Polonius is a character in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. He is King Claudius's chief counsellor, and the father of Ophelia and Laertes. Polonius connives with Claudius to spy on Hamlet. The latter eventually murders Polonius, provoking Ophelia's suicide and the climax of the play: a duel between Laertes and Hamlet.
William Hazlitt described Polonius as a 'sincere' father, but also as 'a busy-body, [who] is accordingly officious, garrulous, and im...
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Polonius is a character in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. He is King Claudius's chief counsellor, and the father of Ophelia and Laertes. Polonius connives with Claudius to spy on Hamlet. The latter eventually murders Polonius, provoking Ophelia's suicide and the climax of the play: a duel between Laertes and Hamlet.
William Hazlitt described Polonius as a 'sincere' father, but also as 'a busy-body, [who] is accordingly officious, garrulous, and impertinent.'
Father of Ophelia and Laertes, and Lord Chamberlain to King Claudius, he is described as a windbag by some and a rambler of wisdom by others. It has also been suggested that he only acts like a "foolish prating knave" in order to keep his position and popularity safe and to keep anyone from discovering his plots for social advancement. It is important to note that throughout the play, Polonius is characterized as a typical Renaissance courtier, who pays much attention to appearances and ceremonious behaviour. Some adaptations show...
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