that he is being spied on and wants to keep it a secret to himself.

2. Hamlet knows that he is being spied on but does not want to tell Ophelia for fear that she will be mad at her father, Polonius.

3. Hamlet is......

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Approximate Word Count: 981
Approximate Pages: 4 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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