Hamlet #4

     Hamlet appears to have come down with a fatal case of "love sickness," but the manner in which he interacts with Polonious makes the reader doubtful of this portrayal. When Polonious first encounters Hamlet, Polonious asks Hamlet if they have been acquainted. In response, Hamlet replies, "Excellent well. You are a fishmonger" (II.ii.190). A fishmonger, one who sells fish, is an interesting position for Hamlet to assign to Polonious. One reason for this assignation may be because fish are typically slimy creatures. Throughout their conversation, it becomes more apparent that Hamlet knows of Polonious' relationship to Ophelia when he keeps mentioning words such as "daughter" and "conception." By immediately calling him a fishmonger and speaking of the rarity of honesty, Hamlet is hinting to the audience that he comprehends the twisted meaning behind their encounter. This theory is solidified at the end of the conversation when Hamlet retorts, "These tedious old fools" (II.ii.237). The tedious fools Hamlet is most likely referring to is his mother, Claudius, and Polonious. This scene further indicates that Hamlet is aware of their suspicions, and he is externally portraying a delirious and damaged lover, while being internally filled with rage of his father's murder.