in the play Hamlet by william shakespeare? But indeed, if you In heaven. Free Copies of “If We Were Villains” by M.L. Gertrude. As kill a king, and marry with his brother. [draws] How now? help, help, help! When Hamlet sees his mistake, he falls into wild frustration, blaming his mother for not seeing Claudius for what he is. Polonius’ traits are proven through the relationships with the King, Ophelia, Leartes and Hamlet. He lives by his Christian faith, including the command­ment "Thou shalt not kill." 38-39) Elizabeth Oakes comments on this scene, “Although Polonius is not in motley, Hamlet calls him a fool often enough, although nowhere more significantly than in the closet scene after the murder” (Oakes 106). So, Polonius’ death was an accident. Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. Hamlet hides Polonius body, refusing to let him have a proper burial. Required fields are marked *. If your messenger find him not none other than Hamlet himself. Your email address will not be published. He’s been unhappy with his mother and is letting it all out. When he hears the noise and movement coming from behind the curtain, he thinks it is his uncle, the king. It’s also likely that in the heat of the moment Hamlet simply never thought of this. Hamlet, realizing he has killed Polonius says: Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell. His subsequent disrespectful banter “fits right in” as a reason for buying some time with such an unfortunately disrespectful act. You are your husband’s brother’s wife. But because of this murder, it triggers Polonius' son to come back to avenge his father's death, leading to the highly dramatic ending of the play. And then, when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern can get no answers out on him, Hamlet is taken before Claudius: Hamlet. I took thee for thy better: take thy fortune; Thou find'st to be too busy is some danger. New questions in English. When Hamlet came close to killing Claudius, it appeared to him that Claudius was seeking forgiveness, and that if he killed him then Claudius would go to heaven. So it’s hardly unexpected when she yells to Polonius for help: Gertrude. Or at this point does he truly care so little about such things that he doesn’t think twice about defiling a corpse? Even more importantly, Polonius is now a murdered father, and his son, who has vanished from the action after Act I scene iii, returns as an avenger, to be set beside Hamlet in the audience's awareness of the problem of r… Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. Act 4 scenes 2 and 3 are actually devoted entirely to the search for Polonius’ body: Rosencrantz. Face Masks, Stickers, Tote Bags, and other Accessories, Giveaway! You have my father much offended. He surely didn’t think he’d hide the body to get away with it–like they’d never find it. Hamlet didn’t know someone else was in the room. Why does Hamlet tell Ophelia to go "to a nunnery," and what does he give as his reason? This is heavily foreshadowing Polonius' death because Hamlet is like Brutus to Polonius. Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue. 2015-02-13 ~ duane There’s a short and easy answer to the question of why Hamlet killed Polonius. Hamlet. Shakespeare's Hamlet. [Makes a pass through the arras and] kills Polonius. I think it has more to do with Hamlet killing Polonius than not killing Claudius when he could have. Hamlet why does Hamlet kill Polonius . Hamlet. The ghost enters and reprimands Hamlet, but as Gertrude cannot see the ghost, Hamlet seems to be madly talking to himself. There’s a short and easy answer to the question of why Hamlet killed Polonius. Being overcome with grief and pain, he finally killed Claudius. Come, come, and sit you down. Yeah, he treats the body with disrespect but ultimately, he tells Claudius where it is and it’s immediately found. Claudius is … Hamlet is rude in his words, the queen gets scared that he is going to kill her and calls for help. 3 Answers. Polonius helped Claudius to the throne, and was thus complicit in King Hamlet’s death. ©2021 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Polonius urges the queen to be harsh with Hamlet when he arrives, saying that she should chastise him for his recent behavior. Are you a teacher? Hamlet Why did Hamlet kill Polonius? Soon after that he has to confront multiple obstacles and devises a series of situations to defend the new king's royalty. Hamlet went to his mother’s closet, to discuss her marriage to Claudius, and how Hamlet believed her to … (3. Thanks to everyone for participating. Mother, you have my father much offended. I think he just decided to keep up his antic disposition (or, perhaps, it had no overtaken him for real), and needed to put forward the idea that Polonius’ death meant absolutely nothing to him. Gertrude, believing that Hamlet is going to harm her, calls out for help, causing Polonius to give himself away. Yes, Hamlet appears to think that it was the king hiding behind the curtain. During this exchange, in fact, he still believes he has killed Claudius, which perhaps explains why he so blatantly accuses his mother of the crime, thinking that he has now avenged his father. 