The Role and Significance of Polonius in Hamlet by Shakespeare

Hamlet, a tragic hero whose own indecision led to the tragic end of his story. But he is not the only one guilty of procrastination. Polonius’s own circumlocution is a foil to Hamlet’s indecision and lack of action. It also adds to the overall theme of inaction of the play. It is not only because they are similar in this respect but also that their types of delaying are different, they contrast each other.

She means a lot to him, but now she has rejected him (by returning his

Polonius is a prideful man who takes his position on the court as the Chief Counselor of the King more seriously than it actually is. He regards himself as witty and infallible, yet he is neither of these. He wishes to prove his wit and intelligence to his peers, but by attempting to do so, he only reveals just how much wit and intelligence he lacks. Throughout the play, Polonius “is presented as a busybody who misinterprets almost everything” (Bloom 19). Hamlet’s use of metaphors and pregnant responses cause Polonius to realize he is not nearly as witty as he thought he was, or as Hamlet is. This drives him into anger and frustration, and could possibly be the cause of his decline into dotage. In Act II scene II, the audience witnesses Polonius’s realization and how he reacts to it.

It is interesting to note that Hamlet only puts his 'madness'; performance on for the characters he is suspicious of such as Claudius, Polonius, Gertrude, and Ophelia. When Hamlet is around Horatio, Marcellus, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, the Players and the Grave-Diggers, he acts rationally. He changes his disposition with ease and speed. During Act 2, Scene 2, Hamlet is speaking with Polonius. When Polonius asks if Hamlet recognizes him, Hamlet replies that 'You are a fishmonger.'; He goes on to insult Polonius further and calls daughter Ophelia a 'good kissing carrion';. When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern appear, Hamlet begins to behave cordially again. He warmly greets his friends and engages them in light philosophical humor.

Hamlet’s lunacy becomes quite real at points, and he enters into a deep melancholy. King Claudius and Queen Gertrude bring Hamlet’s schoolmates Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to probe Hamlet and find the source of his sorrow. Polonious, a pompous, yet loyal, man to Claudius, suggests that Hamlet is madly in love with his daughter Ophelia. It is during this time Polonius’ famous “brevity is the soul of wit” dialogue is said, after which point he rambles for nearly 10 minutes before telling the King and Queen his hypothesis. Claudius tests this theory by spying on Hamlet and Ophelia’s interaction with Polonius, however, Hamlet appears thoroughly insane after screaming at Ophelia and telling her to “get thee to a nunnery.”

  Well aware that several hours of unrelenting angst would be a bit much for his audience to take, William Shakespeare strategically placed several humorous scenes throughout his masterpiece, Hamlet.  In particular, the character of Polonius fills the role of the comic fool; he is in two essential comedic scenes, one with his own children and then one with Hamlet.  Shakespeare's acute ability to weave humor into this very heavy play is noteworthy, as his use of comedy goes beyond merely providing much-needed comic relief.   In fact, the rather numerous comedic scenes serve as a foils to, as well as reflections of, the intense action of the play.   In every case where humor is used in Hamlet, it is

I think that Polonius' death has relevance to the play because it was the first death of many deaths. I think his death starts the whole main plot of the play. After polonius' death, it causes Claudius to be scared which leads to having him decide to execute Hamlet. Having that be said, that leads to the death of Rosencratz and Guildenstern who are carrying the letter but Hamlet substitues the letter with the execution of Rosencratz and Guildenstern instead. And because of POlonius' death, that leads to Ophelia being crazy and eventually murdering herself. The death of Polonius seems to be leading to all the other major deaths that are occuring in the play so I think it is very relevant to the play.

Polonius played a vital role in Hamlet even though he was not one of the main characters. He continued to reinforce the theme of corruption and displayed the social and ethical collapse of Denmark. His deceitful actions show the reader that he is one of dishonesty and chicanery. In the play, Polonius was portrayed as someone who is a deceiver and pretender that betrays people he is supposed to be devoted to; and who only cares about things that will benefit him. These characteristics of Polonius are seen through his interactions with Ophelia, Hamlet, Laertes, Reynaldo and the King.

In the play Hamlet, Claudius is known as the villain of the play. He is the lead antagonist who is characterized as a cunning, incestuous, and vile, usurper. Many readers and critics of the play do not dispute this perception, especially after reading how Claudius became the King of Denmark; He steals the throne by poisoning his brother, the previous king, and quickly marrying Queen Gertrude his widowed sister in law (1.5.42, 60-74). The general reading of Claudius’s character paints him to be a corrupt, cowardly politician, in addition to being Hamlet’s (the protagonist) foe. This portrait engages first-time readers to judge Claudius immediately and although this perspective of his personality is proven to be true, it is limited. Claudius

