Claudius: Now, Hamlet, where's
Polonius?
Hamlet: At
supper.
Claudius: At supper?
Where?
Act 4, Scene
3
Hamlet is brought before
Claudius out of breath and wearing the expression of an innocent child in the midst of
an exciting game called "Hide fox, and all after." He looks as if he expects to find the
“fox,” and when he sees the King he pretends to take him for that fox. Claudius pretends
to be playing the game along with him. He gives his stepson a friendly, indulgent,
confidential, paternal smile (he is always smiling) and asks, “Now Hamlet, where’s
Polonius?”
It is very significant that he says “Where’s”
rather than “Where is,” because it makes it seem as if the two are going to share a
secret. It is also very significant that the King says “Where’s Polonius?” rather than
“Where’s the body?” It is even significant that he says “Now, Hamlet,” because it is as
if he is saying, “Now it’s time to stop playing. You have to tell me where Polonius is
hiding.”
Hamlet replies “At supper.” No one but Shakespeare
could have thought of such an unexpected but such a marvelous reply. It conveys a vivid
visual impression—a picture the viewer can see as well as Claudius: an old man sitting
peacefully at a table in a quiet room eating something out of a bowl. This would not
have been the case if Hamlet had said something such as, “I don’t know” or “He’s
hiding.”
The King loses his mask, the mask of the
benevolent monarch and loving father. If Polonius is alive, then a coup must be underway
and Polonius is in on it. So are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who are Hamlet's friends,
not his. So is his own wife Gertrude, who told him Polonius had been killed. Claudius
looks terrified. His jaw drops. His eyes widen. He stands up, using the arms of his
chair or throne to get to his feet. He looks to the left, looks to the right, looks back
at his stepson who is now wearing the smile which seems to have been transferred from
one man’s face to the other’s, just as the crown may be transferred from one’s head to
the other’s if Claudius’ fears prove true.
The King is not
looking for Polonius when in a hollow voice he asks, “Where?” He is asking himself where
the attack will be coming from. He is wondering how he should handle this situation.
Should he call for help? Or would that precipitate the murderous attack he fears? Crazy
people are unpredictable. Hamlet’s happy and friendly manner could change to murderous
rage. Crying for help is not always the best course. The King doesn’t know it, but
Polonius would not have died if he had not called for
help.
After Hamlet lets Claudius suffer for a few long
moments, he launches into his speech about the convocation of politic worms. We can
imagine the King lowering himself heavily back down and breathing a deep sigh of relief.
His stepson is mad but harmless—at least for now!
It would
seem that there is a method in Hamlet’s apparent madness. If he cannot bring himself to
murder his uncle, he can at least make him worry and wonder. Perhaps it has occurred to
Hamlet that his procrastination has had an unforeseen effect. The supernatural knowledge
imparted by his father’s ghost has enabled the Prince to inflict the mental punishment
Claudius richly deserves before putting him out of his misery at a time and place of his
own choosing.
No comments:
Post a Comment