Polonius

Polonius

1. The father of Laertes and Ophelia.

2. He is the head of Clauidus's court.

3. Like Claudius, Polonius is a sly, vain, conniving old man.

   • Polonius sets up for Hamlet to meet Gertrude with him hiding in the background. Polonius reveals himself behind the curtain and is fatally wounded. “O! I am slain”. He dies in the midst of his falsehoods.

4. We first see Polonius giving Laertes advice before he goes to France. “To thine own self be true” “give every man thy ear but few thy voice” Introduces the idea of secrecy and spying.

5. He also Pry’s into his daughters affairs when he tells her to stop seeing Hamlet. “I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth, have you as slander and moments leisure, as to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet”

   • Cares more about his own reputation than his daughters feelings and emotions. “You’ll tender me a fool”.
   • When Opheila receives letter from Hamlet he is more More concern for alerting the king than caring for his daughter. “Come, go with me; I will go seek the King”.
   • Decides he will use his own daughter to try and gain information from Hamlet for Claudius. “At such a time I’ll loose my daughter to him". Shows he is willing to sacrifice his daughter

6. He Sends Reynaldo to spy on Laertes. “There put on him what forgeries you please”. Shows he does not trust his son and shows his sly nature.