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Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 3.15.97: Top | Help
There is reasonable evidence that the character Polonius is modelled on William Cecil (Lord Burghley), Elizabeth's most trusted counselor and just about the highest official in her court. Whether Shakespeare knew him or just knew of him is open to question. IF, however (and this is a big if), the actual author of Hamlet was the 17th Earl of Oxford (Edward deVere), things get serious. Lord Burghley was Oxford's guardian after his father died (and his mother remarried with excessive haste -- hmmm), and was later Oxford's father-in-law when Oxford married Burghley's daughter (an Ophelia parallel). Burghley was every bit as meddlesome and aphoristic as old Polonius, and did indeed send spies after Oxford when Oxford toured Europe as a young man (like Rosencranz & Guildenstern). Maybe all just coincidences hatched by idle minds -- but maybe not.Posted by JTJ on March 23, 1997 at 19:12:04
In Reply to "Hamlet" posted by Tom on March 23, 1997 at 17:06:45
Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 3.15.97: Top | Help