Polonius

Polonius

A very controlling parent- who demands and expects a lot from his children-Not very loving. Does not trust his children when his children should not trust him- ironic as he only as his best interests at heart. This seems to arise from viweinghis children as posessions to be kept unsullie rather than from paternal care for their welll being.
1. 'pooh you speak like a green girl'
  1. blunt, direct and harsh to his children- does not feel the need to uphold the flattery he gives to those of higherstation
2. Look to't, I charge you. Come your ways'
  1. Much more demanding and angry towards Ophelia- The monosyllabic language stresses the iambic pentameter and makes Polonius tone clear dominating and directive by use of imperatives
3. 'Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar/ ..Neither a borrower or a lender'
  1. List of constant instructions shows the controlling nature of Polonius- addressing every detail. Laertes is a grown man but still he feels he need to lecture hi,- At this stage in the play this could be justified as paternal love from a worried father. His advice to Laertes is senible- gives us a glimpse of his wisdom but he cannot always apply this well.
4. 'What is between you? Give me up the truth'
  1. His eagreness to know the conversation between his children - rather forcefully shows his controlling natureHe has arguably the lowest opinion of Ophelia compared to all the other characters- he considers her easily orruptableand a liar.
5. 'let him ply his music'
  1. Polonius sets up his son to be spied on- wants Reynaldo to catch him in the act of doing something wrong. Reynaldo also means fox-like which draws attention ti the sly underhand tricks Polonius asks him to use.
  2. This begins the theme of deception- especially withon a family- Continuing the idea that people cannot trust each other and that 'something is rotten in the state of Denmark'- everyone has their own agendas.
6. 'I am sorry'
  1. Affection couold be displayed here but her references 'our afflictions' so perhaps it is more to do with him-Despite the many oppurtunities is yet to display any true affection towards Ophelia
7. 'Ill loose my daughter to him'
  1. This reminds us that he has restrained Ophelia- and has such control over her as to where she goes- treating her like an animal/ property- something he owns - suggests most of the time he keeps her locked up. Shows his treatent of her to be hypocritical- first forbids her from seeing Hamlet- thn forces her too.
8. 'How now Ophelia?/YOu need not tell us what Lord Hamlet said-/We heard it all
  1. He sees her only purpose as to inform him- dismisses her feelings - make sit worse he is admitting to what he heard and let Hamlet abuse his daughter. idea he prostitutes his daughter is developed in imagery of 2.2 where he says 'Ill loose my daughter'
9. His treatment of his children leads to a contrast between Hamlet and Laertes grief. leartes is angry athis father's death because he feels personally dishonoured- does not appear to be grieving for him the way Hamlet grieved for OKH- nothing corresponding to the warm memories of Old Hamlet.
Shown to be slightly foolish -and overconfident. Knowledgble about courtly matters but strugges o apply his intelligence effectively=error of judgement.
1. 'What was i about to say? .. Where did I leave'
  1. So full of his own importance and intoxicated by his own words that he loses his trail of thought. Room for each director to determine how much of a fool/tyrant they want Polonius to appear--Through him a lot of the hhumour in the play comes- providing a contrast to the tragedy
  2. Has 2 representations- cunning and manipulative or a bundering fool. Almost undermines his cunning nature- allows comedy. Colerdige suggests that Polonius used t be a cunnig politician but has now become a bufoon in his old age. .He says in '2.1 he is the 'skeleton of hi own former skill and statecraft'
2. 'This is the very ecstasy of love'
  1. He feels Ophelia is the only reason for Hamlet's madness-Holds himself in too high of a regard- jumps to conclusions-When Hamlet is talking to mother- calls for help.
3. 'Fishmonger'
  1. Relates to him using his own daughter as bait.
4. 'All given to mine ear'
  1. His pride clouds his judgement- in fact he does not know his daughters doings- unless he interrogates her.
5. 'this is too long'
  1. He is a source for much comedy i the play- his speech is so self indulgent and long that it sounds ridiculous- and he ften gets confused to the point where his words become meaningless.
Very cunning person- knows how to manipulate.
1. 'Quarreling, drabbing you may go so far'
  1. Clearly does not think much of his son's honour, but his casual reference to this is much more accepting to the way he was with Ophelia-
  2. This difference between the freedom men and Women were given would be surprising only to a modern audience- as in Elizabethan times women did not have equal rights.
2. 'By indirections find Directions out'
  1. This distills the atmosphere of deception- It describes the way Claudius intends to spy on Hamlet- and the way hamlet intends to probe Claudius' conscience. Shows us his preferred method is to use lying and deeption to investigate things.
3. 'breathe his faults so quaintly that they may seem taints of liberty'
  1. Here we see he wishes to cleverly manipulate language to shape the truth-His instruction to Reynaldo show he is a devious and practiced schemer.
4. with devotions visage/ And pious action we do sugar o'er the devil himself'
  1. Directly saying how pretending to be devoted to God you mask bad things making them easier to commit- APPERANCE OVER REALITY- Links to Hamlet telling himself revenge is for loyalty not from his anger.
5. 'Let the Queen-mother .. I'll be placed .. in the ear'
  1. Again lays another trap- spying seems to be an easy solution- but his hunger for knowledge and to be involved will eventually lead to his own death. his devotion to the king s driven as much by vanity and self importance as by duty.Fact that he dies this way shows this is what we will remember him for- being foolish and nosy.

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	Created by Saheefa Ishaq about 9 years ago