In Hamlet, Polonius is a well-respected and important person. It seems appropriate that he investigates and controls the behavior of his son Laertes and daughter Ophelia. He, as the Lord Chamberlain of Claudius’ courts, is no longer a private person but a public one. What he or his children do has important communal, not just personal implications. However, if his actions and speeches are examined closer, it is evident that he is a limited and vain person who is overly concerned with his appearance and wears many masks to communicate with different people. By analyzing the speech in Act II, scene ii, 85-112 it is closely revealed that there are several themes, characterization and plot atmosphere.In the following speech, Polonius has decided to tell Gertrude and Claudius that he has discovered the reason for Hamlet’s odd behavior, which is in his opinion caused by Hamlet’s love for Ophelia, Polonius’ daughter. Besides the fact that this kind of love relationship would make Polonius extremely proud because of Hamlet’s princely position, Polonius is relieved over the fact that he has solved the mystery that is so important to the King and Queen that everyone is trying to solve. This is evident in his language full of signals and vanity:This business is well ended/my liege, and madam, to expostulate/what majesty should be, what duty is/why day is day, night night, and time is time/were nothing but to waste night, day and time/therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit/and tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes/I will be brief, your noble son is mad.(II. ii. 85-94)This speech is a wonderful relief from the tension and tragic seriousness throughout the tragedy. Here, it is evident that Polonius is the clown of the play. His use of metaphors and play on words, all delivered in the supreme confidence in his own ability, result in a crazy misrepresentation. What is most amusing is that Polonius i...
