The Responsibility Of Polonius's Death In Hamlet

In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the first death that occurs is Polonius’ death. Specifically, in Act 3, Scene 4, he is killed by Hamlet in Gertrude’s room. This death of Polonius is the most controversial death in the play, as it seems not clear who should take responsibility for it. Some argue Polonius is to blame for his own death, thus deserving to die, for his wrongdoings against Hamlet, while, on the other hand, some argue differently that Hamlet should take responsibility as he is the one who killed him. However, in fact, none of these two characters are responsible for the tragic event. Hamlet’s murder of Polonius was solely an accident, and Polonius cannot be blamed for his own death as his controversial actions to Hamlet

When Polonius believes that Hamlet has gone mad, he informs Claudius and Gertrude that “[their] noble son is mad” and tells that “the very cause of Hamlet’s lunacy” is because of his abandoned love (2.2.99; 52). Then, already alert of Hamlet’s strange behavior, Claudius and Gertrude “[long] to hear” more and ask Polonius “how may [they] try it further?” (2.2.53;172). Consequently, Polonius suggests spying, and Claudius confirms his plan, as he says “we will try it” (2.2.182). Therefore, Polonius constantly spies on Hamlet throughout the play; he “looses [his] daughter” to purposely arrange an encounter between her and Hamlet and secretly listen to him behind the scene, and then further on, he again spies on him in Gertrude’s bedroom and eavesdrops on his conversation with his mother (2.2.176). Even though this Polonius’ spying might have manipulated Hamlet’s life and interfered his privacy, it was a duty he had to do as the councilor of the king and, in a way, was an inevitable act of good intuition. If he, instead, had rejected the order from the king and avoided to spy on Hamlet, that would have caused him more dishonor than what he had done. Evidently, Polonius’ spying on Hamlet was innocent and far from evil mean but was just to fulfill the King’s order. As a matter of fact, it demonstrates how good of a

Hamlet’s murder of Polonius was a mistake, as he clearly only wanted to kill Claudius, not Polonius. For Polonius, while the results of his controversial actions might have caused Hamlet to deteriorate and agonize his life more, the intentions of them were not aimed at Hamlet, but instead to his daughter and the royal family. They were solely to help his daughter have a better life and to fulfill the King’s order. Thus, Hamlet and Polonius are free from the blame. In fact, for Polonius, it is unfair for him to face his tragic death, for death seems too much of a harsh consequence as he was not a malicious