Life and DeathHamlet’s Minor Characters

Polonius Live or Die?

LIFE

DEATH

CHOOSE A SIDE

Live Die

Polonius should die…

“How now! A rat?” (3.4.27).

“Polonius was weak and a pedantic statesmen” (Warburton).

“Characterization of Polonius as a foolish ‘meddler,’ arguing instead that he should be viewed as a seasoned political insider whose downfall comes as he result of ‘overconfidence about his schemes and his mastery of manipulative tactics.” (Sacks)

Disloyal and Scheming

Polonius should die…

“And I’ll be placed, so please you, in the ear of all their conference. If she find him not, to England send him.” (3.1.184,185)

“Polonius is not the cunning spy he fancies himself to be; good spies do not get caught, much less killed.”

“The play's repealed references to Polonius's old age suggest his senility. In the stage direction at the opening of 2.1, for example, Shakespeare writes: ‘Enter old Polonius’ (SD 2.1.1.). Shakespeare hardly ever includes adjectives in his stage directions, so when he does, it seems reasonable lo suppose that the adjective carries particular importance.”(Sacks)

No, he should live“spying twice behind an arras, though it certainly does not dignify Polonius, is yet the move of a man sincerely concerned by his lights to help . . . cure seemingly dangerous madness in his prince” (Wilson 84).“Hamlet has spent the entire play thus far agonizing over whether to kill a man who deserves killing, yet when he kills a man who, though officious, does not deserve to be killed” (Sacks).

Rebuttal

Polonius should live…

“I have a daughter that I love passing well” (2.2.370).

"At such a time I'll lose my daughter to him . . ." (2.2.14)

“That hath made him mad. I am sorry that with better heed and judgment I had not quoted him” (2.2.122-24).

"My lord, he's going to his mother's closet: Behind the arras I'll convey myself To hear the process, I'll warrant she'll tax him home . . ." (3.3.29-31).

Concerned and Wise

Polonius should live…

“Or look’d upon this love with idle sight . . . No, I went round to work” (2.2.145-6).

“Indeed, Hamlet’s frequently roguish behavior toward Ophelia, typified by his crude language in (3.2.108-128), suggests that Polonius might have good reason to fear for his daughter.” (Sacks)

“To Polonius, the experienced old politician, it is inconceivable that a prince would bear true affection for one of lower status, and therefore he can understand Hamlet's overtures as nothing more than a deception and an attempt to entrap his chaste daughter” (Shelden 356).

No, he should die

“Perhaps the worst thing that Polonius does to Ophelia is to rob her of her independence of thought. When Ophelia, confused about Hamlet's true motives, declares to her father…Polonius uses this occasion as an opportunity lo brainwash his daughter into adopting his view of Hamlet. Since Ophelia has trouble thinking and functioning for herself, it should come as no surprise that she goes mad (and might even commit suicide) after Polonius dies.” (Sacks)

Rebuttal

Conclusion for PoloniusDIE

SNEAKY

DISLOYAL

CUNNING

UNTRUSTWORTHY

LIVE

LOVING

CONCERNED

WISE

GOOD INTENTIONS

CHANGE YOUR MIND?

Live Die

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Live or Die?

CHOOSE A SIDE

Live Die

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern should live

“Hamlet: [Aside] ‘Nay, then, I have an eye of you.--If you love me, hold not off.’ Guildenstern: ‘My lord, we were sent for.’” (2.2.9)

“Together the three share an affection for what is pleasurable as can be witnessed in their lively exchange of sexual puns. Hamlet is being neither ironic nor superficial when he greets Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, "My excellent good friends! ... Good lads, how to ye both?" (2.2.241-243).

Loyal and Good Friends

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern should live

“My immediate purpose is merely to show that the theme of friendship runs through out the entire play- that it appears even where it might seem to vanish briefly.”

“By the consonance of our youth, by the obligation of our ever preserved love”(2.2285-6)

No, they should die

"Blood, do you think that I am easier to be played on than a pipe? Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me you cannot play upon me" (3.3.317-318).

“Their betrayal of friendship is in order to gain the court’s favor” (Doubt).

Rebuttal

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern should die

"We both obey, And here give up ourselves in the full bent, To lay our service freely at you feet, To be commanded." (2.2.31-34)

“The single and peculiar life is bound, With all the strength and armor of the mind” (3.3.12-13)

“Take you me for a sponge, my lord?” “Ay, sir; that soaks up the king’s countenance, his rewards, his authorities” (4.3.14).

Puppets and Betrayal

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern should die

“their defeat does by their own insinuation grow. . .” (5.2.61-63)

“Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are not good in themselves; they are hollow men.”

No, they should live

“It seems clear that the King was the one to blame for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s actions, for it was he who forced it upon them.”

Rebuttal

Conclusion for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

DIE

BETRAYAL

SELFISH

PUPPETS

WEAK MINDED

LIVE

FRIENDS

LOYAL

HELPFUL

VERY WORRIED

CHANGE YOUR MIND?

Live Die

Works CitedDoubt, Keith. “Hamlet and Friendship.” Hamlet Studies 17.1/2 (1995): 54-62. Rpt. In Shakespearean Criticism. Ed. Michelle Lee. Vol. 82. Detroit: Gale, 2004. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 Nov. 2012

Fejervdri, Boloizsdr. “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern meet Edward II: a Study in Intertextuality.” The AnaChronis T. 1-17. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Literature Resource Center. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.

"Hamlet by William Shakespeare." Shakespearean Criticism. Ed. Michelle Lee. Vol. 82. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 1-81. Literature Criticism Online. Web. 29 November 2012

Sacks, Michael. “Conniving and Bumbling, Yet Sometimes Wise: An Examination of the Many Facets of Polonius.” Shakespeare Newsletter. Fall 2010: 55+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 Nov. 2012

Shakespeare, William. “Hamlet.” Compact Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing. Ed. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. 8th ed. Boston: Wassworth, 2013. 1335-1432. Print.

Sheldon, Michael. “The Imagery of Constraint in Hamlet.” Shakespeare Quarterly. 28.3 (1977): 355-358. JSTOR. Web. 24 Nov. 2012.

Straussler, Tom. “Reference Guide to English Literature.” Ed. D. L. Kirkpatrick. 2nd ed. Chicago: St. James Press, 1991. Literature Resource Center.  Web. 26 Nov. 2012.

Tardeiff, Joseph C. “Shakespearean Criticism.” Ed. Church, Tony. Shakespearean Criticism. Detroit: C.J. Jonik, 1993. 416-20. Print. Vol. 21.

Wilson, Elkin Calhoun. “Polonius in the Round.” Shakespeare Quarterly. 9.1 (1958): 83-85. JSTOR. Web. 24 Nov. 2012.

The End