Spying/Watching/Voyerism by Steven Wiser https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh Uh, Shakespeare, Duh en-us 2020-11-18 22:45:58 UTC 2025-11-11 21:21:11 UTC hello@padlet.com Polonius (the epitome of spying) stevenwiser2 https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/944247886 Steve
Before Polonius died, due to his spying, he loved to eavesdrop. He would surveil Hamlet and be very forthcoming with knowledge when speaking to Claudius. He died from being stabbed by Hamlet
  • Hired someone to watch his son Laertes
  • Polonius behind the arras
  • Claudius and Polonius watching Hamlet interact with Ophelia
]]> 2020-11-20 03:20:38 UTC https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/944247886 Denotations/Connotations madysenphillips3 https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950494324 Madysen Phillips
Definition of Spying: (verb)
1. work for a government or other organization by secretly collecting information about enemies or competitors.
2. observe (someone) furtively.
Connotations of Spying: For the most part, there is a negative connotation with spying because people view the act of spying as mischievous, secretive, and spies as untrustworthy people. However, a person's career has an impact on how one views a spy such as a FBI agent. People view FBI agents as cool and heroic because their mission is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States.

Spying Presented in Hamlet:
  • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were always spying on Hamlet to report back to King Claudius (the government). In Hamlet, spying is viewed as shameful and immoral which results in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's inevitable death.
]]> 2020-11-22 22:29:08 UTC https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950494324 Connotations (continued) madysenphillips3 https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950555668 Definition of Voyeurism: (noun)
1. the practice of gaining sexual pleasure from watching others when they are naked or engaged in sexual activity.
2. enjoyment from seeing the pain or distress of others.
Connotations of Voyeurism: There is a negative connotation with voyeurism because it is an intrusive act and being a voyeur is to be known as being a perv. A voyeur is a person who likes to see things which should be private, it's not necessarily sexual, though that is the common meaning.

