Every action that Hamlet does has some form of meaning behind it. When Polonius approaches Hamlet asking if he knows him he say “…you are a fishmonger” (2.2.190). A fishmonger is a person who sells fish, Polonius was a man of noble standing, he was the aviso rot the king. Here Hamlet devalued his status as well as describing Polonius as someone who trades cheaply. Later, he refers to Rosencrantz as a sponge to the king being “…that soaks ip the king’s countenance, / his rewards, his authorities…/when he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and sponge, you shall be dry again” (4.2.15-21). In this instance not only does Hamlet call him a name, that appears to hold no connection to him but he even offers an explanation. The response
