Polonius: A Fool in Shakespeare's HamletHamlet is Shakespeare's most popular play among audiences and theater readers. It has been performed live in countries around the world and has been translated into every language. Polonius is one of the major characters in Hamlet, his role in the play is of great interest to researchers. Parts of Hamlet present Polonius as a fool, whose love of his own voice leads to his constant babbling. Scholars have analyzed the character of Polonius for centuries, and his role in Hamlet will continue to be analyzed for centuries to come. Scholars believe that Shakespeare created Polonius as a fool because of his nonsensical dialogues throughout the play. Polonius granted Laertes permission to return to school in France. Bidding him farewell in his chambers, Polonius said to his son: Beware of entering into a quarrel, but, being in it, bear with the adversaries being suspicious of you. Give your voice to everyone they listen to, but only a few. Accept everyone’s censure, but reserve their judgment. Dear your coat that your purse can buy, but not expressed in fancy (rich, not garish) For clothes often proclaim the man, And they in France of the best rank and position (Are) of a leader the most chosen and most generous in this area. . Neither a borrower nor a lender (be), for (the loaner) often loses himself and his friend, and the loan (blunts) the advantage of agriculture. This above all: be true to yourself, and it must follow, as night the day, that you cannot then be false to anyone. (1. 3. 71-87) The advice Polonius gives to Laertes is simple. and it seems stupid to be told to someone Laertes' age. Martin Orkin comments on the nature of Polonius' speech: 2 Shakespeare's first audience would recognize in Polonius's predilection for such banal expressions of worldly wisdom a mind that follows conventional paths, holding only to what is practically useful in terms of hardware autonomy. advancement” (Orkin179). Polonius gives Laertes simple advice: keep his thoughts to himself and never lend or borrow money. Although this advice is simple, when viewed in its full context, the advice he gives to his son is focused on personal improvement. Polonius will do anything to protect his reputation. Grebanier states on the folly of Polonius' speech: "Such advice will do for those who wish to make the world their own...... middle of paper ......speare created Polonius as a character entirely unique and complex fact. Scholars debate and will continue to debate the reasons for Polonius' madness. Throughout the play, Polonius tends to act stupid thinking he knows the reason for Hamlet's madness, while the audience knows he is wrong. Shakespeare created Polonius as a controversial character and only he will ever know why Polonius was created so stupidly. Bernard. Hamlet's heart. New York: Thomas Y. CromwellCo, 1960. Hartwig, Joan. “Polonius parody”. Texan Studies in Literature and Language: Vol. 13, 1971. Kirschbaum, Léo. Character and characterization in Shakespeare. Detroit: Wayne State UP, 1962. Oakes, Elizabeth. “Polonius, the man behind Arras: a Jungian study.” » New essays on Hamlet. New York: AMS Press, 1994. Orkin, Martin. “Hamlet and the Security of the South African State.” Critical essays on Shakespeare's Hamlet. New York: GK Hall and Co, 1995. Shakespeare, William. The tragedy of Hamlet, prince of Denmark. New York: Washington Square Press published by Pocket Books, 1992. States, Bert O. Hamlet and the Concept of Character. Baltimore: John Hopkins U.P.,1992.