Hamlet Group

Question:

saint4d4
saint4d4
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What is the importance of Polonius' death?

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Posted by saint4d4 on Friday November 7, 2008 at 2:38 PM and tagged with death, hamlet, importance, polonius.

Answers:

  1. slauritzen
    slauritzen Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    This is the tipping point for Claudius.  He has to do something about Hamlet who is not becoming erratic and, in the King's view, a threat for the throne.  So he orders "The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England" (IV.iii.69)

    It also leads directly to Hamlet's (and Gertrude, King, and Laertes) death because Laertes must avenge his father's death.  He publicly challenges Hamlet and secretly colludes with the King to poison the drink and the sword.

     Finally, it is the breaking point for Ophelia.  She cannot live in a world where her love killed her father.  Regardless of whether she committed suicide or not, her mental state is too fragile too allow her to survive.  "Poor Ophelia/Divided from herself and her fair judgment" (IV.v.86-87).

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    Posted by slauritzen on Friday November 7, 2008 at 3:09 PM