How are Prince Hamlet and Polonius similar?
Both Prince Hamlet and Polonius devised secrete plots to prove their beliefs as true. For example, Polonius believed that Hamlet’s madness came from his love for his daughter Ophelia. He decided to hide behind a curtain while Ophelia confronted Hamlet. Similarly, Hamlet believed that Claudius was guilty of his father’s murder; however, there was a possibility that the ghost was actually the devil. Hamlet had Claudius watch a play that resembled his father’s murder which would hopefully drive Claudius to confess.
Both Polonius and Prince Hamlet have multiple personalities. Polonius first appeared as a compassionate, nurturing father to his son, Laertes. He gave Laertes a blessing and valuable advice to live by. Not long after Laertes left, Polonius ordered Reynaldo to spy on Laertes and make malicious rumors about him. In the beginning, Hamlet was slow and careful to act. He did not immediately kill Claudius, instead he chose to wait hoping Claudius would admit his sins. While Hamlet appeared cautious, his actions at the end of Act 3 were far from cautious. Without even knowing who the man behind the curtain was, Hamlet instantly thrust his sword through the curtain, killing Polonius. Hamlet had no intention of killing Polonius; he wanted to kill the king. His actions were arrogant and extremely impulsive.
Hamlet and Polonius only cared about themselves and tried to exert power over the female characters. Polonius did not want Ophelia to have a relationship with Hamlet because he felt it would hurt his reputation with the king. He ordered her never to speak to Hamlet, and she obeyed. Similarly, Hamlet was outraged by his mother’s marriage to his uncle. He felt his mother had committed one of the greatest sins. In reality, Gertrude was only a queen without a king. She needed to marry in order to do what was best for the country. Hamlet ordered his mother to refrain from going to bed with Claudius. Both Polonius and Hamlet wanted to have power and would do whatever it took to get that power.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Essential #6
What parallels can be drawn between the Pardoner's Prologue and his tale? How is this tale different from the other two that we have studied?
Every vice the Pardoner lists in his tale are vices in which he is guilty of. For example, the Pardoner does not start his tale until he is finished drinking his ale. Soon after beginning his tale he claims that “wine is a lecherous thing and drunkenness, a squalor of contention and distress” (247). In addition, the Pardoner attacks swearing and perjury: “let me speak a word or two of swearing and perjury; the Bible is unsparing. It’s an abominable thing to curse and swear, it says; but perjury is worse” (249). It is obvious the Pardoner is guilty of lying when he tries to sell the relics to the pilgrims after admitting they were fake. He also subtly swears right before the beginning his story, “O for the love of Jesus Christ who died (250).” In his tale, just as the “young man was utterly content to kill them both and never to repent” (255), the Pardoner is content to lie and disregard his lesson. The central theme of the Pardoner’s sermons are all the same; greed is the root of all evil. Before reading the tale it is evident that nothing beneficial comes out of being greedy, and therefore, we can infer that all three men are going to lose their lives due to avarice. Unlike the Knight’s and the Miller’s tale, the Pardoner’s tale has no suspense. Both the Knight and the Miller use vivid imagery to show us a message. Contradictorily, the Pardoner repeatedly states the message. Courtly love is a subject both the Knight and the Miller touch upon in their tales, whereas the only reference to love the Pardoner makes is the love of money. The Knight stresses the importance of positive characteristics, such as honor, friendship, and loyalty. The Pardoner emphasizes the significance of negative characteristics, such as greed, gluttony, and perjury.
Every vice the Pardoner lists in his tale are vices in which he is guilty of. For example, the Pardoner does not start his tale until he is finished drinking his ale. Soon after beginning his tale he claims that “wine is a lecherous thing and drunkenness, a squalor of contention and distress” (247). In addition, the Pardoner attacks swearing and perjury: “let me speak a word or two of swearing and perjury; the Bible is unsparing. It’s an abominable thing to curse and swear, it says; but perjury is worse” (249). It is obvious the Pardoner is guilty of lying when he tries to sell the relics to the pilgrims after admitting they were fake. He also subtly swears right before the beginning his story, “O for the love of Jesus Christ who died (250).” In his tale, just as the “young man was utterly content to kill them both and never to repent” (255), the Pardoner is content to lie and disregard his lesson. The central theme of the Pardoner’s sermons are all the same; greed is the root of all evil. Before reading the tale it is evident that nothing beneficial comes out of being greedy, and therefore, we can infer that all three men are going to lose their lives due to avarice. Unlike the Knight’s and the Miller’s tale, the Pardoner’s tale has no suspense. Both the Knight and the Miller use vivid imagery to show us a message. Contradictorily, the Pardoner repeatedly states the message. Courtly love is a subject both the Knight and the Miller touch upon in their tales, whereas the only reference to love the Pardoner makes is the love of money. The Knight stresses the importance of positive characteristics, such as honor, friendship, and loyalty. The Pardoner emphasizes the significance of negative characteristics, such as greed, gluttony, and perjury.
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