More handpicked essays just for you.
How does shakespeare present the relationship between parents and children
Parental relationships during the time of Shakespeare
Parental relationships during the time of Shakespeare
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
While Polonius often appears insignificant, he actually plays a crucial role in the plot of Hamlet. Polonius is an advisor of the king and the father of Laertes and Ophelia and is elderly and demented man. As a character Polonius should address the question of whether he is a devoted father or a ruthless politician. Polonius eventually dies but since hamlet is a Shakespearian tragedy and in a Shakespearian tragedy most if not all characters die, but Polonius death is the first of many deaths to occur, and it is the cause of many of the other. There is some controversy on whether Polonius is responsible for his death, even though hamlet actually killed Polonius.
While Hamlet can be held responsible for Polonius’s death because he is the one who actually killed him, Polonius is still the cause of his own death because he tends to dote on his image and the way people perceive him, he tries too hard to get the king to think well of him, and he is always meddling in the business of others.
First, Polonius is the cause of his own death because he tries too hard to get the king to think well of him. Polonius is the advisor of the king but he seems to want to always want to be in the king’s good graces. In act two scene
…show more content…
Polonius wants people to see him as an overall good person, a good father and someone you wouldn’t think badly of. In act one scene three when Polonius says “You’ll tender me a fool” while talking to Ophelia about hamlet. Polonius feels as if Ophelia’s action will affect his reputation and shows little regard for her feelings. In act two: scene one Polonius sends Reynaldo to spy on Laertes to see if he’s out there misrepresenting him. Even though he Laertes is no longer in Denmark because Polonius believes he knows what young men want, think and feel. He has to be involved in everything that has anything to do with him to make sure people perceive him as a up standing
Claudius is the antagonist in this play, in easier words, the villain. He is the brother of the now dead King of Denmark, Hamlet. Claudius murders his brother and does it in a way that it seems as though death had claimed him in a natural way. He is then quick to marry Queen Gertrude, as a favor to the state of Denmark. Claudius throughout the play is calculating, and will do anything to stay in power: including murdering the son of his current wife, his nephew, Hamlet. During the play, Hamlet becomes a threat to the crown and power in his possession. To overcome this, Claudius confides in Laertes that Hamlet was the cause of Polonius’s death. In an act of revenge Laertes plans his act “I will do ‘t. And for that purpose I’ll anoint my sword. I bought an unction of a mounteback, so mortal that, but a dip a knife in it, where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare, collected from all simples that have virtue under the moon, can save the thing from death that is but scratched withal. I’ll touch my point with this contagion, that if I gall him slightly it may be death” (4.7.139-148). This works wonderfully in Claudius’s favor. With Laertes plotting to avenge his father, Claudius won’t have to get his hands dirty again, and...
This belief leads to the death of Polonius, and furthermore to the death of Hamlet. In the next scene, Hamlet's fate is sealed. Polonius, the "Wretched, rash, intruding fool", (81) was up to his old tricks, while Hamlet accidentally slays Polonius mistaking Polonius for Claudius. Later on, Laertes returns to avenge his father. "How came he dead?" (99) asked
...ia goes mad because of her father’s murder, and consequently ends up drowning to her death. Laertes also comes back to Denmark from France to seek revenge for his father’s murder. It is arguable that had Hamlet not murdered Polonius, none of these events would have occurred, including the deaths of virtually all the characters as well as Hamlet.
Polonius is the father of Laertes and Ophelia. His contribution to the ideology of sexism and incest is not as direct as the other characters but it is just as significant. His daughter, Ophelia, is deeply in love with the title character, Hamlet. Polonius constantly observes the suspicious relationship between Ophelia and Hamlet. He tries to intervene between his daughter’s relationships with Hamlet. Since her love for Hamlet is so strong, Ophelia becomes disobedient and rebellious to her father just so that she could make a way to fulfill the needs of Hamlet. Polonius tries to help Ophelia understand that she is basically “bait” to Hamlet and she must avoid falling for his word but she refuses to listen. Along with Polonius, his son Laertes is also attempting to protect Ophelia from Hamlet.
In the play, Hamlet encounters many situations as well as mistakes due to the “act” he was putting on. Polonius’s death was a prime example of Hamlet’s confusion. His hatred for Claudius, his actions, and his inner conflict caused him to kill Polonius.... ... middle of paper ...
In contrast to Laertes speculation of his father’s killer, Hamlet assumes the individual spying on his conversation with Gertrude is Claudius. “Nay, I know not. Is it the King?” (Act III Scene 4 line 28). Without thinking, Hamlet automatically thrusts out attempting to kill who he believed was Claudius and actually kills Polonius.
