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Polonius (AO5 critics: ('a bad parent'- Michael Pennington, '…
Polonius
AO5 critics:
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'between knave and fool, most performances fall to one side or the other'- Pennington
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'instrumental to the seizure and control of power, and is at the heart of this corrupt and oppressive state'- Richard Vardy
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'Without Polonius, the play would lack the initial catalyst for Hamlet's murderous actions'- Kilman
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'Polonius seems to love his children; he seems to have the welfare of the kingdom in mind. His means of action, however, are totally corrupt'- Rebecca Smith
Key Quotes
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Act 2 Scene 1: Polonius and Reynaldo+ Ophelia comes in upset so Polonius thinks to tell Claudius about Hamlet's madness
'and there put on him what forgeries you please'= themes of lies and deceit
'marry, none so rank as may dishonour him'= ironic, theme of reputation
'this is the very ecstasy of love'- Hamlet
Performances: Kenneth Branagh= Polonius and Reynaldo are in a chamber+ Polonius is sat drinking= a prostitute is laid on Polonius' lap and then thrown out= ironic with what he was telling Laertes
Polonius also only comforts Ophelia for a second before he drags her to see Claudius= subservient
Paapa Esiedu= setting is less serious
Act 2 Scene 2: R+G come in; Polonius tells G+C about Hamlet's love and madness; Polonius tries to speak to Hamlet
'I hold my duty as I hold my soul'= simile, hyperbolic= subservient
'since brevity is the soul of wit and tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes'= metaphor- ironic
'who, in her duty and obedience'- talks about Ohpelia
'think I had play'd the desk or table-book'= metaphor for go-between lovers/ taken notice of their love and hasn't spoken out
'into the madness wherein now he raves and we all mourn for'
Kenneth Branagh= makes Ophelia read the letter out loud to assert his dominance and impress the queen and king.
Act 3 Scene 1: Polonius has brought Ophelia to talk to Hamlet; him and Claudius are about to spy on their conversation
'But yet I do believe the origin and commencement of his grief sprung from neglected love'
Then he suggests that Hamlet should be sent for England
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Act 3 Scene 4: Polonius hides in Gertrude's chambers in order to listen in on their conversations; he is killed by Hamlet
'Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool'
'peace, sit you down and let me wring your heart'
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