“Where is Polonius?- In heaven; send hither to see: if your messenger find him not there, seek him i' the other place yourself.”
Analysis
In this quote from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, the character Hamlet is being sarcastic and making a dark joke about the death of Polonius. His response to Queen Gertrude's question about Polonius' whereabouts is bitterly humorous, suggesting that he is in heaven and they should check the other place - implying that he is actually in hell. This quote captures Hamlet's wit and complexity as a character, showcasing his ability to use clever wordplay to convey deeper issues and emotions.
Modern Relevance
In this quote from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, the character Hamlet responds sarcastically to the question of where Polonius, a deceitful and manipulative character, is located. Hamlet suggests that if Polonius cannot be found in heaven, then the person looking for him should search for him in the other place - implying hell. This quote showcases Hamlet's wit and skepticism towards the morality of others. The idea of looking for someone in heaven or hell is still used figuratively today to suggest the person is either extraordinary or morally corrupt.
Shakespeare's Use of Humor in "Hamlet"
"Where is Polonius?- In heaven; send hither to see: if your messenger find him not there, seek him i' the other place yourself." - William Shakespeare
In this line from Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," the character is humorously suggesting that Polonius may not be in heaven but in the other place, meaning hell. This clever play on words showcases Shakespeare's wit and humor throughout the play.
Reflection Questions
In this quote from William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," the character is humorously suggesting to the king that he should search for Polonius in heaven if he cannot find him. This quote invites us to ponder on the following reflection questions:
- How does this quote highlight the absurdity or dark humor in the situation?
- What does this suggest about the character who delivers this line?
- How does this quote reflect the themes of mortality and the afterlife in the play?
- What impact does this line have on the overall tone or mood of the scene?
- How do you interpret the character's attitude towards death and the idea of an afterlife based on this quote?
Similar quotes
“Where is Polonius? HAMLET In heaven. Send hither to see. If your messenger find him not there, seek him i' th' other place yourself. But if indeed you find him not within this month, you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby.”
“Find yourself a place in the universe,' she said, 'a place where the dirt feels like goodness under your feet. Take the right picture and a man will walk into it. If you can bear him even a little, then for a while let him stay.”
“They seek him here, they seek him thereThose Frenchies seek him everywhereIs he in heaven or is he in hell?That demned elusive Pimpernel”
“I can't work in a house where there's saints. The minute there's saints, the devil sends messengers”
“A neutral place. The chances of finding one these days are slim, maybe even slimmer than Archie’s pinball trick. The sheer quantity of shit that must be wiped off the slate if we are to start again as new. Race. Land. Ownership. Faith. Theft. Blood. And more blood. And more. And not only must the place be neutral, but the messenger who takes you to the place, and the messenger who sends the messenger. There are no people or places like that left…”