Polonius
Polonius is a character in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. He is chief counsellor of the play's ultimate villain, Claudius, and the father of Laertes and Ophelia. Generally regarded as wrong in every judgment he makes over the course of the play, Polonius is described by William Hazlitt as a "sincere" father, but also "a busy-body, [who] is accordingly officious, garrulous, and impertinent". In Act II, Hamlet refers to Polonius as a "tedious old fool" and taunts him as a latter day "Jephtha".
Polonius connives with Claudius to spy on Hamlet. Hamlet unknowingly kills Polonius, provoking Ophelia's descent into madness, ultimately resulting in her (probable) suicide and the climax of the play: a duel between Laertes and Hamlet.…more
Polonius connives with Claudius to spy on Hamlet. Hamlet unknowingly kills Polonius, provoking Ophelia's descent into madness, ultimately resulting in her (probable) suicide and the climax of the play: a duel between Laertes and Hamlet.…more
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Books with Polonius
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Hamlet
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published
1601
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Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
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published
1967
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Four Great Tragedies: Hamlet / Othello / King Lear / Macbeth
by
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published
1606
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Gertrude and Claudius
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published
2000
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Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear
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published
1611
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Unacknowledged Legislation: Writers in the Public Sphere
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published
2000
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Fortinbras
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published
1992
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