Hamlet · Character

Polonius

Denmark's lord chamberlain, a self-appointed expert on everyone's business, forever dispensing precepts and hiding behind arrases to prove himself right.

major

Also known as Polonius Marry, Polonius Ophelia, good Polonius, Polonius God, Polonius Ay, Polonius Behind, Polonius Madam, Polonius Honest, Exit Polonius

First appearance: act i

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Polonius manages the court's information with fussy confidence, forbidding Ophelia to see Hamlet, sending Reynaldo to spy on Laertes, and volunteering to test the prince's madness himself. He mistakes his own sententiousness for wisdom and treats his children's lives as material for his theories. His meddling and his certainty that he understands Hamlet make him both comic and fatal, and his schemes push the play toward its first irreversible act.

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See Polonius in act i

Character Web

16 connections

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Relationship types

Rivalry
Professional
Social
Other

Character groups

Major characters and confidants
Protagonist
Supporting and minor roles

+11 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This scene is the dramatic climax because it marks the psychological and moral peak of King Claudius’s interna…

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Relationships

Hamlet
rivalry · negative
Reynaldo
professional · negative
Horatio
social · ambivalent
Osric
social · positive
Hamlet
rivalry · negative
Horatio
social · ambivalent
Hamlet
rivalry · negative
Osric
social · positive
Reynaldo
professional · negative

Hamlet
Hamlet views Polonius as a meddlesome, foolish old man and treats him with contempt, eventually killing him by accident.
Reynaldo
Polonius sends his servant Reynaldo to spy on his son Laertes in Paris, demonstrating his controlling and manipulative nature.
Horatio
Horatio and Polonius interact as members of the Danish court, with Horatio likely viewing Polonius as a verbose and foolish old man.
Osric
Osric and Polonius are both courtiers who share a love for verbose, flattering speech and serve the king's interests.
Hamlet
Hamlet views Polonius as a meddlesome, foolish old man and treats him with contempt, eventually killing him by accident.
Horatio
Horatio and Polonius interact as members of the Danish court, with Horatio likely viewing Polonius as a verbose and foolish old man.
Hamlet
Hamlet views Polonius as a meddlesome, foolish old man and treats him with contempt, eventually killing him by accident.
Osric
Osric and Polonius are both courtiers who share a love for verbose, flattering speech and serve the king's interests.
Reynaldo
Polonius sends his servant Reynaldo to spy on his son Laertes in Paris, demonstrating his controlling and manipulative nature.

Relationship notes

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See Polonius in act i

In the story

Polonius appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Scene II
Confirms Laertes's request to go to France, having given his reluctant consent.
Scene III
Gives Laertes lengthy precepts for his journey, then interrogates Ophelia about Hamlet and forbids her from seeing him.
Scene I
Polonius instructs Reynaldo on spying tactics and later interprets Hamlet's behavior as lovesickness.
Scene II
Announces the return of the ambassadors, claims to have discovered the cause of Hamlet's madness (love for Ophelia), and arranges a meeting between them.
Scene I
Arranges the spying on Hamlet; suggests Gertrude speak with Hamlet after the play; believes Hamlet's grief stems from neglected love.
Scene III
Plans to spy on Hamlet's meeting with Gertrude from behind the arras.
Scene IV
Hides behind the arras to spy, is killed by Hamlet.
Scene VII
Referenced as Laertes's murdered father, motivating Laertes's vengeance.

Chapter companion notes

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See Polonius in act i