The role of Polonius is a comparatively short one, since he is killed in the third act and thus does not appear in the last two acts. And although his death exerts a decisive influence on the further plot of the play, the consequences of his death are not really part of his role, they rather relate to and depend on Ophelia´s and Laertes´s reactions to his being killed. That might explain why many critical studies of Hamlet seem to neglect Polonius or at least are far from giving a full portray of this character. However, it is remarkable that Polonius appears in all the scenes of the second and the third acts and also in the scenes 2 and 3 of the first act. And the fact that his entrances are so frequent indicates a certain importance. So what can be said about this character?
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Polonius´s principles
3. Hamlet´s judgement
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography
Objectives and Core Topics
This paper examines the character of Polonius in William Shakespeare's Hamlet, specifically focusing on how his reliance on generalizations, past experiences, and a perceived sense of duty shapes his flawed judgment, ultimately leading to his demise and impacting the play's plot development.
- The characterization of Polonius as a flawed counselor and state official.
- The role of "commonplaces" and superficial wisdom in Polonius's decision-making process.
- The contrast between Polonius’s superficiality and Hamlet’s reflective nature.
- Polonius's influence on the plot progression through his spying and directive behavior.
- The dramatic irony surrounding Polonius's perceived wisdom versus his actual senility.
Excerpt from the Book
2. Polonius´s principles
Polonius calls himself an `assistant for a state´ [II.ii.168]. And he has indeed the function of a counsellor at the court of Claudius, which is among others shown by his again and again giving Claudius advice concerning Hamlet. Polonius´s first longer speech can be found in act 1, scene 3, when he tells Laertes to keep to certain principles. In fact Polonius tells his son about nine different precepts, which all must be regarded as commonplaces. The most general precept is certainly his demand `to thy own self be true´ [I.iii.78]. Commonplaces and generalizations are obviously important criteria for Polonius´s judgements; he needs them to understand the world that surrounds him and to orientate himself.
When Ophelia tells Polonius about Hamlet´s love for her, he resorts to a generalization in order to convince her of the falseness of Hamlet´s vows: `I do know when the blood burns how prodigal the soul lends the tongue vows´ [I.iii.115-117.]. Furthermore Polonius says that `wanton, wild and usual slips are […] companions noted and most known to youth and liberty´ [II.i.23]. That is why he does not trust his son, but orders his servant to observe Laertes. Another generalization or saying of Polonius´s is: `´Tis much proved that with devotion´s visage and pious action we do sugar o´er the devil himself´ [III.i.49-51.]. `I do know´, `most known´, `much proved´ – in fact Polonius does not know what is going on at court. His common sense seems to have been replaced by commonplaces and proverbs. And general conceptions constitute his knowledge. This reveals a kind of superficiality which can also be noticed by the fact that the outer appearance of people is very important for Polonius: `… the apparel oft proclaims the man´ [I.iii.72]. Moreover he esteems obedience and honour, which are again very general terms. And of course his behaviour towards Claudius and Gertrude shows a lot of obedience and also obsequiousness. On the other hand he is anxious to be considered as a good adviser and he is afraid of his honour and reputation being damaged. The latter is a reason for his unwillingness to support a relationship between Hamlet and his daughter.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the role of Polonius in Hamlet and poses the central question regarding his importance despite his relatively short stage presence.
2. Polonius´s principles: This chapter analyzes how Polonius relies on clichés and generalizations to navigate his duties and personal life, revealing his superficial nature and inability to adapt to new situations.
3. Hamlet´s judgement: This section explores how Hamlet perceives Polonius as a foolish old man and how this mutual misunderstanding, combined with Polonius's rash actions, leads to his eventual death.
4. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes Polonius's role as a plot-driver and explains how his tragic errors in judgment reflect both his personal senility and his inability to grasp the corruption at court.
5. Bibliography: This section lists the primary text and critical sources used for the analysis.
Keywords
Polonius, Hamlet, William Shakespeare, character analysis, judgment, principles, commonplaces, generalizations, dramatic irony, court life, senility, plot development, tragedy, Ophelia, Claudius
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on the character of Polonius in Shakespeare's Hamlet, specifically investigating his disturbed judgment and how his reliance on fixed principles and generalizations contributes to his downfall.
What are the primary themes analyzed in the text?
The main themes include the conflict between superficiality and reflection, the consequences of misjudgment, the nature of political counsel, and the role of experience versus senility in interpreting reality.
What is the author's central research question?
The author aims to define the nature of Polonius as a character and evaluate why he is important to the play's structure despite being killed relatively early, questioning if his judgments stem from age, character flaws, or an inability to understand the corruption of the court.
Which scientific or analytical method is applied?
The author utilizes a character-based literary analysis, supported by direct text citations from Hamlet and secondary critical sources to provide evidence for the interpretation of Polonius's actions and psychological state.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body examines Polonius's reliance on "commonplaces," his manipulative behavior towards his children and the King, his strained relationship with Hamlet, and his eventual death due to his own rashness.
Which keywords best characterize the research?
Key terms include Polonius, Hamlet, character analysis, commonplaces, dramatic irony, and judgment.
Does the author consider Polonius to be an evil character?
The author suggests that Polonius’s actions are driven by senility, a need for reputation, and an inability to understand the "unnatural" evil deeds of Claudius, rather than inherent malice.
Why does the author highlight the "dramatic irony" regarding Polonius?
The author highlights this to show that Polonius occasionally speaks the truth about his own foolishness or impending death, but because he is caught in his own superficial patterns, he fails to recognize the significance of his own words.
- Quote paper
- Jens Saathoff (Author), 1993, The role of Polonius in "Hamlet": a man of judgement disturbed, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/177995
