Polonius is an interesting and complicated character who plays an important part in Hamlet. Although he is not one of the main characters, Polonius serves as the nosy chief counselor to King Claudius

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Polonius’s Traits Leads to His Fatal End

        The characters play important roles in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  Each character is unique in his of her contribution to the entire play.  Without certain characters, the play would not have the same effect.  Polonius is an interesting and complicated character who plays an important part in Hamlet.  Although he is not one of the main characters, Polonius serves as the nosy chief counselor to King Claudius.  Polonius’s destructive personality and meddling behavior leads to his fatal end.

        Polonius’s first extended speaking scene is in Act I, Scene 3.  In this scene, Laertes is speaking to his sister Ophelia about Hamlet’s attention towards her. He warns her to protect her virtues.  Polonius arrives and reminds his son that he should be on his way to Paris.  Right after Laertes leaves, Polonius turns to his daughter and asks her what they were discussing before he entered the room.  Although it may be common for a father to be concern with his daughter’s life, Polonius did not act concerned— just ignorant and criticizing.  The lack of Polonius’s concern can be read in his responses to Ophelia. Right after she reveals that they were talking about Hamlet, Polonius criticized her. When Ophelia explains to her father that Laertes was concerned about Hamlet’s “late made many tenders” (1.3.108), Polonius just scoffs at the idea of Hamlet being attentive towards her.  His words are blunt and unkind.  He calls Ophelia a “woodcock” (1.3.124), which is a gullible bird.  Polonius does not consider his daughter’s feelings for Hamlet.  He continues to warn her to conduct herself well so she does not make him appear a fool.  He forbids her from seeing Hamlet for the wrong, selfish reasons.  In this scene, Polonius’s character displays a selfish nature where he only cares about his image.  His rudeness to his daughter shows that he does not care about her.  Instead, he is suspicious that she might ruin his reputation and that Hamlet has the worst intentions for Ophelia.  Polonius is selfish, suspicious, and uncaring. The suspicious trait later plays a part in Claudius’s death when he is trying to find out the reason behind Hamlet’s insanity.

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        Polonius is meddling in his son’s life in Act II, Scene 1.  Before Laertes departs to Paris, Polonius gave him some last words of advice.  Polonius reminds him “thou canst not be false to any man” (1.3.83) and “to thine own self be true” (1.3.84).  Polonius is asking his son to be honorable and virtuous.  Polonius is hypocritical for giving his son this advice because he is not trusting of his own son.  After his son leaves, he sends Reynaldo to follow Laertes to Paris to find out how he is conducting himself.  Polonius does not trust his son and ...

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