Hamlet

Roles

• Lord Polonius - Senior (>50), Male

About this piece

Lord Polonius bids his son farewell

Summary

The play is set in Denmark at the Castle Elsinore. The King Hamlet has just died and his brother, Claudius, has replaced him and also married his dead brother's wife, Gertrude. In the second scene of ACT I, Claudius addresses the court on his recent marriage to Gertrude, on political matters and also gives his blessings to Laertes, the son of the Lord Chamberlain Polonius, who is about to leave for France. He then turns to Hamlet, who is still mourning his father and doesn't seem to get over it. Even if it's natural to mourn his father's death, he argues, he should get over it. In Scene 3 of ACT I, Polonius bids farewell to his son who is about to depart for France. After urging him to hurry to catch his ship, he advices him on how to behave in France, that is to keep his old friends and watch out on who to embrace as new friends. Have integrity and keep his thoughts to himself. Listen more that talk. Neither borrow nor lend money and be true to himself.

Tone

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