SARAH: Now Hamlet abruptly changes the subject, asking where Ophelia's father is. Some productions will stage this scene so that Hamlet becomes suddenly aware of Polonius and Claudius listening behind the curtain — and then his question here would be even more pointed, as he would then know exactly where Polonius is.

RALPH: That's an interesting way to stage this scene, Sarah, even if the text of the play doesn't provide any evidence that Hamlet knows that Polonius is eavesdropping. Regardless, Hamlet seems to have an uncanny sense that he's being manipulated, even if he's not exactly sure how.

SARAH: If Hamlet does know, or suspect, that Ophelia is cooperating with her father's plans, then his question would seem to be a test of Ophelia's honesty. And in such a case, her untruthful response would naturally make Hamlet even angrier.

RALPH: But again, even if Hamlet is not intentionally testing Ophelia, he's exactly on target — Polonius is "playing the fool," or acting rashly, with all of this espionage.

SARAH: Then Hamlet abruptly says goodbye, and Ophelia seems to genuinely be concerned with Hamlet's well-being — either because she truly fears for his sanity, or because she's sadly aware that she can't be much real help to him, now that she's become an accomplice to her father's spying.