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What is comical or ironic about Polonius?
Partly the words are funny because they imply that Polonius’s mind is overly fastidious – too concerned with minor distinctions. Partly they are funny because Polonius seems (here and elsewhere) to love to hear himself talk, just as he seems proud of his knowledge and also seems to enjoy displaying it to others.
How is Polonius a comic character?
Polonius also provides Hamlet with its main source of comic relief. As a comic character, he consistently shows himself less wise than he thinks. For instance, in Act Two he cleverly announces that “brevity is the soul of wit” (II. ii.), but he does so in the middle of a tediously long speech.
How can Polonius be described?
Described as: Self-assured, cynical, self-centred, flatterer, long-winded, sly, devious, false, shrewd, immoral, sermonise, meddling, political, arrogant, despicable, vain, hypocritical, manipulative, verbose, insincere, self-absorbed.
What is ironic Polonius?
It was Shakespeare’s Polonius. What makes it so ironic (and sadly humorous) is that Polonius gives excellent advice, but cannot see his way to using it himself. Herein lies the irony. For example, his first bit of advice to Laertes is don’t tell people what is on your mind, or act hastily.
What is ironic about Polonius final line?
What is humorously ironic about Polonius saying, “Brevity is the soul of wit”? It is because he keeps saying how he’s going to be brief but he keeps saying so much he loses the point which is, Hamlet is crazy in love.
What is Polonius known for?
Polonius, fictional character, councillor to King Claudius and the father of Ophelia and Laertes in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet (written c. 1599–1601). He is especially known for his maxim-filled speech (“Neither a borrower nor a lender be”). His meddling garrulousness eventually costs him his life.
What is the purpose of Polonius in Hamlet?
Polonius is a character in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. He is chief counsellor of the play’s ultimate villain, Claudius, and the father of Laertes and Ophelia.
What was Polonius known for?
Polonius, fictional character, councillor to King Claudius and the father of Ophelia and Laertes in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet (written c. 1599–1601). He is especially known for his maxim-filled speech (“Neither a borrower nor a lender be”).
What is Polonius purpose?
Polonius´s principles. Polonius calls himself an `assistant for a state´ [II. ii. 168]. And he has indeed the function of a counsellor at the court of Claudius, which is among others shown by his again and again giving Claudius advice concerning Hamlet.
How is Polonius ironic?
Why is Polonius killed?
Hamlet believed that Claudius was spying on him from behind the tapestry and hoped to kill his unscrupulous uncle. Overall, Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius after mistaking him for King Claudius, who he believes is spying on him from behind the tapestry in Gertrude’s chamber.
Why is Polonius a comic character in Hamlet?
Polonius also provides Hamlet with its main source of comic relief. As a comic character, he consistently shows himself less wise than he thinks. For instance, in Act Two he cleverly announces that “brevity is the soul of wit” (II.ii.), but he does so in the middle of a tediously long speech.
Why are the words of Polonius so funny?
Partly the words are funny because they imply that Polonius’s mind is overly fastidious – too concerned with minor distinctions. Partly they are funny because Polonius seems (here and elsewhere) to love to hear himself talk, just as he seems proud of his knowledge and also seems to enjoy displaying it to others.
Why did Polonius send Reynaldo to spy on Hamlet?
He sends Reynaldo to spy on his son, and he uses his daughter as bait to trick Hamlet. Polonius’s actions suggest that in Hamlet, even relationships that seem loving are ambiguous, a fact which contributes to the play’s atmosphere of doubt and uncertainty. Polonius also provides Hamlet with its main source of comic relief.