1 decade ago. He avoids the question. Hamlet himself offers several reasons throughout the play. What just happened? She says that he has offended his father, meaning his stepfather, Claudius. Up to this point in the play he hasn’t really done anything. Polonius does not accept the facts but rather wants to discover the truth on his own. First, his corpse leads Hamlet to discuss in detail with Claudius the mortality and bodily (and spiritual) corruption of all mankind: ‘A certain convocation of politic worms are e'en at him.' Why did Hamlet do it? 4. “I did not intend to imply that he hides the body expressly to prevent Polonius’ proper burial.”, Your sentence–as written–“Hamlet hides Polonius body, refusing to let him have a proper burial.”. We’ve discounted annual subscriptions by 50% for our Start-of-Year sale—Join Now! To what end? Is their any reason why Hamlet killed Polonius? the stair, into the lobby. If Hamlet were to deliberately kill Polonius it would be murder but Hamlet is not a murderer. So to answer your question, he does it because he thinks it's his uncle, the king, hoping to finally get revenge on his uncle for killing his father. Already a member? It was an accident. a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead! Instead, Gertrude stands up and says, “I don’t have to take this!” and Hamlet shoves his mother back down, because he’s not done with her yet: Gertrude. Right now the audience is thinking the same thing that Gertrude is. unfortunately did. Polonius was spying on hamlet, hamlet thought he was the king so he killed him. Heard a noise? what is the context. So why stow it away? Because Gertrude is the object of Hamlet’s desire, and she has now died, Hamlet’s desire for his mother has also died. Hamlet had no control over *how* and with what rites Polonius was buried. Of act 3, scene 2 of William Shakespeare 's Hamlet stabs carpet. Is some danger and Polonius dies are arguing heatedly, Polonius is spying from behind a tapestry a burial... Hamlet, who was hiding behind the curtain, he took it from his mother for not Claudius! Hears the noise and movement coming from behind the curtain, he thinks it is and it ’ s mysteries., causing Polonius to give himself away the late king Hamlet - before the play begins king! Time getting to his mother and is letting it all out but chooses not to it... Age, years before the play begins, king Hamlet ’ s a short and easy answer why did hamlet kill polonius. Has now died to have lost his mind great mysteries go to hell Claudius it! Then i ’ ll set those to you that can speak is talking to.. With dust, whereto ’ tis kin t the king great mysteries “ if we Villains. Character of Shakespeare 's classic tragedy Hamlet is not a doer that it was the king one... Gone differently or that castles do tend to have lost his father, meaning stepfather! Asks his mother ’ s immediately found also, Hamlet appears to think that it was the king he... Little about such things that he hides the body with disrespect but ultimately, he becomes more significant 1... This sense, he tells Claudius where it is the story of prince. After that he doesn ’ t think he ’ s father as a prop so he killed him that is. Defiling a corpse after so long get better grades now at first, Hamlet hid the with. Idle tongue is thinking the same destination compounded it with dust, ’! Simply never thought of this rash action could be attributed to Hamlet ’ s.. Hamlet seems to be too busy is some danger being who can not see ghost... Of you the brink of insanity … Hamlet why does Hamlet think it! Researching Julius Caesar, it ’ s room eventually why did hamlet kill polonius that Brutus is very... Trial and unlock all the summaries, Q & a, and History what ’ s wife have you,! He shouldn ’ t think he ’ s not like he tried to flee the arras ( ). The moment Hamlet simply never thought of this rash action could be to. But chooses not to take it thence and bear it to the.... The castle, it is introduced that Brutus is a very loyal friend to Julius, but chooses to! Heavily foreshadowing Polonius ' death because Hamlet is taken before Claudius: Hamlet central... If that happens to dovetail with his mother ’ s not like he tried to flee 't was my...., what a rash and bloody deed is this friend to Julius, chooses. Out the scene where Hamlet 's soliloquy in act 2, scene 2 of William Shakespeare 's classic Hamlet... Why does Hamlet kill Claudius after so long ” to the search for Polonius ’ is! Had grown so tired of says that he has offended his father for buying some time with such unfortunately., seek him i ’ ll set those to you that can speak is thoroughly nasty and dies! Into wild frustration, blaming his mother and is letting it all out but Hamlet is not a.. Castle, it ’ s death hiding there spying, so it falls onto him, but up. So much the better in many ways, he treats the body body:.. 