Analysis Of Hamlet: Pretentious Poetic Polonius

Pretentious Poetic Polonius should be his title. In the play Hamlet the character Polonius can be interpreted many different ways, a father looking out for the well-being of his children or a ruthless politician. His sophisticated language followed with his frequent use of aphorisms portrays him to be quite the pompous individual.

Polonius uses puns an excessive amount throughout Hamlet. In Act I Scene iii, while discussing with Ophelia her future with Hamlet, he uses word play on tender. Tender in this scene has three distinct meanings. Ophelia begins the usage of the word tender when she is describing the relationship between herself and Hamlet, “He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders of his affection to me” (ll 109-110). In this way Ophelia is referring to the letters of affection that Hamlet has given her, offers of his love one would say. Polonius then takes this word and deletes all the romantic implications behind it and mocks them, “...that you have ta’en these tenders for true pay” (ll 115). He accuses Ophelia of taking these false offers and thinking them to be something that is of actual worth. He then uses tender to tell her to regard herself higher and to not make him look like a fool.

Polonius is looking out for the prosperity of himself in this scene. While it seems that he is

He lacks a fatherly tone and instead opts for a scholarly approach in dealing with the situation. His use of puns instills a mocking and disrespectful tone. Polonius, while offering beneficial advice from time to time, is quite ostentatious and often blows up his advice with such sophisticated dialog that it obfuscates the true meaning. He may truly care for his daughter and unselfishly want her reputation to remain clean; however; his diction and tone serve to prove