Voyeurism Presented in Hamlet:
  • In Act III, (for now Scene 1) it is apparent that Polonius is fascinated with Hamlet and Ophelia's relationship so much that he must spy on them behind the arras with Claudius. After words, he then proposes the idea to eavesdrop on Hamlet and Gertrudes' discussion to find out what Hamlet's secret/reason for Hamlet's madness However, Polonius thinks the reason for Hamlet's madness is his love life so he is eavesdropping on all these discussions to hear about Hamlet's love life which is weird. Polonius be giving me peeping Tom vibes.
]]> 2020-11-22 23:27:11 UTC https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950555668 Scholarly Article madysenphillips3 https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950626421 Steve
The psychology of spying, particularly voyeurism.
  • People tare typically aroused by watching others engage in sexual acts
  • Participants in a study reported a willingness to watch an attractive person undress if they would not be caught
  • Many people base their willingness to watch on their chances of being caught.
  • Voyeurs are more commonly men (which was very well displayed in the play)
Source: Psychology Today (Click on image to see full text)
]]> 2020-11-23 00:30:22 UTC https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950626421 Contextual Relevance madysenphillips3 https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950627088 Steve + Shianne
  • There was an elaborate network of spies tasked with the longevity of queen Elizabeth. This may have not influenced Shakespeare's writing because the act of being a spy was to be secret. But the acts of espionage and watching other people were just as prevalent in his era as it is in ours today. https://www.history.com/news/queen-elizabeth-spy-network-england
  • Shakespeare essentially forces the audience to partake in spying or voyeurism, because the plays are performed before their very eyes. The purpose of a play is so that it may be watched. This is used to introduce dramatic irony, but at the same time, it pushes this idea of spying, because the audience takes part in it with the character.
  • Renaissance - During the new enlightenment era, people were developing new ideas on life. New ideas included religious differences, changes in art and views on society. Shakespeare's point of view influenced his audience by showing them the novelty in which people viewed others with. Shakespeare used different characters throughout Hamlet to show different purposes in watching, which related to the time.
]]> 2020-11-23 00:30:53 UTC https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950627088 Direct Quotes madysenphillips3 https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950627620 Shianne
Polonius Watching Hamlet and Ophelia
  •  "Take this from this, if this be otherwise. / If circumstances lead me, I will find / Where the truth is hid, though it were hid, indeed, / Within the center." (Hamlet 2.2.168-171)
- Polonius's eagerness to watch his daughter applies to voyeurism. He continuously watches Hamlet and Ophelia to report to Claudius and have an influence on Hamlet. The influence he has is to have control over knowledge Hamlet himself does not know, including the fact that Claudius was watching him and that his family knew he was mad.
Hamlet Speaking to Ophelia About Morality
  • "God hath given you one face, and you / make yourselves another."(Hamlet 3.1.155-156)
- Hamlet speaks to Ophelia about her own morality despite being someone who has watched others himself. Hamlet, saying that one may be two faced based on what they believe versus what their morals should be. Hamlet saying this applies to watching and its affects on others, including the negative affect it has on a character and a state as a whole.
Ghost Hamlet Watching Hamlet and Gertrude
  • "Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works. / Speak to her, Hamlet." (Hamlet 3.4.130-131)
- The Ghost watches Hamlet and influences him throughout the play, which applies to watching. By giving Hamlet advice about his mother based on his observations of Denmark, another negative connotation is given to watching, which is that someone will always know another's own secrets. Hamlet also derives a conclusion about revenge from his Ghost father's words, which show that watching is not the best way to get information or get the exact truth, which can be applied to the deaths of characters due to their watching.
]]> 2020-11-23 00:31:16 UTC https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950627620 SYMBOL (Madysen) madysenphillips3 https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950628277 Symbol- A play in a play ("Murder of Gonzago"/"Mousetrap") is used to symbolize Claudius and Gertrude's guilt. For Claudius it is killing his brother. For Gertrude, it is becoming unfaithful/incestuous.]]> 2020-11-23 00:31:43 UTC https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950628277 Othello Background madysenphillips3 https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950767480 Another Shakespearean text that connects to this motif of spying/voyeurism is Othello.  For example in Act IV, scene i, Othello watches Iago's conversation with Cassio dealing with Cassio's whore/prostitute Bianca. Othello thinks the conversation is about Desdemona, while Cassio believes it is about Bianca. Unfortunately, Bianca storms in with Desdemona's handkerchief and throws it at Cassio. Desdemona is Othello's wife. As a result of this misconception, Othello wants to kill Cassio and Desdemona for her unfaithfulness.]]> 2020-11-23 02:06:28 UTC https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950767480 Voyeurism in Othello madysenphillips3 https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950796366 I am assuming that Iago set up this confrontation to enjoy the the distress of others. He plots and schemes just to prove he is brilliant.]]> 2020-11-23 02:27:25 UTC https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950796366 Frued and Repressed Desires (2nd Bullet Point) stevenwiser2 https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950817718 Steve
This can be interpreted as the audience partaking in their repressed desires. Eavesdropping and/or spying on others is a guilty pleasure that  they can partake in by watching a play.]]> 2020-11-23 02:43:24 UTC https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950817718 DRAMATIC ELEMENT (Madysen) madysenphillips3 https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950821549 Dramatic irony- The audience already is aware that Claudius is guilty of murdering his brother. Dramatic irony is used for suspense to keep the audience engaged waiting for the character to realize what they have known. During the play, Hamlet observes Claudius to see if he can get a guilty reaction out of him for killing his father because Hamlet still doesn't know for certain if Claudius is at fault. ]]> 2020-11-23 02:46:23 UTC https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950821549 Theme madysenphillips3 https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950825779 "Everyone who spied...DIED" -Madysen  (9:56 pm on 11/22/20)
In Hamlet, spying is viewed as sinful which makes sense why people you know bleugh. Spying on others coincides with deceit which results in negative consequences *cough cough* such as death.  
]]> 2020-11-23 02:49:32 UTC https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950825779 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern madysenphillips3 https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950828852
  • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were always watching Hamlet and reporting to Claudius
    • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern died from being killed by English Ambassadors after Hamlet altered the letter Claudius sent to England to kill Hamlet.

    ]]>     2020-11-23 02:51:50 UTC https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950828852     Hamlet madysenphillips3 https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950829574
  • Hamlet watching Claudius during the play
  • Hamlet and Horatio watching Ophelia's burial
  • Dies from getting hit by Laertes' blade that had poison on the tip.
    • ]]>     2020-11-23 02:52:27 UTC https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950829574     Claudius (also a lil bit of Gertrude) madysenphillips3 https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950829972
  • Claudius spying on Hamlet and Ophelia behind arras
  • Claudius hired Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to watch on Hamlet
    • Claudius died from being stabbed by Hamlet with the poisoned sword and forces him to drink down the rest of the poisoned wine.
    • Gertrude was apart of Claudius' spying plans and was also apart of Polonius' spying plan in her bedroom
    Gertrude died from drinking poisoned drink
    ]]>     2020-11-23 02:52:45 UTC https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950829972     Ghost Daddy (Shianne) stevenwiser2 https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950859587 King Hamlet watched his son throughout the beginning of the play and had spoken to him on a few occasions. He watched the interaction between Hamlet and Gertrude. He didn't die like the others, but he did admit he had sins that he didn't repent before he was poisoned by Claudius. So, maybe he was super secretive before and this is kind of karma in a sense.]]> 2020-11-23 03:14:38 UTC https://padlet.com/stevenwiser2/zyyqvnfekin5pgnh/wish/950859587