Hamlet’s odd behavior demonstrates his isolationist attitude that he developed after the death of his father. By internalizing what the ghost had told him and his emotions, the theme of insanity becomes a large part of the play. Even his mother comments on how crazy that he has been acting “ [He is as] mad as the sea and wind when both contend, which is the mightier.” The audience pities the fact that Hamlet concealing his revenge and hatred has caused him to become unstable and mad. Hamlet continues to internalize his anger and sadness when Ophelia tragically commits suicide. Hamlet finds this is out in the most horrible way when he notices a burial taking place at the graveyard and realizes that it was his ex-girlfriend. The many deaths that have occurred around Hamlet cause him to realize the inevitability and sorrow of death. He had even questioned if suicide was worth it earlier in the play with his to be or not to be soliloquy. Hamlet begins to rapidly decline after Ophelia’s death and seeks to release him emotion and anger by killing Claudius. While Hamlet continues to plan the murder of the King, the King and Laertes also strategize the death of Hamlet. Laertes becomes another foil for Hamlet as he seeks to avenge the accidental death of Polonius. His irrational behavior and anger for Hamlet accidentally killing Polonius make the audience more inclined towards the cause of Hamlet, not Laertes and Claudius. Laertes is used as a comparison to Hamlet because both of their father had been killed, but Hamlet's father was killed with lustful…
In William Shakespeare's Hamlet and Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman the parenting styles shape and affect the parent and child relationships due to the inadequate involvement and permissiveness that Polonius, Hamlet Senior, and Willy communicate to their children. As each character faces challenges of their own, Polonius, Willy and Hamlet Sr are placed in situations which test their abilities as parents. Children, in the play, either follow the advice of their parents or create their own destinies. The time periods for each play, have had an impact on the values and quality of family life for each character. As a result, the many conflicting interactions developed into an unhealthy parent and child relationship. Polonius is one of the many…
One of the most obvious examples of appearance However, in reality Polonius is an evil, greedy selfish man, who serves not his kingdom but himself. One example of this is how Polonius appears to be happy, concerned and supportive of his son, Laerte’s, journey to France. He seems to be supportive of his son until he sends Reynaldo as an emissary, in order to detect what sort of mischief he stumbles upon in France. In addition, Polonius, again, displays his devious characteristics when he spies on Hamlet and Ophelia in an attempt to analyze Hamlet’s madness. He soon orders Ophelia to stop seeing Hamlet, as he brainwashes her with lies about Hamlets motives, when in reality Hamlet is truly in love with Ophelia. Once again, Polonius proves his scheming behavior when he listens in on Hamlet and Gertrude’s conversation while in the bedchamber. Hamlet finally teaches him his lesson when he unexpectedly murders the “rat.” In reality Polonius is anything but a loving father watching out for his children, he uses everyone to his advantage and for his own purposes; this proves as evidence for his sneaky…
In Act II Claudius, Polonius, Gertrude and even Ophelia spend their time spying on Hamlet to find out his true disposition. This is dramatic irony since we and Hamlet know something significant while the other characters do not. Polonius, the father of Ophelia, whom is the lover of Hamlet, comes to a conclusion that Hamlet is mad from neglected love. Polonius assumes this as he used Ophelia as a bate for him to trap Hamlet. Also, here it seems as Polonius and Claudius are in this together to plan something against Hamlet as Claudius does not want him to live. Polonius goes to tell Claudius he has “found” out the cause of Hamlet’s madness.…
Hamlet behaves very ambiguously with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and continues to act this way with Polonius. Once Hamlet realizes that the two were sent by Claudius and Gertrude he got angry and had a feeling something wrong…
Hamlet and Laertes; more alike than not? In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the audience of Shakespeare’s time period as well as today’s audience would have recognized the play as a revenge tragedy. But, this is not your typical revenge tragedy but one with a twist. As in most Elizabethan revenge tragedies the ghost appeared to further the action or reaction of the hero. However, the ghost in Hamlet not only appears as part of the plot but surpasses the traditional role of the ghost and becomes an actual character within the play (Mandell).…
Weakness can be brought upon a person in many ways. Poloniuss weakness is thehis inability to control his actions towards other people. Polonius has a controlling personality that ultimately causes his downfall. Poloniuss uncontrollable personality causes him to spy and manipulate the people he cares about. Right from the beginning we observed that Polonius manipulates Ophelia into spying on Hamlet. Polonius demonstrates that he is capable and willing to use his family as pawns, as well as do anything to keep Claudius happy. Polonius relationship with Claudius is nothing more than servant to a king. Polonius is used as a servant to retrieve information for Claudius. Since Polonius is used and manipulated by the king Polonius does the same ounto others that he cares about, such as his daughter and son. Ophelia reveals to Polonius about how Hamlet is treating her and Poloniuss first action is Come, go we to the king. This must be known, which, being kept close, might move more grief to hide than hate to utter love (2.1.117-119).…
