The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 15.1811  Monday, 4 October 2004

From:           Steve Sohmer <
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Date:           Friday, 1 Oct 2004 08:55:42 EDT
Subject: 15.1800 Comments on Polonius
Comment:        Re: SHK 15.1800 Comments on Polonius

Dear Friends,

John Briggs asks if it's possible Shakespeare played Polonius. I think
it more than likely. Shakespeare almost certainly played Julius Caesar,
judging from the two in-jokes, i.e. "when Caesar says do this it is
performed" and "bade the Romans memorize his speeches and write them in
their books." When Polonius claims to have enacted Julius Caesar -- and,
by the way, he's talking to Burbadge/Hamlet who (as Brutus) slew him in
the capitol -- the author is making quite a capital joke.

In addition to playing Polonius, I believe Shakespeare also doubled as
Old Hamlet's Ghost. Anyone else have a similar preternatural intuition?

All the best,
Steve

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