Furthermore, by regulating Ophelia’s conduct in such a manner, he subconsciously makes her dependent upon him, ensuring her complete obedience and reliance allowing her to bend to his own will, ensuring her mental instability. Finally, Polonius vehemently claims that Hamlet’s antic disposition is a result of his infatuation with Ophelia. His ego overwhelms the audience upon his claim that “The origin and commencement of [Hamlet’s] grief | Sprung from neglected love” even upon Claudius’s dismissal of such a notion (III, i, 176-178). Unable to accept the possibility of his ineptitude, Polonius further pursues the source of Hamlet’s temperament. Thus, his moral stagnation leads to his physical downfall for the sole purpose of proving his claim and rectifying his wrong judgement. In conclusion, Polonius’s unethical approach to individuals and situations only guarantees his death as he is unable to resist his innate psyche and thus blindly answers to causes beyond his comprehension and required efforts. As his nature was corrupt, beyond the ideals of others, Polonius’s inherent ideologies lead him to adverse effects upon his own
Claudius' Greed for power is to blame for all the tragedies in the play Hamlet. Claudius was jellous of his brother and did go through exstemes inorder to gain power through greed. Relying on others was another tragedy. Polonius' death was not the fault of Claudius' greed. Hamlet killed Polonius. Don't assume because assuming lead to sticky situalions. Nevertheless, Hamlet was obsessed with killing Claudius because Claudius had killed his father and Hamlet wanted to seek his father's revenge. Keep your nose out of other people's buisness and find another solution to making your fatther proud. The bottom line is that Claudius craved power fortune and lust therefore leading to corruption, greed, jeallousy, and death.
Polonius takes this opportunity to spy on Hamlet and informs Gertrude that he will hide behind a tapestry and eavesdrop on their conversation. During their conversation Hamlet forces his mother in front of a mirror as to literally reflect on herself and the betrayal she’s caused him to feel. He tells her that he wants to reveal the figurative inmost part of her, but she takes this literally and thinks that he means he is going to murder her. She cries out for help which causes Polonius to cry out as well. Hamlet, thinking that the voice of the man who had just cried out for help belonged to his uncle, stabs Polonius through the curtain and kills him. Gertrude laments the murder of Polonius calling it a bloody deed and Hamlet retorts, “A bloody deed! Almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king and marry with his brother” (Shakespeare 1862). In this scene, Hamlet reaps revenge on Gertrude by emotionally torturing her so she may feel the utmost guilt for betraying her son and husband. Then, Hamlet’s unremorseful character is revealed in his ability to murder Polonius when he thought it was Claudius he had heard behind the curtain. Hamlet then justifies his murdering Polonius by equating it to Gertrude’s sin of marrying the man, her brother in law, who killed her
Polonius roles add a crucial dimension to the play's development of plot, the characterization of Hamlet, and the themes Shakespeare ultimately conveys. From his first appearances, Polonius seems to be playing the wise old man; he imparts much worldly wisdom to his children--Ophelia and Laertes. In his lecture to his daughter, he claims experience in the matters of love: "I do know / when the blood burns how prodigal the soul / Lends the tongue vows" (I.iii.115-17). This experience lends credit to Polonius' discount of the authenticity of Hamlet's intentions. It also adds credibility to his opinion of Ophelia as susceptible to fraudulent affections.
In the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the death or murder of a character becomes very freuquent. Although many people die. It is a result of their own wrong-doing. You could almost say they deserved what they got. But there were deaths of people, that were due to the manipulation from the royalty. A good example can be found in the family of Polonius’. The real tragedy of Hamlet is not that of Hamlet or his family but of Polonius’ family because their deaths were not caused by their own, sinful actions, but rather by their small instigation of Claudius and Hamlet’s battle.
Polonius, the lord Chamberlain, a counsel to the king, is the first character to be killed. As the play opens up, Polonius is depicted as a rather good person, with noapparent flaws. However, as the play progresses, Polonius possess a flaw in his character, which becomes increasingly evident throughout the play; he is extremely nosy and scrutinizing. Many times during the play Polonius is either seen spying on other characters, or arranging for characters to be spied upon. The first such incident of this occurs when his son Laertes is going off to Paris. He instructs his servant Reynaldo to spy on his while in Paris. Polonius tells him:
... the only way to honour his father Polonius is by killing Hamlet. In addition, as Claudius reads the letter from Hamlet to Laertes he says “'Tis Hamlet’s character. “Naked” And in a postscript here, he says “alone.” Can you advise me?” (IV, VII, 52-53). This shows that Claudius takes advantage of Hamlet’s return alone as an opportunity for Laertes to kill him. Through Claudius’s actions the readers observe how he deceives Laertes into killing Hamlet for his own benefit without getting blood on his hands. Furthermore, Claudius’ desperation to kill Hamlet leads to him losing sight of what is important, which is being the king of Denmark, what he originally wanted, instead the lies he told and the manipulation he spread is now taking over. To conclude, it is evident through the play that the words and actions of Claudius have only lead to the spread of deception.
Polonius is perhaps the most obviously corrupt character in Hamlet. His corruption has occurred long before the play begins; the progression is in the extent to which it is revealed to us. From this courteous, almost comically long-winded member of the court, emerges a personality that is first dominating (as he instructs Laertes: 'These few precepts in thy memory/ Look thou character.' [Act I, Sc. iii, 63]), clearly abusive towards Ophelia:
Polonius is the chief counsellor to Claudius, and although there is no evidence , it is possible that he had held a position at court under Hamlet's father, the old King. He is certainly trusted and held in high regard by Claudius, who tells Laertes that his father is extremely important to Denmark: