RALPH: This scene segment begins with Gertrude, Claudius and Polonius seeing Hamlet approach from a distance — remember that they've been taken in by Hamlet's pretense of being crazy.

SARAH: The very setting of this scene is full of dramatic irony — as King, Queen and Royal Counsellor are making plans to find out what's going on with the Prince, so Hamlet is observing them, also wanting to know what the King knows, and to what extent Polonius is implicated. As they watch him, they of course don't know he's also observing them.

RALPH: Hamlet's first response to Polonius' greeting — "Well, god-a-mercy" - is perhaps polite, but it was also a conventional greeting to someone of inferior rank. This might be technically true here — Hamlet is a Prince and heir to the Throne — but it's still not very respectful...

SARAH: And this lack of respect surprises Polonius, who infers that Hamlet must not recognize him in his madness.

RALPH: This appears to be confirmed by Hamlet's next reply: apparently delusional, Hamlet claims that Polonius is a fishmonger, someone who sells fish.

SARAH: Of course, Hamlet is having some fun with Polonius, confusing the King's closest advisor with a lowly merchant.