DRJ #2 Hamlet Act 2
After reading Act 2 I felt very strongly that Hamlet's character reminded my very much of my ex-husband. He had a very dysfunctional family all complete with intrigue and backstabbing and cheating all the crazy things this play encompasses. My ex-husband became very crazy but extremely intelligent in his madness. He would spew forth such dark sayings but they did have a sort of saneness and elegance to them. He would over analyze every little detail driving himself to craziness.
I decided to focus on Polonius this time. I feel that Polonius's character serves as a foil to Hamlet. We learn more about Hamlet's character and his relationships with Ophelia and Claudius and Gertrude through Polonius's actions. Polonius does not fit the classic concept of Aristotle's classic tragic hero. I think Polonius is out to get Hamlet because he sees Hamlet as one who can do his daughter harm in that he could ruin her reputation. Polonius in a conniving character who picks up on the fact that Claudius may be open to hearing about Hamlet's madness. So when Polonius finds out that Hamlet is acting crazy he assumes it is over his daughter refusing his love advances. Polonius is out to further himself in the new king's eyes as he is so sure of himself that he goes to the king with a love letter from Hamlet written to Ophelia. When the king and queen question if really this love could cause him such madness Polonius then offers to set up Hamlet with his daughter and they can spy on him. This shows just how far Polonius will go.
I think one of Act 2's most prevalent theme's is deceit/deception. There are various characters throughout this scene weaving their plots of deception. We have the King Claudius and Queen Gertrude asking Guildenstern and Rosencrantz to spy on Hamlet and to cheer him up. We have Polonius having Reynaldo spy on Laertes. Then we have Polonius outing Hamlet's love for Ophelia to the king and queen. Then the three of them scheming together to spy on Hamlet to find out his true intentions and or feelings for Ophelia. It is like a huge web of deceit between all of the characters'. Then in the end Hamlet devises a plan to have the actors play a play that will be all to similar to the real life conditions of his uncle's deceit. Shakespeare uses all these various subplots to interweave all the deceptions and lies to strengthen to plot and to strengthen to characters and their story lines.
I think that you're right in saying Polonius is out to make himself look better. However, I have to disagree with your argument that Polonius is concerned for his daughter. I think that Shakespeare intentionally created crappy parental figures in the play and Polonius is one of them. He speaks poorly of both of his children, calling his son a party animal and his daughter a mere child. I think he uses his children to make himself look better. He doesn't actually care about their well-being.
ReplyDeleteI am going to have to agree with Kayla. Polonius does not really show signs of true care for his children, they do seem like just another way that he can try to make himself seem important. This is one of the huge differences between Polonius and Hamlet. Polonius is self-centered. He is motivated by what will benefit him the most. Hamlet is more about doing what is right rather than doing what will benefit him.
ReplyDeleteI also focused on Polonius' character, and I really felt that I liked the character that Shakespeare created with him; I enjoyed his bureaucratic style. He was generally out for his own good, but I feel like that was expected of his character. I agree with you that he was definitely a foil, used to further the plot and reveal other information about certain characters, mainly Hamlet.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of your entry I like how you mentioned how Shakespeare used various subplots to interweave deception and lies to strengthen the plot; I think this was something he did with many of his plays, and with this was successful in engaging the audience and creating believable conflict and chaos.
I agree with the thoughts above. This concept of lowering those around you only to make oneself seem higher is a concept of deceit that is prevalent in this Act. Polonius is the kind of character that acts without ration and thus wreaks havoc on all that is around him, regardless of the repercussions. Whereas Hamlet is an upstanding character who will stand by integrity and justice to maintain the honor of his name.
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