Why does Hamlet call Polonius a fishmonger?
Introduction
In William Shakespeare's masterwork Hamlet (Act 2, Scene 2), the titular prince greets the royal counselor Polonius by declaring, "You are a fishmonger." To modern readers and audiences, this insult often causes confusion. A fishmonger is simply someone who sells fish for a living. Why would Hamlet hurl this seemingly mundane occupation as an insult?
As an expert in Elizabethan English and Shakespearean studies, I can tell you that this line is a multi-layered masterpiece of Renaissance slang, dramatic irony, and psychological warfare. Hamlet isn't just randomly shouting about seafood; he is launching a scathing, coded attack on Polonius's morals, honesty, and treatment of his own daughter.
Definitions
To fully grasp the insult, we must unpack the literal and Elizabethan slang meanings of the term:
- Fishmonger (Literal): A merchant who sells fish. In Elizabethan times, this was considered a lowly, working-class trade.
- Fishmonger (Slang/Coded): In 17th-century London slang, a fishmonger was frequently understood to mean a pimp or a bawd (someone who procures prostitutes or pimps out women).
Why Hamlet Uses the Term: The Layers of Meaning
1. The Pimp Connotation
By calling Polonius a fishmonger, Hamlet is accusing him of acting as a pimp. But who is the victim? Ophelia, Polonius's daughter. Throughout the play, Polonius uses Ophelia as bait to spy on Hamlet. He actively encourages her to interact with Hamlet while he and King Claudius hide behind a tapestry to eavesdrop. To Hamlet, this transactional, exploitative use of Ophelia makes Polonius no better than a pimp selling his daughter's affections.
2. Dishonesty and Low Social Standing
Merchants and tradespeople in Shakespeare's era were often stereotyped as dishonest, slippery, and overly concerned with money. By reducing the grand counselor of the state to a low-level fish merchant, Hamlet strips away Polonius's inflated sense of political importance.
3. Feigned Madness
Hamlet is playing the antic disposition—feigning madness to confuse his enemies and buy time. Calling someone a fishmonger out of nowhere is a classic manifestation of erratic, nonsensical behavior, which successfully convinces Polonius that the prince has completely lost his mind.
Quick Reference Table
To understand how the word functions on multiple levels, review the comparison below:
| Interpretation | Meaning in Context | Shakespearean Subtext |
|---|---|---|
| Literal | A seller of fish. | Dismisses Polonius as a low-class, common tradesman. |
| Slang | A pimp or procurer. | Accuses Polonius of prostituting Ophelia's love for political gain. |
| Psychological | Proof of insanity. | Feeds Polonius's belief that Hamlet's brain is broken by heartbreak. |
Real-World Examples in the Text
Let's look at the immediate context of the dialogue in Hamlet Act 2, Scene 2:
- Hamlet: "Excellent well. You are a fishmonger."
- Polonius: "Not I, my lord."
- Hamlet: "Then I would you were so honest a man."
Notice the biting irony in Hamlet's follow-up line. By stating he wishes Polonius were "so honest a man," Hamlet implies that even a lowly fishmonger has more integrity than the scheming, manipulative counselor.
Common Pitfalls for Readers
When studying Shakespeare, modern audiences often fall into a few traps regarding this quote:
- Assuming it's a random typo or nonsense: Viewers sometimes think Hamlet is just speaking gibberish. In reality, Shakespeare rarely wrote empty words; Elizabethan audiences would have instantly caught the bawdy double entendre.
- Ignoring Ophelia's role: Readers often separate this line from the wider plot involving Ophelia. Always remember that Hamlet's insult directly targets Polonius's exploitation of his daughter.
Conclusion
When Hamlet calls Polonius a fishmonger, he delivers a brilliant triple-threat: a biting insult accusing Polonius of pimping out his daughter, a class-based put-down of his integrity, and a performance of madness designed to deceive the court.