As one of the four Shakespeare’s great tragedies, Hamlet has always been comment by people all around the world. Hamlet, the son of the last king of Denmark, after knowing the truth of his father’s death, begins planning revenge. Hamlet has been racked with grief after his father’s death, and it makes him like a person with crazy behaviors. Except Hamlet, there are several characters play an important role and lead this story to a tragic end, such as Polonius, councilor to King Claudius and father of Ophelia and Laertes. His distrust of other people, sense of self-important makes him a dislikable person, but if we read the play carefully, it is not difficult to find out that Polonius has been suffering from several psychological disorders. It is useful for us to understand what kind of psychological disorders drive Polonius to act so impolitely and conceitedly, and what are his personality traits and the motivation of his actions. Polonius’s overconfident and usage of others shows his Narcissistic Personality Disorder, which causes he trusts himself but distrusts and suspicion others, and it proves Polonius also have Paranoid Personality Disorder.

Intellectuals have regularly guessed that Hamlet's Polonius could have been motivated by William Cecil (Lord Burghley)—Lord High Treasurer and chief counselor to Queen Elizabeth I. Literature professors suggest that Polonius's counsel to Laertes may have confirmed Burghley's to his son Robert Cecil. Another specialist assumes it almost definite that the character of Polonius ridiculed Burghley. Some even speculate that Polonius's tiresome long-windedness might be similar to Burghley's. It is even thought that the name Corambis (in the First Quarto) did recommend Cecil and Burghley. Few also consider the notion that Polonius might be a distortion of Burghley is a speculation, and may be centered on the related character they each played at court,

And what makes Hamlet great is his ability to take this situation Polonius has made to frame Hamlet, as an opportunity to make Polonius look like a fool in front of King Claudius. “Let the doors be shut upon him, that he may play the fool no where but in’s own house” (1.3. 132-133) roars Hamlet. Hamlet will not let Polonius make him look like a fool in the prince’s own castle. The only place a

One of the more subtle elements of corruption in the play is the manner in which the court of Denmark functions. It is a game of favors, a constant play, with the director as the King, his subjects the players, and none more prominent than Polonius, the royal advisor. Polonius' two main faults lie in his ingratiating manner and his incessant spying. While he tells his daughter Ophelia that Hamlet is not true in his affections, he explains to the King that he warned Ophelia against Hamlet because the Prince it far above her station in life. Polonius perceives himself to be witty and tries to weasel his way around with actions and words to best fit the situation and above all benefit himself. His inclination to spy on people is obvious for he sends a man to France to find out how his son is behaving, he spies on his daughter while she is with Prince Hamlet, and he hides behind the arras to listen to the confrontation between the Queen and Hamlet. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern also try to win favor with the King, foregoing any friendship they once had with Hamlet, to 'play upon [him] . . . pluck out the heart of [his] mystery,' acting as little more than spies for the King, feigning friendship to obtain Hamlet's secrets (3.2.372-374).

   The main plot of Shakespeare's Hamlet centers around Prince Hamlet's desire to repay King Claudius for his evil deeds. Around this central action revolve the stories concerning the minor characters of Polonius and Ophelia. Though they do not motivate Hamlet's actions towards the King, these characters act as forces upon Hamlet himself, trying to spur him to do things he does not want to do. Both Polonius and Ophelia try, unsuccessfully, to manipulate Hamlet into a place of inferiority.

To quench his desire for information, Polonius uses manipulation and dishonesty, while hiding behind his best appearance. In the beginning scenes of the play, Polonius is supporting his son, Laertes, in his departure to France; during their goodbyes, Polonius gives Laertes shallow advice on how he should behave. With these actions, Polonius is displaying his paternal role excellently, he is looking out for his son such as any good father would. What Laertes, along with other onlookers cannot realize is Polonius will send his servant, Reynaldo, to obtain all the information on Laertes' activities in France. Polonius’ desire for knowledge leads him to allow, even encourage Reynaldo to say, “'And in part him, but,' you may say, 'not well'. But, if ’t be he I mean, he’s very wild. Addicted so and so.—” And there put on him What forgeries you please.”(II.I.17-20). Due to Polonius’ earlier displays of affection towards his son, he is able to use dishonest methods of spying and spreading false information (can taint Laertes’ social life) to get what he considers to be the truth. Not only did Polonius mess with Laertes’ life, but he also decides to take control of his daughter’s romantic relationship with prince Hamlet. He urges Ophelia to talk about her meetings with Hamlet and proceeds to forbid her from seeing him, on the premise that his affections are untrue. Although Polonius’ approach was not courteous, he is once again establishing a paternal figure who is only looking out for his daughter’s well-being. As soon as Polonius hears about Hamlet’s mad actions towards Ophelia, he wishes to prove Hamlet's madness is due to heartbreak. This prompts him to use Ophelia as bait, suggesting to the king “I’ll loose my daughter to him: Be you and I behind an arras then; Mark the encounter” (II.II.160-162). Polonius’ urge to involve himself in everything, drives him to