Hamlet
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Hamlet Opinions: Discuss & Debate
Discuss. Debate. Question. Challenge. Discover. See all sides. Develop your own perspective.
Question:
“Which of the characters in Hamlet follow the principle, "To thine own self be true"?”
One of the more famous lines in Hamlet is, "To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man" (1.3.77-79). Which of the characters in Hamlet are true to themselves? Does that prevent them from being false to one another? Does the meaning of this quote change for you when you consider that it’s spoken by Polonius, one of the play’s most frequently mocked characters?
Opinion:
“Although Hamlet’s immense intrigue – and danger – lie in his dogged adherence to principle, Hamlet is nevertheless a living contradiction of Polonius’s renowned “to thine own self be true” speech: while Polonius believes that this policy precludes being “false to any man,” Hamlet’s refusal to compromise his beliefs necessitates falsehoods, as exemplified by his interaction with Polonius. Hamlet therefore demonstrates that dishonesty is sometimes the only viable means of being true to oneself.”
Latest comment
ellen 478 days ago said: I disagree. The play Hamlet is about Hamlet's search for truth. Much of it is his debate/soliloquy with death. He wants to find what is true and right. It just takes him a long time to act.
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