Advice That’s Really Control

Send a text

GEORGE:
Master Shakespeare, why do we go from the public court scene into this private household scene?

SHAKESPEARE:
Because the disease is not only in the crown.
It is in the rooms of the home.

GEORGE:
Let me paraphrase that in three ways so it lands:

Paraphrase #1 (simple):
You’re showing us that Denmark’s problems aren’t only political. They’re personal.

Paraphrase #2 (blunt):
The same habits that make a court dishonest can show up in a family.

Paraphrase #3 (image):
We leave the palace stage — but we’re still inside the same building of power. Just a different hallway.

SHAKESPEARE:
Aye.

GEORGE:
Let’s lay out the plot of Scene 3 in plain terms.

First: Laertes is preparing to leave for France.
He gives his sister Ophelia advice about Hamlet.

Second: Polonius enters and gives Laertes a long list of fatherly “rules” for life.Third: After Laertes exits, Polonius turns to Ophelia and questions her about Hamlet — and then he gives her orders.

So the scene is built like a sandwich:

Brother advises sister

Father advises son

Father controls daughter

SHAKESPEARE:
A neat division.

GEORGE:
This scene is about warnings.
And the warnings are not only about danger.
They are about reputation.
And reputation is currency in this world.

Support the show

Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.