IB English
Character analysis
in Hamlet: Polonius
40 + Lines:
POLONIUS
- speaking to Laertes: Act I, scene 3, lines 55 - 81
- speaking to the king: Act II, scene 2, lines 42 – 49 and lines 163 – 164
- speaking to Hamlet: Act II, scene 2, lines 187 – 191 and line 389
- speaking to Ophelia: Act III, scene 1, lines 43 - 49
Polonius is a overly devoted character. He appears for the first time in Act I, scene 3 and is killed in Act III, scene 4 by Hamlet. It becomes clear immediately that he wants things to go his way in an almost controlling way: In Act I, scene 3, he orders his children, Laertes and Ophelia, to follow his instructions about proper behavior. For example, he pretends to give great advice to his son about how to act with integrity and practicality, but actually he expects his son to do so in order to preserve his own prestige. It could thus be interpreted that he is more worried about his reputation than about the wellfare of his children. His orders are masked as advice. The authority over his children, especially over Ophelia who is the weaker female member of the family, is unquestioned. He pries into their affairs (Act II, scene 2), ridicules his daughter and forbids her to see Hamlet (Act I, scene 3). Thus, instead of providing comfort, his paternal role involves self-centered decisions and manipulative qualities. The two children obey him without hesitation (Act I, scene 3, lines 82 and 136).
A similarly strong devotion can be seen in regard to his relation to King Claudius. He gives various advices to the king how to act and how to proceed (for example Act II, scene 2, lines 163 – 164: “Be you and I behind an arras then; mark the encounter”) and thereby appears quite vain. Through his advice to Laertes to care about prestige it became clear how much he himself worries about his reputation, therefore it can be assumed that he fears to be discarded by the king when he does not provide enough counseling. Because of this, it can also be understood why Polonius meddles so much in the lives of his children - he even lets Reynaldo spy on Laertes (Act II, scene 1)- namely because he might be worried about is worried how Laertes’ behavior might reflect back onto himself. Therefore, Polonius appears to be very self-absorbed
Polonius behaves self-assured and important (for example “My lord, I have news to tell you” line 389 in Act II, scene 2) but most of the times he talks he is sermonizing, verbose, and meddling. He believes that he understands more than he actually does (for example in Act II, scene 2, lines 187 – 191: Polonius gives a “when I was your age” speech, which is nothing but a lame advice or unwanted opinion). Because of this, as mentioned above, he appears to be vain, and his arrogance becomes further clear. He goes as far as to use other people to achieve his ideas, for example in Act II, scene 2, where he proposes to gain information about Hamlet through her. He treats her like a puppet and completely disregards her privacy. Another similar example is when he proposes to use Gertrude to find out about Hamlet’s motivations (Act III, scene four). He instructs the queen on how to behave (“Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with, and that your grace hath screen’d and stood between heat and him”). It is interesting that he dies amidst his falsehoods (Act III, scene four: ““O! I am slain”), suggesting that he has acted immorally and egoistically.
In conclusion, Polonius is more concerned about his own reputation than about the feelings and well-being of others. He puts a lot of effort into achieving what he thinks is right and uses long, verbose speeches to convince of his side; in the end however, he is killed through one of his own sly plans.
POLONIUS
- speaking to Laertes: Act I, scene 3, lines 55 - 81
- speaking to the king: Act II, scene 2, lines 42 – 49 and lines 163 – 164
- speaking to Hamlet: Act II, scene 2, lines 187 – 191 and line 389
- speaking to Ophelia: Act III, scene 1, lines 43 - 49
Polonius is a overly devoted character. He appears for the first time in Act I, scene 3 and is killed in Act III, scene 4 by Hamlet. It becomes clear immediately that he wants things to go his way in an almost controlling way: In Act I, scene 3, he orders his children, Laertes and Ophelia, to follow his instructions about proper behavior. For example, he pretends to give great advice to his son about how to act with integrity and practicality, but actually he expects his son to do so in order to preserve his own prestige. It could thus be interpreted that he is more worried about his reputation than about the wellfare of his children. His orders are masked as advice. The authority over his children, especially over Ophelia who is the weaker female member of the family, is unquestioned. He pries into their affairs (Act II, scene 2), ridicules his daughter and forbids her to see Hamlet (Act I, scene 3). Thus, instead of providing comfort, his paternal role involves self-centered decisions and manipulative qualities. The two children obey him without hesitation (Act I, scene 3, lines 82 and 136).
A similarly strong devotion can be seen in regard to his relation to King Claudius. He gives various advices to the king how to act and how to proceed (for example Act II, scene 2, lines 163 – 164: “Be you and I behind an arras then; mark the encounter”) and thereby appears quite vain. Through his advice to Laertes to care about prestige it became clear how much he himself worries about his reputation, therefore it can be assumed that he fears to be discarded by the king when he does not provide enough counseling. Because of this, it can also be understood why Polonius meddles so much in the lives of his children - he even lets Reynaldo spy on Laertes (Act II, scene 1)- namely because he might be worried about is worried how Laertes’ behavior might reflect back onto himself. Therefore, Polonius appears to be very self-absorbed
Polonius behaves self-assured and important (for example “My lord, I have news to tell you” line 389 in Act II, scene 2) but most of the times he talks he is sermonizing, verbose, and meddling. He believes that he understands more than he actually does (for example in Act II, scene 2, lines 187 – 191: Polonius gives a “when I was your age” speech, which is nothing but a lame advice or unwanted opinion). Because of this, as mentioned above, he appears to be vain, and his arrogance becomes further clear. He goes as far as to use other people to achieve his ideas, for example in Act II, scene 2, where he proposes to gain information about Hamlet through her. He treats her like a puppet and completely disregards her privacy. Another similar example is when he proposes to use Gertrude to find out about Hamlet’s motivations (Act III, scene four). He instructs the queen on how to behave (“Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with, and that your grace hath screen’d and stood between heat and him”). It is interesting that he dies amidst his falsehoods (Act III, scene four: ““O! I am slain”), suggesting that he has acted immorally and egoistically.
In conclusion, Polonius is more concerned about his own reputation than about the feelings and well-being of others. He puts a lot of effort into achieving what he thinks is right and uses long, verbose speeches to convince of his side; in the end however, he is killed through one of his own sly plans.
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