The Polonius Family
Cedric Watts: "If we compare Hamlet with its source..Shakespeare's Hamlet is
more familiar action largely co-ordinated by connections, parallelisms and
contrasts between intermingled families."
In the play we see two families who are victims as well as perpetrators of revenge.
The Polonius family is significant in key scenes and also in the language which the
family members use.
Watts: "Shakespeare amplifies the plot in ways which multiply ironic linkages and
accentuate thematic continuities"
The theme of revenge is central to the play and there are four "cases" of revenge three involving "living" characters, (Fortinbras, Laertes and Hamlet) and one which is
a Classical legend which was the greatest symbol of secular disaster in the
Renaissance world, the story of the destruction of Troy and the revenge of Phyrrus,
for the death of his father, Achilles, on Priam, the Trojan King. (Hamlet's choice of
speech for the Player King, is no accident. The revenge/family motif of the Trojan
conflict was well known to the Shakespearean audience, and there was a popular
legend that London was in fact founded by Trojan survivors!)
The two "court" families, one Royal and the other in Royal service, are linked initially
by Hamlet's love for Ophelia, but as the play develops, these links become more
complex and more sinister, until there is a mortal collision which results in death and
multiple tragedy.
There is antagonism between Polonius and Hamlet from the outset, as Hamlet sees
himself as a victim of Polonius's support of Claudius as King. This adds to the sense
of betrayal which he already feels as a result of his mother's actions. Polonius is keen
to preserve his position and also displays a mistrust of Hamlet's intentions towards his
daughter, forbidding her to see the prince and later using her as bait to ingratiate
himself further to Claudius by proving that Hamlet's madness is the result of love. The
exchanges between the two are characterised by a tension only partly concealed by
humour and sarcasm on Hamlet's part.
Hamlet is a victim of Laertes, too when he mistakenly murders Polonius and provokes
Laertes to seek revenge for his dead father and in Ophelia we see Hamlet become a
victim to her representation of womankind in the nunnery scene.
Ironically, though, each member of the Polonius family is also a victim of Hamlet;
Polonius literally murdered by the Prince, Laertes also killed accidentally in the duel
scene and Ophelia driven to madness by Hamlet's cruelty and the death of her father
at her lover's hands.
In the revenge motif, we see Laertes and Hamlet linked as lovers of Ophelia, as
revengers of murdered fathers, as accomplished courtiers and swordsmen and in the
only honest and complete moment of forgiveness as both pardon one another in the
duel scene.
The Characters of the Polonius Family
Polonius
He is the supreme servant, subordinate to Claudius and orchestrating the accession
and the business of the court. His forte is spying and no one is safe from it. He even
sends the servant Reynaldo to spy on Laertes in Paris, to make sure he is not
discrediting the family. He is a key supporter of the new regime and will work
tirelessly to secure it and his own position within it. He is autocratic in his own
household, being quite prepared to sacrifice his daughter's happiness when he suspects
Hamlet of dallying with her and then doing a complete about face when he decides
that Hamlet's "antic" behaviour is the result of love, and offering Ophelia as bait to
convince the King and Gertrude of his conclusion. He sees himself as the pursuer of
truth, the father in charge of his family's security and he cautions others to use secrecy
as he himself does, to ensure that truth can be discovered. (see the speech to
Reynaldo). His greatest characteristic is prolixity, he won't use one word if ten will
do, and this provides us with some comic relief as well as irritation from Hamlet and
others. In many ways he is the key antagonist to Hamlet, as it is with Polonius that
hamlet has most confrontations (Hamlet rarely "faces" Claudius, but seems to seek out
Polonius)
Ophelia
She is dignified, innocent, gentle and vulnerable, "compassionate and pitiable". Her
emblem is tears and her diction is characterised by simplicity, in sharp contrast to her
father. She is a victim and her innocence is tarnished when she is cautioned by her
father and by her brother about her relationship with Hamlet. There is never any
evidence that her behaviour has been inappropriate, but Hamlet's treatment of her in
the nunnery scene, when he attacks Gertrude and all women through Ophelia, and
later in the mousetrap scene when he treats her in a vulgar and disrespectful way, is a
slur on her innocence. She is articulate even in madness, and retains a gentleness
which causes even Claudius to show compassion for her suffering. She has very little
power or autonomy and her role as a constant and forsaken lover is one of great
poignancy.
Laertes
He is forceful, ruthless and manipulated by Claudius. He too is a rival of Hamlet and
linked to the prince in his love for his sister. He is protective of Ophelia and sees
Hamlet as dangerous. there is also an implied rivalry of some standing between
Laertes and Hamlet which is revealed in Claudius's speech about Lamord, the
Frenchman. Laertes is passionate and ferocious in his defence of his family's honour.
The "hugger-mugger" burial of his father and the sparse rites accorded his sister
provoke passionate denunciations from him. He is also honourable and manages to
redeem himself in his forgiveness of Hamlet before his death.