Polonius Euphemism In Hamlet

Hamlet is an intellectual man with the ability to express his affections very prominently. This can be seen through the way he addresses his friend, Horatio, and even to his mother. However, Hamlet’s letter strays out of character for a man able to convey his emotions so strongly. This letter is even different from previous letters written by him to others in the play. This might be because in a Elizabethan time there was a specific way that love letters were written, but Hamlet is a character who creates trends, not follows them. Some critics claim he wrote it in euphemisms since he spoke them often throughout the play. If it is written in euphemisms, then people are brought to believe that Hamlet’s love is fake. A more believable idea being

that he meant it out of character to alienate her affections.
However, it must be called to attention that Polonius might have had an important part in this lovers quarrel.

Recalling the scene from which Polonius tells Reynaldo to spy and spread rumors about his son gives they audience a different and more controlling take on his character. Usually this scene is seen as irrelevant to the play by stage directors, and critics, but holds more than it seems. This scene shows how manipulative Polonius can really be. He is sneaky and does everything behind the scenes and, unlike Hamlet, does not need verification that he is right. Polonius always thinks that he is right and sees the world as one that revolves around himself. Since he does not doubt himself he has no problem using Reynaldo to sully his son's school reputation. So, it is to say, that if Polonius can forge a note degrading his own son, who's to say he did not forge the note from Hamlet to Ophelia? That irrelevant scene may be important after all, since it shows that Polonius forges letters. Since Polonius always needs to be right, it would be an easy explanation for Hamlet’s madness and give Polonius control of the situation since he told Ophelia to reject Hamlet’s affections. All he has to do is prove that this is the cause for Hamlet’s madness, and the best way to do that is through showing a letter between the two

lovers.
Now, while presenting the letter to the king and queen, Polonius seems hesitant as if one might be before a reputable lie. As he starts to read the letter Gertrude questions it's origin, and Polonius neither confirms or denies her suspicions. He simply continues reading the letter, while afterwards making it important to repeat the fact that he retrieved it from his daughter. This was something that he had already mentioned to the king and queen prior to reading the letter. Polonius even goes as far as to claim that Ophelia has told him everything about her love affair with Hamlet. While this might make sense for Ophelia to tell her father out of obedience, there is no proof that she would confide all of her secrets to such a manipulative man. After all, she kept things from him otherwise she would not have gone as mad towards the end. Polonius also has two different claims from how he learned about Hamlet and Ophelia’s love affair, one of which he tells the King and Queen is different from the one he tells his own daughter.
Nor addressing the love letter itself, it already starts out of character for Hamlet. The diction in the poem is different from any diction he's used in the play. It as if Polonius wrote the letter with the things he thought that Hamlet might say. When the King and Queen are skeptical of it, he quickly lets the blame fall on Hamlet. Drawing into the third line of the letter, it calls upon Ophelia to doubt a lie sooner than his love. It doesn't fit into the poems message, theme, or Hamlet’s personal style. Instead it points towards Polonius himself, the liar. Some lines further in the letter are lines somewhat said by Polonius himself. In conclusion, it can be clearer now that Polonius forged the letter from Hamlet to Ophelia.