Hamlet #2

            Like Claudius, Polonius imparts advice unto his son, but Laertes is much more receptive than Hamlet. When Polonius arrives, Laertes is pleased to see him: “A double blessing is a double grace. / Occasion smiles upon a second leave” (1.3.58-9). Laertes clearly values his father and respects whatever his father tells him. Hamlet, in contrast, gives a snarky response when the king refers to Hamlet as his son: “A little more than kin and less than kind” (1.2.67). Hamlet does not consider Claudius to be his father, and he refuses to speak civilly to him. Perhaps part of the disparity between these two relationships can be attributed to the respect each father gives his son. When advising Hamlet, Claudius does not seem to hold Hamlet in high esteem. Although he initially tries to somewhat praise Hamlet for his “sweet and commendable” nature that allows him to mourn his father’s death, Claudius quickly begins to fault Hamlet for lacking reason and distorting normal mourning (1.2.90). He calls Hamlet’s excessive mourning “a fault to haven, / a fault against the dead, a fault to nature” (1.2.105-6). By criticizing Hamlet, Claudius strains the already precarious relationship between the two of them.

            In contrast, Polonius genuinely seems to care about his son when he offers advice. He has Laertes’ best interest at heart when he says, for instance, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be, / For loan oft loses both itself and friend” (1.3.81-2). Polonius wants to help Laertes make good decisions, but he does not force his opinions on him as Claudius does to Hamlet. Polonius’ final piece of advice is “to thine own self be true” (1.3.84). Hamlet tries to be true to his emotions and Claudius criticizes him for it whereas Polonius encourages self-honesty in Laertes. Polonius and Laertes seem to have a much more stable relationship based on a shared respect that Hamlet and Claudius lack.