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.
'pooh you speak
like a green girl'
blunt, direct and
harsh to his
children- does not
feel the need to
uphold the flattery
he gives to those of
higherstation
Look to't, I charge
you. Come your ways'
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
'Be thou familiar, but by no
means vulgar/ ..Neither a
borrower or a lender'
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.
'What is between you?
Give me up the truth'
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.
'let him ply his
music'
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.
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.
'I am sorry'
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
'Ill loose my daughter to him'
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.
'How now Ophelia?/YOu
need not tell us what
Lord Hamlet said-/We
heard it all
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'
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.
'What was i about to
say? .. Where did I leave'
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
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'
'This is the very
ecstasy of love'
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.
'Fishmonger'
Relates to him
using his own
daughter as bait.
'All given to mine ear'
His pride clouds his
judgement- in fact
he does not know
his daughters
doings- unless he
interrogates her.
'this is too long'
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.
'Quarreling,
drabbing you
may go so far'
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-
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.
'By indirections
find Directions out'
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.
'breathe his faults
so quaintly that
they may seem
taints of liberty'
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.
with devotions visage/
And pious action we do
sugar o'er the devil
himself'
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.
'Let the
Queen-mother
.. I'll be placed ..
in the ear'
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.