Kristina Badaraite
How Hot is Hamlet?
There are many ways in which one might choose to describe Hamlet, the tragic hero of Shakespeare’s, “Hamlet Prince of Denmark.” As many of the other characters often do, it is fair to call him everything from “confused” to “mad” to “lunatic.” While all of these descriptions are debatable, not many readers are shocked upon their appearance in the play. However, when Polonius chooses to illustrate the feelings Hamlet has for his daughter as “hot love,” the diction simply blows the reader away (2.2.132). The adjective “hot,” as used in this context, and even in the 1600’s as defined by the English Oxford Dictionary, meant “excited with sexual desire; lustful; of animals, ‘in heat’” (6c). At best, it could be argued that the word is actually supposed to be used as, “having or showing intensity of feeling; fervent, ardent, passionate, enthusiastic, eager, keen, zealous” (6a), but even this definition goes beyond the show of affection the readers get from Hamlet’s side. Further reading suggests that even Polonius does not stand against Hamlet’s love because it is “lustful,” “passionate,” or “fervent.” It is unfitting to describe Hamlet’s love for Ophelia as “hot” in the contexts of both Polonius’ intended meaning and Hamlet’s actual personality.
In the same speech, Polonius tells the King that he told Ophelia that “Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star./ This must not be” (2.2.141-142). As he had before articulated to Ophelia herself, Polonius does not approve of Hamlet’s love for his daughter because Hamlet is the heir to the throne. No other reason surfaces in the course of the entire play. Therefore, it is surprising that he chooses to start his explanation to the King by describing the love as “hot.” Since it is not the lust or enthusiasm of Hamlet’s love that he disapproves of, his addition of this adjective to describe “love” is completely unnecessary.
Theoretically, it could be argued that Polonius’ pride gets the better of him and he decides to exaggerate in order to get his point across, but using the word “hot” as an exaggeration to his daughter’s dating experience is also strange. It is not typical that a father would want to think of his daughter in situations of lust or “hot love.” Unless this was actually the case, it is unlikely that he would want to bring on such an accusation to Hamlet as well. After all, Hamlet is the prince, a figure with power whose word should hold much weight.
If Polonius meant the second definition of “zealous,” “enthusiastic,” or “passionate,” he is mistakenly describing Hamlet’s feelings. The only show of love that is actually revealed to the readers before Polonius’ speech is the letter sent to Ophelia in which Hamlet admits his love. While admittedly a very poetic and lovely poem, it is not answered by Ophelia by orders of her father. After the non-response, it is not stated the Hamlet does anything to further court Ophelia, especially in no way that could be described as “enthusiastic.” As a matter of fact, when set up by the King and Polonius to talk to Ophelia later in the play, Hamlet proclaims that he does not love Ophelia anymore. What’s more, he doesn’t seem too upset about it. Clearly, his love is not “fervent” or “passionate” enough to be described as “hot.”
Hamlet is not a “hot” character. His schemes and actions are not enthusiastic, and while eager, not in the context that “hot” implies. It is a strange choice of diction for Polonius to describe his love for Ophelia as “hot.” This is especially so because it is done in a speech explaining why a romantic relationship should not occur between these two. Lust is not one of these reasons. Enthusiasm shouldn’t be either, since there is no considerable show of it in the play. Polonius chooses a very unfitting adjective.