The character Polonius, in the play Hamlet, can be looked at as a wise or foolish man. While he does show a few examples of him being wise, he shows several more examples of him being foolishness. William Shakespeare's Hamlet utilizes the character Polonius to reveal the fine line between being wise and being foolish.…
3. Polonius and Hamlet were similar in that they both loved Ophelia and tried to protect her. While Polonius died trying, Hamlet encouraged [?] her to go to a nunnery. Unfortunately, she died anyway. Also, Hamlet and Polonius both died trying to protect a woman. Polonius was trying to protect Ophelia from Hamlet, just as Hamlet was trying to protect his mother from Claudius. [Nice point] Both men were also loyal to a king--Polonius to Claudius, and Hamlet to his father. Here again, both kings were killed.…
And hurt my brother. Since Hamlet somehow knows this fencing fight is not only a simple competition between him and Laertes, Hamlet understands that why Laertes needs to fight with him, which because Hamlet killed Polonius, who is Laertes` father, by accidentally. “I here proclaim was madness.” In terms of anagorisis, Hamlet tells Laertes that the murder was not done by Hamlet`s consciousness, but rather by his madness. In addition, this is the first time in the whole play since Hamlet knows the truth from the ghost and he acts straight, Hamlet convince that he is mad and acts stupidly (killed Polonius) consequently. Hamlet hopes that Laertes can understand it is not Hamlet`s fault or guilty of killing Polonius and removes himself from the responsibility. “If’t be so, Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged.” In terms of metaphor/personification, Hamlet indicates that he is the victim of his mental illness so that he was controlled by it and killed Polonius. “His madness is poor Hamlet’s enemy.” In terms of personification/analogy, for Hamlet, he thinks he is not the one who should be blamed or punished rather his madness should be blamed as Hamlet`s enemy. “Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil Free me so far in your most generous thoughts That I have shot mine arrow o'er the house And hurt my brother.” In terms of analogy, Hamlet hints at Polonius` spying in Gertrude`s closet when Hamlet killed him by using “a purposed evil” and describes Polonius was accidental killed by him by using “I have shot mine arrow o'er the house And hurt my brother”, which “the house” means Gertrude`s closet. Originally, Hamlet thought the guy who hid behind the curtain was Claudius, and Hamlet promised that if Claudius has done something badly, he must kill Claudius. However, he did not know the guy behind…
In the play, Hamlet is the son of the former king. When King Hamlet dies, Claudius inherits the throne because Hamlet is too young to be King. Afterward, Hamlet finds out that it was Claudius that killed his father, so he devotes himself in avenging his father's death. Although he is trying to set the chain back to normal, but also disturbing it, since Claudius is King. While Hamlet finds a way to kill Claudius, he acts mad in front of people he does not trust. Polonius, being nosy and ambitious, volunteers to spy on Hamlet while he speaks to his mother. When Polonius thought Gertrude was in danger, he screams for help. Hamlet mistakes him as Claudius and kills him without even thinking. Polonius' death and Hamlet neglecting Ophelia causes her to feel lost, and go insane. "We know what we are, but know not what we may be"# This quote foreshadows how she feels lost in this world, and do not now what she is going to do in the future. She feels there are no place in the world for her anymore, so she chooses to leave it and drowns herself. Hamlet disturbing the chain has caused Polonius and Ophelia's death. This is also how it leads to how Laertes and Hamlet dies.…
In Hamlet, characters who are portrayed as truly lacking in integrity are punished with shameful death. One such character would be Polonius. Although it is he who tells others to thine own sel(ves) be true., he himself is superficial and devoid of much moral fibre. Hence, it is no wonder that in the end, he is rightfully condemned to a disgraceful death, where he is slain in the midst of his own treachery. Polonius is a character who is devious to all who are around him, including his own family. Although he consents to his son Laertes returning to Paris to study, he employs a spy to inquire of his behaviour, by putting on him what forgeries you please. If he is unable to have an honourable and trusting relationship…
Hamlet Act ll An important character in the play Hamlet is Polonius. Polonius is often thought to be foolish, and thoughtless. However, Polonius is anything but foolish, and thoughtless. Polonius is a man who is very intellectual, and he provides guidance to those who need it. For example, his advice to Reynaldo on how to monitor Laertes's wild behavior is magnificent and brilliant. His advice to Ophelia about Hamlet, love, and affection is very accurate. Polonius is considered a fool to some people, because Hamlet is making it seem that way, he wants to put Polonius down, and make Polonius seem like a fool. Hamlet is rude to Polonius, and constantly making fun of him. At one point Hamlet calls Polonius a “fishmonger”. Hamlet then makes his…
The character of Polonius holds a position of power within Hamlet, and therefore is expected to hold a similar measure of responsibility. A corrupt and unfit…
Prince Hamlet killing Polonius was another blunder because he was to blinded by his rage to realize that the man behind the curtain was not the King, but rather Polonius. "Mad as the sea and wind when both contend Which is the mightier. In his lawless fit, Behind the…