The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-18
DIR. HIDEN ON POLONlUS.
8s VAS BOTA AHFPOCRfTE AND A
FOOL.
Highly Interesting Discussion ~ to These
Two Characteristics-shake
Fools Not All Alike.

piece are intended TO represent inc va
rious religious forces at work In the
world.
OF course this IS mere speculation-mere
theorizing apart from THE facts. Inc
theorist seems to know more about Shaks-
peares characters than Shakespeare
himself knew; but STILL l am obliged TO
agree with the homely American humor-
ist who said, "Ir is better not to know
so much than to know SO many thing'
that amt so"
In this paper, then. there Will be n"
attempt at any pet theory. or the chai
acter Of POlOnus / shall endeaNor' III q
plain and common sense way. 10 give SUN
a view as may be warranted ny ah
examination OF the facts otthe case. ln iss,
duct OF Poonius himself as set ior'h III
the play of Hamlet" -
L believe that a fair and natural IN
depreciation OF these facts has lea me me -
tho conclusion that Polonlus was "
hypOcrite. and (2) a fool.
AS TO HIS HYPOCRISY.
And first as to his hypocrisy: He IS
introduced in Act 1, scene :, wheic h'f
asks the Kings leave for Ldertes 10
return to France. He pretends tnat ne
does not desire Laertes 10 go, ana ludD
his SLOW leave" has been "wrung from
this pretence had been kept up III
previous interview with Laertes hiilseil
does not appear; but that IL wa Vii,y
a pretence Is pretty clearly indicator ~
tho subsequent conduct Of Polonlus' VINO
is evidently pleased at the idea OF nav
ing a fast" son, who can holu MS wv wv.
among the drinking, swearing tcnClns
gambling makes Of the corrupt ana nCeh-
tious circle Of Partisan nigh me
In the advice TO Ophelia, We ma as
much Of realness and earnestness a.
Polonius was capable Of; and yet tnn
whole speech is low, coarse ana uttcli!
destitute of any appreciation or the cnal
acter and the conduct OF Ophela ana OIL
Hamlet. And even where most in earn
est he can not leave Off his characlerlSlil
mounting. as Not TO crack the wlnd OF
the poor phrase (wronging II thus), you II
tender me "A fool 1890.
straightforward man uttering such cam
as this, when advising pure-mindea
and lovely daughter as TO matter Whlcn
so deeply concerned her honour ana new
happiness. a..
In reporting this conversation 70 the
King. POlOnius tells not what ne mao
said to Ophelia, but what he supposSS
the King thinks he ought 10 have sall
and this, in pain English, was lying. 1,
must be admitted that, In this instance,
there was no small temptation 10 ne
but still, il is not too much 10 say tidV
all lying is done under temptation or one
sort or another.
Governor Hoffman. Of New York. was
once applied to for the pardon OF noto-
rious ruffian who had been convicted or
a felony. The petition stated as the
grounds for executive clemency that the
prisoner was a person of imperfect educa-
ton and low moral instincts. Inc Gov
ernor promptly declined. and said curly.
THAT Is what is the matter with all OF
them"
Ii Is presumed that the man who viii
1. strffb
thing truth were a fool" hardly does nus
lying out Of pure antipathy 20 the trutni
but because he has i'm view some end.
the attainment of which furnishes MN
with his temptation.
A servant who can be instructed 20
lie and TO spy upon his masters son.
and who without the least show OF wlno-
ing. accepts the instructions. can scarce.
~ be credited with any high standard or
morals or of honour; and yet POlOnius,
i'm his instructions TO ReynaldO, shocks
the moral sentiments of just such q
servant The cOurtier thinks that drink
mg gambling. fencing. swearing, quar-
reling, Grabbing i. e.. associaung with
lewd women are not dishonorabie 10
young gentleman; but the unprncl-
pied servant himself revOlts at this. ana
fairly demonstrates when his master
uttcrs such sentiments.
Ii is true that in all this chicanerry
polOnius says that he is using the BAIT
of falsehOOd TO catch the carp OF truth
but this Is only saying that he had a
motive for his hypOcritical lying ana so
had every other knaye that was ever
guilty of it,
In this dialogue with Reynaldo we have
three lines which give us pretty succinctly
the key 10 the character and the policy
Of Polonus. He says
And thus do we of wisdom and Of reach,
with windlaces and with assays of bias,
BY indirecti0ns find directions out
Here he acknowledges himself 10 bd
trio N nfmEF
n trickster "of wisdom and Of reach.
Thucydides found out some thousands
Of years ago that the great body OF men
would rather be thought scoundrels than
dark POlonus would have been distin-
guishod. If ne had only had sense enough.
but as it was. he can lay tair clalml
70 the title OF prince IN the realm OF
tricks that are vain"
In the hypocrisy OF POlonius the.'s Is one
striking feature which deserves special
notice: he was one Of those hTpocrites
who could moralze upon his own hypoc-
risy. When he plans the meeting between
Hamlet and Ophclia. he says to ms.
Read on this book,
That show of such an exercise may
colour
Your loneliness"
Then 10 himself:
I'VE are Oft to blame in this
'Tis too much proved that with devotion
yisage.
And piOus action we do sugar o er
There can be little doubt that when
polonius said this he thought he was
saying a really mertorious thing; and
We can hardly be sure that he ala not
regard this bit Of mOralizing as a prelty
fir Offset TO the doceitful eayes-droppinS
wh.cn he was about to practice
\ man will hardly do much in the way
Of deceiving others until he has rrst
succeeded in practicing good deal OF
deception upon himself Paul Clnord
was Obliged TO convince himseh thar
society was a grand swindling corpora
ton before he could be content TO take
10 the road as gen,.sinanly hlghWay-
man. and live by VIVA, he would have
called robbing the robbers.
II is clear. however, from the lines Just
quoted that POlonius had not sncceedtol
I'm palming himself Off upon himself IN me
character OF an honest man. I'm fact
what he called his wisdom was arrant
folly: and what he applauded as M.
reach-i o.. extensive intellectual re-
sources was an uncommonly slim supply
IT The FOOL.
In nv estimate OF the intellectual ca
pacity of this character am aware tina :
I am somewhat at variance with current
opinions. The Danish courter Is often
snoken Of as the typical worldly wise
man" But / have only 70 say that we
are not here concerned with the Polonius
OF popular opinion but with the Polonius
OF Shakespeare
There can be no doubt that Shakespeare
meant To represent hamlet as the most
intellectual character in the play. lie IS
THE cOurtiers soldier :, schoiat eye
tongue. sword.
His insight into human character Is
so profound. and his analysis OF motive
so quick. subtle and acute as 10 apPe,a,I