2007-12-12 16:21:41 · 5 answers · asked by Hazel 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
As with much of Shakespeare's work, there are a good number of ways to read this. That's what makes the Bard both fun and difficult.
The easiest way to look at it is that Hamlet is trying to make everybody think he's crazy. How likely do you think it would be that Hamlet would mistake his ex-girlfriend's father for a fish merchant?
You could add to this that Lord Polonius is stinky like a fishmonger might be. Considering that Hamlet is working under the assumption that Polonius made Ophelia dump him, I'd say that's pretty darn polite of Hamlet. This could also be like "mistaking" Donald Trump for a real estate agent. It is simply an insult. Polonius is a lord and adviser to the king, not a seller of fish.
Some will suggest that fishmonger was used as a euphemism for pimp, and that Hamlet is accusing Polonius of using his daughter to curry favor with King Claudius. Some say the word wasn't used this way, and some say it was. Either way, I do believe that Hamlet is probably feeling this way about Polonius.
2007-12-12 17:08:29 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
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why does hamlet call polonius a fishmonger in scene 2 act 2?
2015-08-15 09:10:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
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There are two opinions about this. One is that he's insulting Polonius by pretending to mistake him for a lowly tradesman, and then makes it worse by saying that he wishes Polonius was an honest as a fishmonger - meaning that he's even less trustworthy than a foul-smelling, uneducated fish-seller. Two, some people think that a 'fishmonger' was a slang expression for a pimp - hinting that Polonius has been willing to sell his daughter's happiness in exchange for honours from the king. Personally, I think it was the first one.
2016-03-29 01:43:08 · answer #3 · answered by Teresa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Define Fishmonger
2016-12-14 15:54:30 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fishmonger Definition
2016-10-01 06:05:06 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
part of his mad act, and perhaps a pun on Polonius' position at court as advisor, he is an advisor like a fishmonger who sells smelly fish, he gives smelly advice.
2007-12-12 17:01:51 · answer #6 · answered by Theatre Doc 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hamlet is testing him to see if he ll respond in truth or simply go along with the delusion of a crazy man (lie) to avoid difficulty.
2015-08-13 10:09:27 · answer #7 · answered by Zerothis 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