Monday, June 7, 2010

In Hamlet, what advice does Polonius give Laertes?

Asis leaving
for France in ,tells him to be careful about what he says. He also tells Laertes to keep his
trusted friends close. Polonius continues with different bits of advice which include avoiding
quarrels, reserving judgment, and dressing with sophistication (in France). Polonius closes his
comments to Laertes with the more famous lines: "Neither a borrower nor a lender be, / For
loan oft loses both itself and friend, / And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry."
(I.iii.75-77) 

Polonius' last bit of advice is perhaps more central to the
play: 

This above all--to thine own self be
true,

And it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst
not then be false to any man. (I.iii.78-80)

Laertes heeds
this advice. When he returns to Denmark, he plans to avenge his father. Laertes is tricked
byinto conspiring againstbut Laertes never hides his true feelings, one of thein the play that
really doesn't act falsely. Claudius and , on the other hand, are constantly conspiring and
hiding their true feelings. 

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