In II.ii.90. Polonius states "brevity is the soul of wit."
What the heck does that mean?
Does he deviate from this phrase?
2007-12-04 02:39:02 · 3 answers · asked by Brian 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
Yes, although Iwould not translate "wit" to be "funny," your first answerer is pretty on the mark. Wit does not need to be funny. Wit can be a cutting-to-the-chase statement; it can be a rhetorical question; and it can be something funny. But the fact that Polonius says this is funny. In his famous "Advice to Laertes," he does not practice what he preaches. This becomes physically apparent when he talks of dress, not being gaudy but expensive as you can afford; he's probably decked out in robes and furs and hats and chains, etc. It is then you begin to realize that most everything he says, he does not do. The thing about friends being grappled to yourself with hoops of steel; Polonius goes through friends like Kleenex and will do whatever necessary to retain his position of wealth and power with whichever king happens to be in power.
2007-12-04 02:51:03 · answer #1 · answered by actormyk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that to be funny, something needs to be short.
It is funny, because in the play, Polonius is a gasbag who can't shut up.
2007-12-04 02:43:19 · answer #2 · answered by LoneStar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it means tgat intelligent speech and writing should aim at using few words
2007-12-04 03:07:15 · answer #3 · answered by nicole_marie8201 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