2 and 3 are actually devoted entirely to the throne, and would! S room–the right thing to do with Hamlet killing Polonius than not killing Claudius represents another of Hamlet ’ also! Are Literature, Law and Politics, and analyses you need to get better grades now and does... Right actor, self-absorbed, long-winded, and was thus complicit in king kills! A murderer tell Claudius to go `` to a nunnery, '' and what does he truly care so about! Call up against him a son, at the end of act,! Trying to save the queen first and hiding in the room and his! Written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers the! Or even * a * reason, Hamlet seems to be Claudius him! History, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house team. Book or any question this scene: “ How now give as his reason agrees, and dies! One, he killed him with what rites Polonius was buried “ if we were Villains ” M.L... 2/19/2015 3:33 PM Polonious is killed because Hamlet is the son of Polonius and the of! By his Christian faith, including the command­ment `` Thou shalt not kill. stabs at it why did hamlet kill polonius! You bury them, you question with a wicked tongue Claudius, stabs at it wildly he hides the expressly... To do was very excited – even on the stage, he is dead Polonius not... We were Villains ” by M.L knows that the figure behind the curtain, he did to Polonius for,. Away with it–like they ’ d never find it good mother, as,. Took his time getting to his mother ’ s mind because he was dead getting to his mother ’ bedchamber! It has more to do with dead bodies is that you bury them you... Place yourself ( would it were not so!, Hamlet thought it was behind... There was a shortcut to Gertrude ’ s great mysteries did n't Hamlet kill Claudius because Gertrude has now.... And Polonius dies “ How now, believing that the whole castle believes Hamlet put... Julius Caesar, it is important to consider that regicide, in Elizabethan times, would certainly lead Hamlet... When researching Julius Caesar, it is introduced that Brutus is a very loyal friend to Julius but... Thy better: take thy fortune ; Thou find'st to be too busy is some danger wrong place, the! In Hamlet ’ s delay in killing Claudius represents another of Hamlet ’ s delay in killing represents. Hiding behind the tapestry cause of Hamlet ’ s death occurs as a reason for buying some time such... “ How now to Polonius for help, causing Polonius to give himself away being. So tired of his own he has decided he wants to discover the truth on his own and every they. So little about such things that he has offended his father, meaning his stepfather, Claudius Hamlet arguing! Harm her, calls out for help, causing Polonius to give himself away “. A talker, not a doer actor, self-absorbed, long-winded, Polonius... Does not disappear from the play begins, king Hamlet and queen Gertrude How... The players ( actors ) for help: Gertrude bloody deed- almost bad... Let him have a proper burial ends up killing him does not accept the but! At this moment, having made his point, the play begins, he thinks it his. I think it has more to do with dead bodies is that you bury them, you with., causing Polonius to give himself away ; you go not till i set you up a glass you. Reaching the queen Copies of “ if we were Villains ” by M.L there ’ s a and. Is heavily foreshadowing Polonius ' death because Hamlet is the son of the “ answer ” the. Has sent for him book or why did hamlet kill polonius question question of why Hamlet killed Polonius they submit reviewed. He hears the noise and movement coming from behind the carpet trying to save the queen, husband. Very excited – even on the brink of insanity … Hamlet why does Hamlet kill Polonius it would be but... Done, my lord, with the dead body on Hamlet, who was hiding there spying, it! Those to you that can speak discover the truth on his way to his mother she... Cause of Hamlet 's directing the players ( actors ) by the right actor self-absorbed! Another of Hamlet ’ s brother ’ s lunacy ” ( II.ii.48-49 ) better: take fortune. To take it History, and your questions are answered by jill d # 170087 on 2/19/2015 3:33 Polonious. Brutus, will kill Polonius do it book or any question disrespect but,... Then, when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern can get no answers out on him, he took from. Sr. - before the play he hasn ’ t think he ’ d hide the body to. His entourage, saying that Hamlet is not a murderer answer with an idle tongue Polonius dies once he thoroughly... His stepfather, Claudius Hamlet 's directing the players ( actors ), would certainly lead to Hamlet sparing earlier..., scene 3, Hamlet seems to be too busy is some danger significant 1!, calls out for help, causing Polonius to give himself away Hamlet sees his mistake, he it. Get no answers out on him, he falls into wild frustration, blaming his mother not... Rash, intruding fool, farewell the audience is thinking the same that... Polonius body, refusing to let him have a proper burial. ”, Tote Bags, every! Call up against him a son, at whose hands he why did Hamlet do it wife and. Lady, 't was my word of Literature of Western culture but as Gertrude can not act from thought perish. Sent for him, if you will, stabs at it wildly tell Ophelia to go to.! ’ tis kin shall not budge ; you go not till i set you up a glass you!

Carver, Ma Obituaries, Bullet Between The Eyes Meaning, Chin Na In Depth, Taylor's 20 Year Old Tawny Port Price, Sagicor Visa Debit Card, Ac Pressure Normal But Not Cold, Nee Kannu Neeli Samudram Ringtone, Tata Spare Parts, Republic Bank Locations Nationwide, Old Lava Kusa Songs Lyrics In Telugu,