Polonius

1. Polonius A caring father or a self-obsessed deceiver?

2. Polonius Position: • A father to Ophelia and Laertes • The kings right hand man Characteristics: Persistent- Continuously tries to prove Hamlet is crazy Two-Faced- Seems to be caring for others, but is completely self-centered

3. Question • Is Polonius – a caring father or a self-obsessed deceiver? • Polonius is not a caring father, but a self-obsessed deceiver. • He achieves his personal goal of protecting his reputation through acts of deception towards others and setting traps. Thesis

4. Evidence Laertes “The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail, And you are stayed for. There-my blessing with thee,” (1.3.57-58)

5. Evidence Laertes • In this scene Polonius portrays himself as: • Caring • Understanding • Respectful (towards Laertes) • Overall he was very “parent” like BUT…

6. Evidence Laertes He sets his trap. “Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris, And how, and who, what means, and where they keep, What company, at what expense; and finding by this encompassment and drift of question that they do know my son,” (2.1.7-10) “Before you visit him, to make inquire of his behavior.” (2.1.4)

7. Evidence Laertes • Polonius shows his true colours: • Shows that he’s obsessive about his reputation • Controlling • Deceiving • Untrustworthy

8. Evidence Ophelia • Polonius uses Ophelia to deceive Hamlet to ultimately get his ways. • In multiple acts Polonius: • Uses Ophelia for personal gain • Invades her privacy and reads her personal letters aloud • Uses her to protect his reputation • Uses her to prove that Hamlet has gone crazy

9. Evidence Ophelia “Marry, I will teach you. Think yourself a, baby, That you have ta’en these tenders for true pay, Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly, Or (not to crack the wind of the poor phrase), Tend’ring it thus you’ll tender me a fool.” (1.3. 104. 109) • Polonius is talking to Ophelia about her relationship with Hamlet • Does not support her, just says she is crazy to believe what he says is true • Says he will be a laughing-stock

10. Evidence Ophelia Polonius sets his trap to spy on Ophelia and Hamlet. “At such a time I’ll loose my daughter to him. Be you and I behind an arras then, Mark the encounter. If he love her not and be not from his reason fall’n thereon, Let me be no assistant for a state but keep a farm and carters.” (2.2.154.159)” • Polonius is talking to the King • Makes an unofficial “bet” that Hamlet is love crazy for Ophelia and will prove it by spying on the two of them. • Uses her to prove the King

11. Evidence Hamlet “Away, I do beseech you, both away. I’ll board him presently. O, give me leave.” (2.2. 162.163) • Polonius tries to set another trap, but on Hamlet • Does not work as Hamlet knows what he was doing “ You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I will more willingly part withal- except my life, except my life, except my life.

12. Analysis Do you think Polonius’ contributes to Ophelia’s madness? Do you think his deception leads to it? Why?

13. Analysis Do you think Polonius’ caring father characteristic is a façade?

14. Analysis Why is it that you think Polonius is so obsessed with his daughters love-life?

15. To Conclude • To conclude, we believe that Polonius is a self-obsessed deceiver, and not a caring father. He deceives both his children, and attempts to deceive Hamlet. He deceives Laertes by telling him to enjoy himself at university, but then sends a spy to check up on him. He deceives Ophelia by using her to prove his point, and protect his reputation. Lastly, he tries to deceive Hamlet by attempting to set a trap for him to fall into to prove his point. Overall, Polonius is only worried about himself, and his reputation, and no one else.