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Shrewd Polonius

In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare describes the tragedy of Denmark in the Dark Ages, when laws do not rule societies. Instead of laws, the aristocrats use assassinations to achieve their purposes: Claudius assassinates the last king, his brother; Hamlet tries to have revenge on Claudius; and Laertes wants to revenge his father. Accordingly, people in the courts are required to be cunning to survive. Polonius shows worldly wisdom in his speech and manipulates people; however, his imprudence reveals that his worldly wisdom is inadequate.

Polonius shows worldly wisdom when he talks to people. When Laertes, his son, leaves for Wittenberg, he lectures him on some precepts regarding how to live without conflicts:

Give thy thoughts no tongue .…Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar .…Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried .… Beware [o]f entrance to a quarrel .…Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice .… Costly thy habit as they purse can buy .… Neither a borrower nor a lender be .… This above all: to thine own self be true, [a]nd it must follow, as the night the day, [t]hou canst not then be false to any man. (Shakespeare 1.3.58-80)

His fatherly advice suggests that Polonius is a sensible person who knows well how to get on in the world.

Polonius sends Reynaldo to Wittenberg to give Laertes money; however, he uses this opportunity to spy on Leartes. He says to Reynaldo, “You shall do marvelous wisely … [b]efore you visit him, to make inquire [o]f his behavior” (2.1.3-4). He goes on explaining how to spy on his son in detail. He is concerned that the Leartes’ actions might affect his family’s honor and prosperity. Thus Polonius is portrayed as an aged shrewd man who is concerned with many things.

By using his persuasive speech, Polonius succeeds in manipulating people. Ophelia asks Polonius about her relationship with Hamlet because she is not sure what she should think (1.3.105). She, however, believes that Hamlet loves her: “He hath … of late made many tenders [o]f his affection to me” (1.3.100-101). In contrast, Polonius does not trust Hamlet because “he is young” (1.3. 125). He convinces Ophelia that because Hamlet’s affection is not true, she should keep distant from him (1.3.102-136). After his long explanation, he finally gains Ophelia’s consent: “I shall obey, my lord” (1.3.137).

Polonius is also successful in manipulating Reynaldo. When Polonius asks Reynaldo to spy on Leartes, Reynaldo had intended to see Leartes’ behavior (2.1.5); however, he did not agree with spying on him through pretense of inventing tales, as Polonius suggests (2.1.28). To convince Reynaldo, Polonius emphasizes his purpose and justifies the deed. He persuades Reynaldo by asking a question, “Wherefore should you do this?” (2.1.38). Replying to Polonius’s leading question, Reynaldo answers, “Ay, my lord, I would know [Leartes’ life]” (2.1.39). At this point, Reynaldo reluctantly agrees with Polonius. This evidence shows that Polonius is a skilled manipulator.

Although Polonius is cunning and conniving, his worldly wisdom is limited. After he has guessed the cause of Hamlet’s madness, he explains it to the king and queen. Because he uses superfluous words, the queen commands, “More matter, with less art” (2.2.95). He replies, “Madam, I swear I use no art at all” (2.2.96); however, what he is doing is just wasting words. After his reply, he wastes further 13 lines (2.2.96-108) before he mentions a letter that he believes shows the cause of Hamlet’s madness (2.2.109).

Trying to prove his theory about Hamlet’s madness, Polonius approaches Hamlet; however, what he gets is not evidence but an insult. Hamlet says, “To be honest” (2.2.178). Although Hamlet implies ironically that Polonius is not honest, Polonius does not notice. Similarly, Hamlet says, “Slanders … that old men have gray beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and plum-tree gum, and that they have plentiful lack of wit” (2.2.194-197). He is describing the people like Claudius and Polonius who look old and do not understand him because of their lack of wisdom. This time, Polonius realizes that Hamlet’s replies have plenty of meanings (2.2.204-205); however, he does not notice that he is insulted.

Even after listening to conversations between Ophelia and Hamlet, Polonius cannot understand the truth that the break-up with Ophelia is not the cause of Hamlet’s madness. He insists that he still believes Hamlet’s grief has come from neglected love (3.2.172-174). On the other hand, Claudius distinguishes that Hamlet’s madness has not come from a broken heart: “Love? His affections do not that way tend; Nor what he spake, though it lacked form a little, [w]as not like madness” (3.2.158-160). The king even sees that Hamlet is not mad. Compared to the king, Polonius has a less mature insight; he is portrayed somewhat nonsensically.

Polonius is portrayed as a shrewd old man; however, his inadequate worldly wisdom brings about his death. Polonius’s intelligence is revealed by his speech to Leartes and strategy of spying on Leartes. Because he is cunning, he can manipulate people such as Ophelia and Reynaldo. Nevertheless, he is somewhat imprudent. For example, he misunderstands the cause of Hamlet’s madness, does not notice being insulted, and has a less accurate insight than the king. Polonius’s worldly wisdom is supposed to guarantee his survival. Ironically, it brings his death. He secretly hides behind the arras to eavesdrop; however, he imprudently startles Hamlet, who “thrusts his rapier through the arras” (3.4.26).

Work Cited

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. In An Introduction to Literature. 12^th ed. Sylvan Barnet, Morton Berman, William Burto, and William E. Cain. New York: Longman, 2000. 1048-1158.