Parsa's Post: Polonius Acts 2-3

In the beginning of act 2 Polonius is speaking to Reynaldo about him going to Paris to see his son Laertes but asking before he goes to visit him to ask around about him, about his behaviors and the certain things he may be doing.

Polonius: “You shall do marvelous wisely, good Reynaldo, Before you visit him, to make inquire of his behavior.” (2.1.3-5)

Reynaldo: “My lord, I did intend it.” (2.1.6)

Polonius: “Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir, Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris, and how, and who, what means, and where they keep what company at what expense; and finding by this encompassment and drift of question that they do know my son, come you more nearer than your particular demands will touch it.” (2.1.7-14)

In this act Polonius is trying to use Reynaldo to find out if his son has been up to no good. He is asking Reynaldo to ask around and see what Laeters’s behavior is like in Paris and what kind of a reputation he has.

            Polonius: “At “closes in the consequence.” Ay, marry. He closes thus: “I know the gentleman. I saw him yesterday”—or “t' other day,” Or then, or then, with such or such—“and, as you say, There was he gaming, there o'ertook in’s rouse, there falling out at tennis,” or, perchance, “I saw him enter such a house of sale”—Videlicet a brothel, or so forth. See you now, your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth. And thus do we of wisdom and of reach, with windlasses and with assays of bias, by indirections find directions out. So by my former lecture and advice shall you my son. You have me, have you not?” (2.1.61-75)

Polonius is essentially spying on his son to see if he is really focused on studying his music and not out being wild and making his father and him look bad. This is showing that Polonius is worried and cautious about his son.


In act 3 during the play that they are all watching be performed Claudius gets up and it is noticed.

            Ophelia: “The king rises”

            Hamlet: “What, frighted with false fire?”

            Gertude: “How fares my lord?”

            Polonius: “Give o’er the play”

            Claudius: “Give me some light, away!”

            Polonius: “Lights, lights, lights!” (3.2.291-295)

Polonius is acting good towards Claudius ordering around people with demands that will benefit Claudius and to what Claudius wishes. Yelling to give on the lights when he asks and also yelling to stop the play due to Claudius’s discomfort.

I think Morgan Freeman would fit the role of Polonius pretty well. I think this because they both are old but still powerful/ important and have a big impact on things that they do. They are both cautious sounding and seem to be speaking intelligently when they speak and both seem to get a lot of acknowledgement and a feel of importance whenever they are talking to someone.