Tuesday, March 19, 2013

How does Polonius advise his son, Laertes?

In William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Polonius is Laertes's father, and as such, he attempts to give him sound advice on matters of the heart, among other things. In act 1, scene 3 of the play, when Laertes is getting ready to depart for France, Polonius tells his son that his character is of utmost importance. He speaks to him about friendships and advises him to have good friends rather than simply having many friends. Polonius then goes on to advise his son about the importance of listening and learning from others. Polonius also advises against borrowing or lending money to friends, as it will make him appear weak and could ruin those friendships. Ultimately, Polonius tells Laertes to be true to himself, above all.

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