The only character that I can say reminds me of someone that I know, in this act only, is Gertrude. In this act she seems to just be a concerned mother. I believe her intentions with her son are good, although misguided by her husband’s influence and her guilt.
Polonius’ character stands out to me in this act. He is there to show us yet another character whose flaws will ruin him. Polonius is a conniving, sneaky man, who is loyal to Claudius and serves as a foil to Hamlet. This act is stamped with Polonius’ deceitful ways. Shakespeare shows this to us initially in Act II, Scene I, when Polonius enlists Reynoldo to go spy on his son to find out what he is up to. Shakespeare writes, “By this encompassment and drift of question”. He shows us that Polonius intends for Reynoldo to be sneaky and conniving by asking questions in a roundabout way instead of being direct. He also writes “…and there put on him what forgeries you please; marry none so rank”. In this we see that Polonius has given Reynoldo permission to make up whatever lies he sees fit to get the truth as long as it doesn’t dishonor. He tells Reynoldo that these types behaviors are common amongst young men so they will not dishonor Laertes. We see more of Polonius’ conniving ways in Act II, Scene II, when Polonius suggests to Claudius that they hide behind a curtain and listen in on a conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia to try and get to the bottom of Hamlet’s disturbance. Shakespeare writes “At such time I’ll loose my daughter to him: Be you and I behind an arras then”. Polonius’ character is marked by conniving, sneaky behavior, which is in contrast to Hamlet’s character.
The theme of this act is deception. We have Polonius enlisting Reynoldo to go secretly asking around about Laertes using deceitful tactics. Instead of being direct with people Polonius is telling Reynoldo to tell lies about his son to get information about what his son is doing. Polonius says “By encompassment and drift of question that they do know my son, come you more nearer than your particular demands will touch it”. Polonius believes Reynoldo will get closer to the truth by being deceitful. Polonius also tells Reynoldo, “…and there put on him what forgeries you please; marry, none so rank as my dishonour him”. Polonius wants Reynoldo to tell whatever lies he sees fit to get to the truth about Laertes’ behavior as long as it doesn’t dishonor him. Then we have Claudius and Gertrude calling upon Hamlet’s childhood friends. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to secretly find out what is bothering him and relay the information back to them. They offer them money to do this and although they are Hamlet’s supposed friends, they agree. In this, Shakespeare writes, “I entreat you both… To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather, so much as from occasion you may glean”. Claudius wants Hamlet’s childhood friends to entertain him and in a very deceitful way glean information from him. We also have Polonius plotting for him and Claudius to secretly listen in on a conversation between Ophelia and Hamlet. We even have Hamlet plotting to confirm whether or not Claudius did, in fact, murder his father as the ghost told him. Deception is all through this act. Everyone seems to be engaging or planning some kind of deceitful deed.
In some ways it seemed like Hamlet and Polonius were similar in terms of how they acted throughout this scene. Both seemed to be planning something that we do not yet fully understand. We know that Polonius is spying on his son, but we do not yet know why this is. We also know that Hamlet is planning to get revenge for his father's death, but we do not yet know how he is planning on doing this. Despite being apparent rivals, both characters have common traits which could eventually play an important part later in the plot.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you that Polonius is the main antagonist and is very suspicious to having ulterior motives. There seems to be multiple people engaging in their deceitful ways, you can find yourself very lost in all these webs of lies and confusion.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that gertrude is like any other mother concerned for her child. Although I'm sure the most obvious interpretation of her actions would be that she isn't caring about her son and is having him spied on for selfish reasons but on another level I'm sure her son being unhappy is concerning for her.
ReplyDeleteI think that no matter how much of the focus is placed on the twisted lies of Polonius, the reader must not forget the main theme of the story and that is honor and it is found in Hamlet. Thus the title of the play. This character brings honor that breeds integrity, justice, and honesty that must not be confused with the truth and the schemes that are set up as traps before him.
ReplyDeleteI think my perception of Gertrude has become skewed due to her actions in the first act. I like how you presented the idea that in this act she is very caring. I never thought of that before! I considered her corrupt, weak, and a poor mother. But you are totally right, in this act she did stand as a good mother. Her wanting the childhood friends to spy on Hamlet is today's equivalent of a mom reading her child's text messages. She wants to make sure her child is safe, even if the child finds this to be overbearing or even rude.
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