Hamlet's Office Supply Store

Polonious: Polonious can best be described as a paper clip. Paper clips are meant to keep papers together. In Hamlet, Polonious kept his family together by giving advice and keeping an eye on his children. He says to Laertes, "Give your thoughts to yourself, And don’t act without thinking. Be friendly, but by no means vulgar... My blessing instill these things in you!" (I.III.) And also tells Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet. Just like a paper clip, when broken all the papers fall apart. When Polonious dies, Ophelia and Laertes lose it. Polonious is the clip paper and his children are the sheets of paper in which he keeps intact.


Claudius: Claudius can most likely is associated with a pair of scissors. Scissors cut paper or other things. In Hamlet, he destroys things. He kills the King which cuts Denmark, Hamlet and the rest in half. It is a tragedy and he is the one to blame. It is evident that due to his cut in Hamlet's family and heart, Hamlet feels the way he does. He refers to Claudius as, "A murderer and a villain; A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe Of your precedent lord; a vice of kings; A cutpurse of the empire and the rule, That from a shelf the precious diadem stole, And put it in his pocket!" (III.IV) Once a paper is cut by a scissor, there is no way to completely fix it. the same concept applies to Hamlet. Claudius cuts him in half by killing his father and he will never be the same person again.


Horatio: Horatio can be compared to a ruler. A ruler is straight and meant to measure length. Throughout the play, he pretty much straight like a ruler. He remains a loyal and faithful friend to Hamlet. He follows the rules and tries to not get too involved in any one's life. In the end, he is the only one besides prince Fortinbras to remain alive. In Act 1, Scene 2 Horatio tells Hamlet that he is skipping school to go visit him and Hamlet says, "I would not hear your enemy say so, Nor shall you do mine ear that violence, To make it truster of your own report Against yourself. I know you are no truant." (I.II) Even then we see that Horatio always follows the rules and is wise, similar to a ruler.