Where's the Body?

Act 4. Scene 2. Lines 5-21

"ROSENCRANTZ: What have you done, my lord, with the dead body?
HAMLET: (Compounded) it with dust, whereto 'tis kin.
ROSENCRANTZ: Tell us where 'tis, that we may take it thence And bear it to the chapel.
HAMLET: Do not believe it.
ROSENCRANTZ: Believe what?
HAMLET: That I can keep your counsel and not mine own. Besides, to be demanded of a sponge, what replication should be made by the son of a king?
ROSENCRANTZ: Take you me for a sponge, my lord?
HAMLET: Ay, sir, that soaks up the King's countenance, his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the King best service in the end. He keeps them like (an ape) an apple in the corner of his jaw, first mouthed, to be last swallowed. When he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again. "

Prior to this passage, Hamlet has accidentally killed Polonius because he thought it was Claudius and he felt he had to kill Polonius to avenge his father's death. In this passage, Hamlet is being somewhat stubborn and selfish because he won't reveal to Rosencrantz where he has placed Polonius's dead body. He is very cryptic in his responses to Rosencrantz when he is asked questions regarding the body and takes a turn in his responses by criticizing Rosencrantz. This passage reveals how Hamlet actually feels towards Rosencrantz, an old school friend of his, while demonstrating his stubborn tendencies and deep analysis of life as he knows and views it in his rather cynical mind.

This passage begins with Rosencrantz asking Hamlet where the body is and Hamlet replying with a short remark essentially saying its been hidden and dirtied with dust and will not be found. Rosencrantz then insists again that Hamlet reveal where the body is so that it can be brought to the church and Polonius can have a proper funeral. However, Hamlet will simply not comply to these requests. At this time, Hamlet begins to lash out at Rosencrantz for being such a fool and doing exactly as Claudius tells him. He starts by cautioning Rosencrantz to not believe he will tell him his secrets if Rosencrantz himself won't reveal some of his own. Hamlet follows this up by calling him a "sponge" because he "soaks up the King's countenance" and obeys the King like a dog. Hamlet finishes up this statement by explaining to Rosencrantz that eventually, when Claudius has gotten all he desires out of him, "[he] shall be dry again," implying that the "liquid" he absorbs while being a sponge to Claudius will eventually run out and he will have nothing left.

Hamlet simply will not accept Rosencrantz trying to be kind and pleasant to him because he knows that all Rosencrantz is trying to do is whatever the King has asked of him. Since Hamlet despises Claudius and all he stands for, he begins to despise Rosencrantz during this conversation just as much. Hamlet loses his respect for his old friend and begins to see just how twisted the people in his life are. These passage leads directly to the later on occurrence in which Hamlet tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to be killed in England instead of himself because he has lost all respect he once had for his old friends.