Jul 23, 2008

Hamlet | Act IV, Scene 2 Summary and Analysis

Summary
Hamlet enters, having “Safely stowed” the body of Polonius. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter, seeking the corpse, but Hamlet won’t tell where it is hidden, saying only he has “Compounded it with dust, whereto ’tis kin.” Then Hamlet calls Rosencrantz a “sponge . . . that soaks up the King’s countenance, his rewards, his authorities.” But that when the King needs what they “have gleaned, it is but squeezing you and, sponge, you shall be dry again.” When they ask again of the body’s whereabouts, Hamlet again refuses to say, but agrees to go with them...