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Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Analysis

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Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Analysis
In the second scene of Act IV, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern question Hamlet about the location of Polonius’ corpse. Hamlet then equates Rosencrantz to a “sponge” soaking up the King’s sanction and doing whatever he says. Through saying this, Hamlet warns Rosencrantz that Claudius deliberately environs himself with people enthusiastic to gain his favors. Claudius then exploits them for his own personal gain. These “sponges” yearn to soak up more and more after they are squeezed from Claudius and become saturated with affection for him. Hamlet also asserts, “the body is with the king, but the king is not with the body” (Shakespeare 97). Hamlet means that the king in his own individual that can create and administer laws, but the laws and compliance
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