The Spectrum of the Courtiers and their Destruction of Hamlet.
As shown in many novels and plays, minor and major characters play equally important roles in the progression of the plot. Although the courtiers in Hamlet, such as Polonius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Laertes, help Hamlet find his true self, evoke the madness and spying theme, and they ironically bring his destruction and ultimately show the spectrum of courtiers and the corruption in the court of Denmark.
Polonius is "a man devoted to his family and his state"(Church 416) who looks out for his children, Ophelia and Laertes. His wife is nowhere to be found, so as a single father he has responsibility at home, and in the court of Denmark as a high-ranking official. Polonius is of the rich nobility in the court, who is a highly respected "important political figure"(Church 417) powerful position in the kingdom. He is a well educated, well versed, but long-winded man. Polonius has the problem of talking in circles, which he does multiple times throughout the play. When he tries this form of conversation with Hamlet, Polonius is insulted by crude jabs and insults to his family, and through this form of talking he brings out the spite in Hamlet. An example of Polonius" circular talking, is in the famous "letter scene": Polonius was afraid that the King and Queen were not going .
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to be effected, so he repeated statements and displayed his circular talking to regain his lost ground. Hamlet's loathing might have spurred from Polonius" swiftness to serve under Claudius after Hamlet's father died, which helps give a vivid picture of the corruption. .
Polonius, although a family man, was one of the most corrupted men in the play. Though his intentions were intended to help his family, the corruption he epitomized spread like wildfire throughout the court and aided in Hamlet's demise. Polonius, in all fairness, was looking out for his daughter who had been rejected by her consort, Hamlet.
