Why does Polonius send Reynaldo to spy on Laertes

Look you, sir, Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris, And how, and who, what means, and where they keep, What company, at what expense; and finding By this encompassment and drift of question That they do know my son, come you more nearer Than your particular demands will touch it.
(II.i.6–12)

At the top of Act II Polonius instructs Reynaldo to spy on his son, Laertes, in Paris. Polonius goes into great detail, explaining not only the types of information he wants, but also how Reynaldo should go about procuring that information. Although it isn't entirely clear what reasons Polonius has for spying on his son, his plot does demonstrate that he is a scheming and potentially treacherous figure.

I'll have these players Play something like the murder of my father Before mine uncle. I'll observe his looks. I'll tent him to the quick. If 'a do blench, I know my course.
(II.ii.520–24)

In a long soliloquy in Act II, Hamlet announces his intention to use the troupe of players to set a trap for Claudius. He will instruct the troupe to perform a scene that reenacts Claudius' murder of the king. During the performance Hamlet will spy (or, as it actually happens in Act III, he will have Horatio spy) on Claudius to see if his reaction to the scene incriminates him. If Claudius "do blench" (i.e., flinch), Hamlet will know what to do next.

For we have closely sent for Hamlet hither. That he, as 'twere by accident, may here Affront Ophelia. Her father and myself, We'll so bestow ourselves that, seeing unseen, We may of their encounter frankly judge, And gather by him, as he is behaved, If 't be th' affliction of his love or no That thus he suffers for.
(III.i.29–36)

Here Claudius explains to Gertrude his plan to spy on Hamlet and Ophelia. He and Polonius will hide and look on to see what Hamlet does when he arrives. They believe that if Hamlet doesn't know he's being watched, he'll act without pretense and give them a better sense of what's going on with him. More specifically, they believe his behavior will demonstrate once and for all whether or not his love for Ophelia has caused his "affliction" of melancholy and madness.

Let's further think of this, Weigh what convenience both of time and means May fit us to our shape. If this should fail, And that our drift look through our bad performance, 'Twere better no assayed. Therefore this project Should have a back or second that might hold If this did blast in proof.
(IV.vii.146–52)

Claudius utters these lines to Laertes as they fashion their plot to kill Hamlet. Claudius emphasizes that he and Laertes will have to perform like actors, and he worries that if a "bad performance" should reveal their scheme, they will need some backup plan to ensure Hamlet's death no matter what. Following this quote, Claudius goes on to say that if Laertes does not manage to kill Hamlet in their duel, then a poisoned chalice of wine shall be offered to Hamlet following the match.

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Worried about Laertes in France, Polonius sends his servant, Reynaldo, to spy on his son. He wants to know all about what Laertes is up to, and with whom. After Reynaldo leaves, Ophelia enters, shaken by a recent interaction she had with Hamlet. She tells her father that Hamlet was acting totally insane, and he looked the part, too. Polonius thinks that this madness is evidence of Hamlet’s love for his daughter, and he decides to fill Claudius in on his stepson’s behavior.

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Polonius, in Hamlet, sends Reynaldo to France as his undercover agent to spy on his son. He pays him as his servant, giving him the orders that he won’t be able to disobey. Polonius wants to control his son even from another country. Besides, he wishes to cast a light upon all the dirty secrets. Polonius asks to dent Laertes’s reputation using any sort of lies. And that’s just one side of the story.

Detailed answer:

At the beginning of act II, Polonius sends Reynaldo to spread rumors about his son, Laertes. He has hardly ever done anything immoral in his life, but it doesn’t matter for the father. Under the pretext of delivering money, Polonius calls for Reynaldo and orders him spy on Laertes. On the one hand, the father does not trust his son and wants to examine if he is prone to misbehave. On the other, he is eager to give him a good lesson. Teaching Laertes to survive harmful rumors about him can be a motivation for espionage. Although he suspects something shady at first, Reynaldo had to obey the order. The man is the loyal servant of the lord and believes in his good intentions.

This act of his shows Polonius as a mean-spirited deceptive man. He notices in his son the traits that he personally owns. He is ready to cringe before Claudius and show his loyalty even through espionage that he organizes for his son. Yet, Polonius tries hard to be a good parent. He sincerely believes that he is acting like this to teach his son to be better. Like most characters devised by Shakespeare, Polonius is open to interpretations, as some scholars state. At the same time, he is wise and fool, sensible and callous.

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