“Polonius, a presage of a political adviser and a Machiavellian father”
Polonius as the lord chamberlain in “Hamlet” exemplifies Shakespeare’s reflection of a modern day political adviser and a Machiavellian father. He, all throughout the play, is able to make an explicit presentation of an individual with diametrical characteristics – a loyal but corrupt adviser to the head of the state, a respectful yet deceptive subordinate to the son of the king and a responsible, however, an unprincipled father to his children in various situations. Clark and Wright (1853) describe Polonius as one who owns a shallow wisdom which he exhibits in a bizarre manner as he is on the verge of senility. Further, Wood writes, he is educated and intelligent, as befits a courtier of his rank and influence, yet he is a geriatric fool who becomes the butt of much of the prince’s humor (www.helium.com/items/2058351-who-is-polonius). This wisdom provides him the position lord chamberlain in Claudius’s kingdom and earns him the respect of the royal couple. Both seek his pieces of advice and rely upon his words despite his being inconsistent. When he implores the king on his son’s wish to go back to Paris, the king approves of it without much ado. Spying on Hamlet is advised by him to both the king and queen, they agree without hesitation. Nevertheless, his malicious intent becomes obvious as Marcellus remarks, “Something is rotten in the State of Denmark” (I.4) especially as he initiates Hamlet’s defeat.
Polonius as a subordinate to Hamlet is respectful as he addresses the latter “Lord” and that he responds dutifully to the latter’s harsh remarks yet deep inside him he thinks otherwise as proven by how the old man reacts to Hamlet’s words.
Hamlet : …have you a daughter?
Polonius: I have my Lord.
Hamlet: Let her not walk i’ the sun: conception is a blessing : but not as your daughter may conceive. Friend, look to ‘t.
Polonius: (Aside) How say you by that? Still harping on my daughter : yet he knew me not at first; he said I was a fishmonger: he is far gone, far gone : and truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for love; very near this. I’ll speak to him again. What do you read my lord?(II.2)
Moreover, Polonius’ advice on spying Hamlet through his daughter and later on by himself illustrates a treacherous deed by the old man.
As a father, Polonius’ sense of responsibility is demonstrated by the way he cares for his children, Laertes and Ophelia. He has everything prepared as his son decides to go back to Paris to pursue his studies. The father extends his son sound pieces of advice as he blesses him. He says, “See thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue, or any unproportioned thought his act. Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar. Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel; but do not dull thy palm with entertainment of each new hatch’d, unfledged comrade. Beware of entrance to a quarrel, but being in, bear’t that the opposed may beware of thee. Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice; take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment” (I.3). These words by Polonius reflect the Machiavellian Inconsistency Principle which states, “Consistency in your beliefs or personal behavior is not important” (midasjones.com/html/ch11.htm). Here, the old man suggests that his son must learn to control his temper and to change his attitude to adapt to every situation, an act which is exhibited by Polonius himself as he adjusts to every instance in his life. For example, when he discovers that Ophelia romantically relates with Hamlet, he urges his daughter to return the man’s gifts and letters and to stay away from their Lord for he does not want to be a laughing stock before the people but when he learns that Hamlet is totally affected by the separation he vigorously persuades Ophelia to reconcile with the man. Further, he exhorts his son of frugality and being true. He remarks, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be; for loan oft loses both itself and friend, and borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. This above all: to thine ownself be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man” (I.3). Here, contradictions on his advice and his act are observed for Polonius himself implicitly practices truthfulness. Reynaldo’s espionage on the old man’s very own son proves this. Polonius sends Reynaldo to Paris to spy on Laertes’s activities. He even teaches Reynaldo to lie for the latter to bring out the truth. Another event that exemplifies Polonius’ affectation is when he makes Ophelia appear with a prayer book in her hand to make Hamlet believe that she prays when in fact she intends to spy on him. Polonius says, “We are oft to blame in this – ‘Tis too much proved – that with devotion’s visage and pious action we do sugar o’er the devil himself” (III.1). The lord chamberlain expresses double standard of morality, writes Fassbender. As he instructs Reynaldo on spying Laertes the latter’s freedom to womanize is emphasized whereas for Ophelia chastity is a must. The son is given privileges limited to the daughter. The former may decide on his own especially where his education is concerned whereas the latter acts as she is told.
Polonius is just a supporting character yet he impacts the other characters and the play as a whole. As Fassbender claims, “Polonius played a key role in the unfolding and the undoing of Hamlet’s plan to avenge his father’s death” (www.helium.com/items/2057138-who-is-polonius-from-hamlet-by william shakespeare). As the play begins, it is shown that Hamlet is delegated by his father to avenge the latter’s death. The man is grieving over his father’s death and his mother’s marriage with his uncle when the order is given. Despite that, Hamlet agrees to pursue the plan. However, as Hamlet plans on the revenge Polonius directs Ophelia to part with the former. The decision magnifies Hamlet’s grief and misogyny surfaces in him. Hence, Hamlet harshly treats Ophelia. Hamlet even demonstrates abhorrence of Polonius whenever they come across each other until Hamlet mistakenly kills the old man who hides behind the arras in pursuit of discovering the truth on Hamlet’s sporadic behavior. The lord chamberlain’s death leads to Hamlet’s departure from Denmark and Ophelia’s suicide. Thus, the revenge is prolonged. Laertes comes back upon learning his father’s death. He connives with Claudius and both scheme Hamlet’s death. Hamlet finally comes back and faces his demise after realizing his revenge.
Unlike Hamlet, Polonius perishes even before the play ends. Nonetheless, the lord chamberlain is able to define his role as the adviser in the play not only because he delivers his exhortations for his children and extends his pieces of advice for the king and queen but because of all the characters he is the one who impacts deeply the audience and the readers by means of his remarkable words. His “to thine ownself be true, and it must follow, as the night, the day, thou canst not then be false to any man” (I.3) is more powerful than Hamlet’s “to be, or not to be: that is the question: …” (III.1). No matter how garrulous and inconsistent the old man is his role remains the most substantial of all for he does not just paradoxically demonstrate the characteristics of a political figure and a father but impresses the true-to-life images of the said characters as well. Thus, he seems to be Shakespeare’s presage of the modern day political adviser and a Machiavellian father.
References :
Clark, W.G. and Wright, W. Aldis. Ed. The complete works of William Shakespeare: all the
plays, all the poems. New York: Nelson Doubleday, Inc., 1853.
Fassbender, Michael. “Who is Polonius?” Helium : William Shakespeare . January 5, 2011.
Jones, Midas. “The Machiavellian Inconsistency Principle.” The modern Prince : Better living
through Machiavellianism. 03 April 2011 <midasjones.com/html/ch11.htm>
Wood, Kerry Michael. “Who is Polonius from Hamlet, by William Shakespeare?” Helium:
Shakespeare. January 6, 2011. 03 April,2011 <www.helium.com/items/2058351-who-
is-polonius>
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