tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6632111864879597150.post8949267608045727304..comments2017-12-26T23:27:57.751-04:00Comments on Hyperion to a Satyr: II.ii. BrevitySiskoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266365376486695812noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6632111864879597150.post-34805748034219935522010-12-28T21:50:48.385-04:002010-12-28T21:50:48.385-04:00On that topic, I've oft felt that the only exp...On that topic, I've oft felt that the only explanation for Claudius' unearned (at least from what we see) loyalty and faith in Polonius is that Polonius must have, in some way, been instrumental in the ascension of Claudius over Hamlet to the throne. He need not know of the murder, (or even he could have CHOSEN not to know,) but simply greased the right palms, pointed Claudius to the right people in the court to talk to, and made sure the news of the death might have been delayed as much as possible on its way to Wittenberg.<br /><br />The only downside here is that this plays to Polonius as shrewder than we usually see him played (and frankly, I like the Davies-style take more than Briars-style,) but this can still be balanced. He need not be 100% now if he still has a career of knowing who's who and accumulating debts and favors to lean back on.John Kenneth Fisherhttp://www.jkenfisher.com/comparisonsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6632111864879597150.post-78944251532938619712010-12-16T17:03:22.474-04:002010-12-16T17:03:22.474-04:00Of course, if Polonius did come with Claudius, we ...Of course, if Polonius <i>did</i> come with Claudius, we have to ask--how much did Polonius know about the murder of Hamlet Sr.?? Probably nothing--for all his "political skill" and "let's hide and listen" tactics, he's pretty naive. But even that illuminates his character, as a man who foolishly hitches his wagon to a murderer and adulterer...snellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181997862745538999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6632111864879597150.post-26379287616229893942010-12-16T10:21:13.595-04:002010-12-16T10:21:13.595-04:00My own interpretation has always been that Poloniu...My own interpretation has always been that Polonius is Claudius' man and was nowhere as prominent in Hamlet Sr.' Court. But then, if he wasn't "prime minister", who was? The only answer I can think of is Claudius himself. Brother to the King and running things while he's out to the wars, eventually falls for the Queen and wants to run the show for himself. I might also like one of the Ambassadors for this, knocked down and sent off to another country, which is why I like them to be aloof with Claudius (as in the BBC version, initially).<br /><br />Either way, the text doesn't say, and you do well to point it out.<br /><br />If I tend to assume Polonius climbed with Claudius, it's because there are hints. He's a political animal, and would have seen the wind turn and gone along with it. Claudius seems very close to Polonius' family. Hamlet never treats Polonius as a traitor the way he does his mother. But I'll keep an eye out for other evidence.Siskoidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08266365376486695812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6632111864879597150.post-61509712970210801472010-12-16T01:05:33.017-04:002010-12-16T01:05:33.017-04:00When Polonius asks "Have I ever been wrong?&q...When Polonius asks "Have I ever been wrong?", Claudius' "Not that I know" also serves as a reminder of how briefly he's been King. Despite having lusted after the throne, he doesn't have the years experience Hamlet Sr did with these people and situations...he's a new executive in his first few weeks on the job, and has given too much credence to the company brown-noser.<br /><br />Of course, just like with Hamlet's lament about wassailing, this begs the question--how was Polonius with Hamlet Sr.? Did the old King give him this long a leash? Despite his flaws, was he the most trusted adviser to Hamlet Sr? Maybe old Hamlet knew how to get Polonius to the point more promptly, how big a grain of salt to take him with, how to handle him?<br /><br />Or...<i>was</i> Polonius as prominent in the Hamlet administration as he is here? All of his lectures to his children on status and propriety do sound rather like someone who's just climbed to a new position and is desperately afraid of being embarrassed, like the time Marge Simpson was trying to get a membership at the Springfield Country Club. Maybe, in the wake of Hamlet Sr's death, Claudius shook things up a bit, and Polonius is as new at his position as Claudius is at his...snellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181997862745538999noreply@blogger.com