Hamlet

Act 2, Sc. 1, lines 62-66: How is Polonius's strategy similar to Hamlet's in Act 1, Sc. 5?

Polonius. At 'closes in the consequence,' ay, marry.

He closes thus: 'I know the gentleman,

I saw him yesterday,' or 'th'other day,'

Or then, or then, with such or such, 'and as you say,

There was gaming,' 'there o'ertook in's rouse,'

'There falling out at tennis,' or perchance

'I saw him enter such a house of sale' -

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Hamlet. And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

But come,

Here, as before, never, so help you mercy,

How strange or odd so e'er I bear myself -

As I perchance hereafter shall think meet

To put an antic disposition on -

That you, at such time seeing me, never shall,

With arms encumbered thus, or this head-shake,

Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase,

As 'Well, we know', or 'We could and if we would',

Or 'If we list to speak', or 'Ther be and if there might',

Or such ambiguous giving out, to note

That you aught of me - this do swear,

So grace and mercy at your most need help you.

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Polonius, like Hamlet, is using elaborate plans full of second hand information and speculation to find out things about family. Hamlet simply does not question Claudius or Gertrude or even Ophelia about what is going on. Instead he relies on his plans to discern things. Polonius does the same with his son Laertes