Hamlet: Act 4, scene 2

The color-coded bars in this section make it easy to track the themes throughout the work. Each color corresponds to one of the themes explained in the Themes section of this LitChart. For instance, indicates that all five themes apply to that part of the summary.

Summary Analysis Themes

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern find Hamlet. They ask where Polonius’s body is. Hamlet responds in riddles and insults—he calls Rosencrantz a “sponge” soaking up the king’s favor. Hamlet agrees to see Claudius, but then dashes off.

By calling R a “sponge,” Hamlet implies that through their foolishness R & G have been taken over by Claudius. They have lost their inner reality.