“Where is Polonius?- In heaven; send hither to see: if your messenger find him not there, seek him i' the other place yourself.”
Explore This Quote Further
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.”
“I can see he's not in your good books,' said the messenger.'No, and if he were I would burn my library.”
“Do you see yonder cloud that’s almost in shape of a camel?Polonius: By the mass, and ‘tis like a camel, indeed.Hamlet: Methinks it is like a weasel.Polonius: It is backed like a weasel.Hamlet: Or like a whale?Polonius: Very like a whale.”
“Use them after your own honour and dignity; the less they deserve, the more merit in your bounty. - Hamlet to Polonius”
“My lord, the queen would speak with you, and presently.HAMLET Do you see yonder cloud that's almost in shape of a camel?POLONIUS By th'mass, and 'tis like a camel indeed.HAMLET Methinks it is like a weasel.POLONIUS It is backed like a weasel.HAMLET Or like a whale?POLONIUS Very like a whale.HAMLET Then I will come to my mother by and by. - They fool me to the top of my bent. - I will come by and by.”
“I do love thee so, That I will shortly send thy soul to heaven”