This article focuses on analyzing the discourse and the actions of the character Polonius in The tragedy of Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, in order to articulate Updike's vision of the counselor's personality in the novel Gertrude and Claudius. Based on this analysis, it aims to describe the traits of the character that may contribute to a discussion about contemporary behavior.
KEYWORDS:
Polonius Complex; Postmodern Identity; Shakespeare; Updike
| Action / Character of interaction | Number of occurrences | Sequence of speeches of the character Polonius | Localization (Act/ Scene) |
| Instruct / Reynaldo, Ophelia, Claudius, Gertrude | 14 | Speeches 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 27, 71, 83, 84 | Act 2 Sce 1 (11times), Act 3 Sce1, Act 3 Sce 3,Act 3 Sce 4 |
| Probe / Ophelia, Reynaldo, Claudius, Hamlet | 14 | Speeches 4, 5, 6, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, 42, 43, 49, 50, 51, 62 | Act 1 Sce 3 (3times), Act 2 Sce1 (4 times), Act 2Sce 2 (7 times), |
| Confirm / Hamlet | 11 | Speeches 44, 46, 47, 58, 68, 74, 75, 76, 80, 81, 82 | Act 2 Sce 2 (5times), Act 3 Sce2 (6 times) |
| Inform / Claudius, Gertrude, Hamlet, Rosencrantz, Gildenstern | 9 | Speeches 29, 30, 34, 54, 56, 57, 70, 79, 86 | Act 2 Sce 2 (6times), Act 3 Sce1, Act 3 Sce 2,Act 3 Sce 4 |
| Recommend / Claudius and Gertrude | 8 | Speeches 31, 38, 39, 40, 41, 71, 72, 73 | Act 2 Sce 2 (5times), Act 3 Sce1 (3 times) |
| Order somebody to do something / Laertes, Ophelia, Reynaldo, actors | 6 | Speeches 3, 9, 10, 67, 69, 78 | Act 1 Sce 3 (2times), Act 2 Sce1, Act 2 Sce 2,Act 2 Sce 2, Act3 Sce 2 |
| Greet / Reynaldo, Hamlet, Guildenstern, Rosencrantz | 5 | Speeches 20, 23, 52, 53, 55 | Act 2 Sce 2 (5times) |
| Explain something to oneself (next to Ophelia or Hamlet) | 5 | Speeches 28, 48, 51, 52, 61 | Act 2 Sce 1, Act2 Sce 2 (4 times) |
| Inquire without a probing intention / Claudius and Hamlet | 5 | Speeches 37, 45, 60, 63, 77 | Act 2 Sce 2 (4times), Act 3 Sce2 |
| Warn / Ophelia | 2 | Speeches 7, 8 | Act 1 Sce 3 (2times) |
| Praise somebody for something / Hamlet | 2 | Speeches 64, 66 | Act 2 Sce 2 (2times) |
| Ask for something / Claudius, at random | 2 | Speeches 1, 85 | Act 1 Sce 2, Act3 Sce 4 |
| Adorn the speech / Claudius and Gertrude | 2 | Speeches 32, 33 | Act 2 Sce 2 (2times) |
| Advise / Laertes | 1 | Speech 2 | Act 1 Sce 3 |
| Introduce / actors, Hamlet, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz | 1 | Speech 59 | Act 2 Sce 2 |
| Persuade / Claudius and Gertrude | 1 | Speech 36 | Act 2 Sce 2 |
| Criticize / actors | 1 | Speech 65 | Act 2 Sce 2 |
| Ação / Personagem de interação | Número de ocorrências | Sequência de falas da personagem Polônio | Localização (Ato /Cena) |
| Instruir / Reinaldo, Ofélia, Cláudio, Gertrudes | 14 | Falas 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 27, 71, 83, 84 | At 2 Ce 1 (11vezes), At 3 Ce 1,At 3 Ce 3, At 3 Ce 4 |
| Sondar / Ofélia, Reinaldo, Cláudio, Hamlet | 14 | Falas 4, 5, 6, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, 42, 43, 49, 50, 51, 62 | At 1 Ce 3 (3vezes), At 2 Ce 1(4 vezes), At 2 Ce 2 (7 vezes), |
| Confirmar / Hamlet | 11 | Falas 44, 46, 47, 58, 68, 74, 75, 76, 80, 81, 82 | At 2 Ce 2 (5vezes), At 3 Ce 2 (6 vezes) |
| Informar / Cláudio, Gertrudes, Hamlet, Rosencrantz, Gildenstern | 9 | Falas 29, 30, 34, 54, 56, 57, 70, 79, 86 | At 2 Ce 2 (6vezes), At 3 Ce 1, At 3 Ce 2, At 3 Ce 4 |
| Recomendar / Cláudio e Gertrudes | 8 | Falas 31, 38, 39, 40, 41, 71, 72, 73 | At 2 Ce 2 (5vezes), At 3 Ce 1 (3 vezes) |
| Ordenar / Laertes, Ofélia, Reinaldo, atores | 6 | Falas 3, 9, 10, 67, 69, 78 | At 1 Ce 3 (2vezes), At 2 Ce 1, At 2 Ce 2, At 2 Ce 2, At 3 Ce 2 |
| Cumprimentar / Reinaldo, Hamlet, Guildenstern, Rosencrantz | 5 | Falas 20, 23, 52, 53, 55 | At 2 Ce 2 (5vezes) |
| Explicar para si mesmo (ao lado de Ofélia ou Hamlet) | 5 | Falas 28, 48, 51, 52, 61 | At 2 Ce 1, At 2 Ce 2 (4 vezes) |
| Indagar sem sondar / Cláudio e Hamlet | 5 | Falas 37, 45, 60, 63, 77 | At 2 Ce 2 (4vezes), At 3 Ce 2 |
| Advertir / Ofélia | 2 | Falas 7, 8 | At 1 Ce 3 (2vezes) |
| Elogiar / Hamlet | 2 | Falas 64, 66 | At 2 Ce 2 (2vezes) |
| Pedir / Cláudio, a esmo | 2 | Falas 1, 85 | At 1 Ce 2, At 3 Ce 4 |
| Ornamentar o discurso / Claudio e Gertrudes | 2 | Falas 32, 33 | At 2 Ce 2 (2 vezes) |
| Aconselhar / Laertes | 1 | Fala 2 | At 1 Ce 3 |
| Apresentar / atores, Hamlet,Guildenstern e Rosencrantz | 1 | Fala 59 | At 2 Ce 2 |
| Convencer / Cláudio e Gertrudes | 1 | Fala 36 | At 2 Ce 2 |
| Criticar / atores | 1 | Fala 65 | At 2 Ce 2 |
