Claudius turns to Hamlet's friends from college, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to try to learn what is wrong with Hamlet because he will not reveal the cause of his distress himself. He chooses them because he believes that Hamlet will trust them, and also because he can manipulate them (unlike the wiser Horatio). Claudius tells them that he wants them to attempt to get Hamlet to confide in them and then report back to him so that he can try to help Hamlet and fix whatever is wrong. Claudius, of course, doesn't want to help Hamlet at all, but he does really want to know what's wrong with him. The Queen, Hamlet's mother, promises that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern will be greatly rewarded for their assistance. She calls Hamlet her "too much changed son" and seems genuinely worried about his well-being. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agree to help the king and queen figure out what is bothering Hamlet so much, but Hamlet quickly grows wise to the fact that they are working for his stepfather.
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