===[[Scene 8]]===

===[[Scene 8]]===

<big>In the Throne Room, the next day, Claudius speaks to R & G, who admit they were unable to find out about Hamlet's ambition, which is what Claudius mainly wanted to know.  R & G mention the Players, and that Hamlet will have them perform a play that night.  Polonius adds that Claudius and Gertrude are invited to attend, and Claudius says he will.

<big>In the Throne Room, Claudius speaks to R & G, who admit they were unable to find out about Hamlet's ambition, which is what Claudius mainly wanted to know.  R & G mention the Players, and that Hamlet will have them perform a play that night.  Polonius adds that Claudius and Gertrude are invited to attend, and Claudius says he will.

Claudius asks Gertrude to leave, and explains that he and Polonius have arranged to eavesdrop on Hamlet when Hamlet thinks he's alone with Ophelia, to ascertain whether Hamlet truly loves Ophelia, as a test of whether Polonius is right.  Claudius says he's summoned Hamlet "closely," i.e. his message to Hamlet said it would be a private meeting, just the two of them.  Claudius expressed his summons to Hamlet that way to be sure Hamlet wouldn't bring anyone else with him, whose presence might inhibit Hamlet from expressing himself frankly to Ophelia.

Claudius asks Gertrude to leave, and explains that he and Polonius have arranged to eavesdrop on Hamlet when Hamlet thinks he's alone with Ophelia, to ascertain whether Hamlet truly loves Ophelia, as a test of whether Polonius is right.  Claudius says he's summoned Hamlet "closely," i.e. his message to Hamlet said it would be a private meeting, just the two of them.  Claudius expressed his summons to Hamlet that way to be sure Hamlet wouldn't bring anyone else with him, whose presence might inhibit Hamlet from expressing himself frankly to Ophelia.

Gertrude tells Claudius she'll obey - since there's no time to argue the point - and she speaks briefly and kindly to Ophelia.  Gertrude then pretends to leave, but hides behind an arras to listen, when the others aren't looking.  (We know this fact from the Second Quarto corrected printing, which shows Gertrude's exit after the end of Ophelia's "noble mind" speech, much later in the Scene, and also from common sense about people, which tells us Gertrude wants to listen to what her son says, of course.)

Gertrude tells Claudius she'll obey (since there's no time to argue the point) and she speaks briefly and kindly to Ophelia.  Gertrude then pretends to leave, but hides behind an arras to listen, when the others aren't looking.  (We know this fact from the Second Quarto corrected printing, which shows Gertrude's exit after the end of Ophelia's "noble mind" speech, much later in the Scene, and also from common sense about people, which tells us Gertrude wants to listen to what her son says, of course.)