"How all occasions do inform against me," remarks Hamlet
in his final soliloquy, and, certainly, the visit of his boyhood friends, Guildenstern
and Rosencrantz underscore this observaion of the Prince of Denmark regarding the
terrible corruption of the court of Denmark. Toadies, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern seek
to ingratiate themselves with Claudius, perhaps hoping for political favors, so they
carry out his wish to learn what they can about
Hamlet.
Fearing Hamlet, Claudius hires the two men to
learn what they can of Hamlet's recent actions, and to take him to England so that
Hamlet can be killed; however, the perspicacious Hamlet realizes that they are no longer
his friends, and he is circumspect with them when they ask what has become of
Polonius:
Tell us where 'tis, that we may take it
thence
And bear it to the
chapel.
Do not believe it
[Hamlet]
Believe what?
That I
can keep your counsel and not mine own. Besides, to be demanded of a sponge--what
replication should be made by the son of a king?
[Hamlet]
Take you me for a sponge, my
lord?
Ay, sir, that soaks up the king's countenance, his
rewards, his authorities. [Hamlet]
(4.2.5-14)
That Hamlet speaks
to the men in prose rather than verse which the aristocratic characters of Shakespeare
use, also indicates Hamlet's low opinion of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as obsequious
sycophants.
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