What does the death of Polonius represent?

Through the death of Polonius, Hamlet has committed the very crime which he was seeking to punish; the son of a father murdered has himself murdered a father. Retribution will call up against him a son, at whose hands he will meet his fate.

Why is Polonius’s death significant?

Polonius’s death at the hands of Hamlet causes Claudius to fear for his own life, Ophelia to go mad, and Laertes to seek revenge, which leads to the duel in the final act.

What does Polonius symbolize?

The fact that Polonius gets himself so wrong contributes to one of Hamlet’s central themes: the challenge of self-certainty. Polonius’s amusing lack of self-awareness serves as a comic foil to Hamlet’s existential struggle with self-knowledge.

Why is the killing of Polonius a turning point for Hamlet?

By killing Polonius, Hamlet makes an outlaw of himself and loses control of his own plot. He has turned himself from a righteous hero pursuing justice into a foolish fugitive from justice.

What is ironic about Polonius’s death?

Hamlet unintentionally kills Polonius as he was spying on Hamlet’s conversation with his mother. Application of Irony: Hamlet suspects that the person spying on him is Claudius. Wanting to avenge his father, he stabs him through the curtain but it turned out to be Polonius.

How was Polonius death foreshadowed?

Polonius’s death



Hamlet’s murder of Polonius is foreshadowed when Polonius tells the assembled court that he acted at university: “I did enact Julius Caesar. I was killed i’ th’ Capitol. Brutus killed me” (III.

What character trait brings about Polonius’s death?

Which of Polonius’s character traits brings about his death? Polonius’s tendency to be meddlesome puts him in the position that leads to his death.

How does Hamlet feel about Polonius death?

Hamlet, thinking that Polonius is actually Claudius, stabs blindly through the curtain, killing Polonius on the spot. Instead of feeling any remorse, Hamlet turns on his mother, attacking her for marrying Claudius so soon after her husband’s death.

What does Hamlet say about killing Polonius?

Hamlet Kills Polonius



“Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell!” Hamlet continues by expressing disappointment in Polonius whom he had previously thought to be a better man. In the end, Polonius proved to be nothing more than a busy body.

How does Polonius death affect Ophelia?

She becomes mad after Polonius’ death, which eventually is the cause of her death. Her death provokes Hamlet’s unstable state to clear, the uncloaking of Hamlet sets a break in the play where the audience discovers Hamlet’s true feelings.

How does Polonius death affect Ophelia?

She becomes mad after Polonius’ death, which eventually is the cause of her death. Her death provokes Hamlet’s unstable state to clear, the uncloaking of Hamlet sets a break in the play where the audience discovers Hamlet’s true feelings.

How and Why is Polonius killed?

Hamlet draws his sword and thrusts it through the tapestry, killing Polonius. When Hamlet lifts the wallhanging and discovers Polonius’ body, he tells the body that he had believed he was stabbing the King. He then turns his attention to punishing Gertrude.

Is Polonius responsible for his own death?

However, in fact, none of these two characters are responsible for the tragic event. Hamlet’s murder of Polonius was solely an accident, and Polonius cannot be blamed for his own death as his controversial actions to Hamlet …show more content…