why did hamlet kill polonius

Hamlet’s death at the hands of Laertes makes his earlier declaration over Polonius’s corpse, that God has chosen “to punish me with this and this with me,” prophetic (III. iv. 174). His murder of Polonius does punish him in the end, since it is Laertes’ vengeful rage over that murder that leads to Hamlet’s death.

Who does Hamlet kill and why?

Hamlet delays killing Claudius because Claudius represents Hamlet’s innermost desires to sleep with his mother Gertrude. And by killing Claudius, Hamlet would be killing a part of himself.

Is Hamlet guilty of killing Polonius?

The jury of volunteers from the audience agreed – and they went further. Not only was Hamlet criminally responsible for Polonius’ killing, jurors said he might also be guilty of driving Ophelia to her death. ″His insensitivity to this person that he supposedly loved was beyond justification,″ Ginsburg said afterward.

What does Hamlet say after killing Polonius?

Hamlet Kills Polonius

Suddenly, there is a noise from behind the arras and Hamlet yells, ”How now! A rat?” He plunges his sword through the tapestry without a moment’s thought or without stopping to see who’s there; he assumes it is Claudius. Polonius cries, ”O, I am slain!”

What does Polonius do in Hamlet?

Polonius is a character in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. He is chief counsellor of the play’s ultimate villain, Claudius, and the father of Laertes and Ophelia.

What happens to Polonius?

What happens to Polonius? He is stabbed to death by Hamlet (unintentional-thought it was Claudius) Hamlet drags his body into a neighboring room. Describe Gertrude’s reactions to Hamlet.

How does Hamlet feel about killing Polonius?

Does Hamlet show remorse for killing Polonius? How can you explain Hamlet’s reaction? No. He believes it is his destiny to right the wrongs in Denmark.

Why did Hamlet kiss his mom?

What is Hamlet trying to do in his confrontation with his mother? It is possible that he wants her to confirm her knowledge of Claudius’s crime, to provide further proof of his guilt. Or it may be that Hamlet wants to know whether she was complicit in the crime.

Where did Hamlet hide the body of Polonius?

Finally, Hamlet reveals that Polonius’s body is under the stairs near the castle lobby, and the king dispatches his attendants to look there. The king tells Hamlet that he must leave at once for England, and Hamlet enthusiastically agrees.

Why is it ironic that Polonius declares brevity the soul of wit?

What is humorously ironic about Polonius saying, “Brevity is the soul of wit”? It is because he keeps saying how he’s going to be brief but he keeps saying so much he loses the point which is, Hamlet is crazy in love.

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