In Act I, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Polonius gives
advice to his son, Laertes, who is off to school in the city. While teaching the play
to Grade 12 students, I often felt that there was great advice there, but that
the language barrier stood in the way of comprehension. (English is an evolving
language and Shakespeare wrote in what we call Middle English, a stage between
Medieval and Modern English.)
I’ve rewritten Polonius’s advice to Laertes (loosely) in
post-modern English (sorry Will) in the hope that it will help parents and
teachers of young men as they leave home for… whatever. Both a humble obedience
to Christ the teacher and indeed centuries of unnecessary conflict make clear
that judicious restraint and unflinching idealism are desperately wanted in our
world. With what understandings should our graduates embark on their life’s
independent journey, and where has Polonius hit—or missed—the mark?
*****
“Why are you still here, my son. The plane is getting
ready to board, so get a move on.
I
approve of your going, but I hope you’ll take some good advice with you, so you
don’t blow your chances. See to it that others recognize you as one who holds
to these vital principles.
Keep
your opinions to yourself, and don’t act on sudden, unconsidered impulses. It’s
easy to develop a reputation you didn’t really want, and once established, it’s
really hard to get rid of.
Be
friendly, but don’t overdo it.
When
you’ve made some good, trustworthy friends, be the most honest and loyal friend
to them, and you’ll form bonds that will never break.
Don’t
waste your time or your money on partying with frivolous greenhorns whose primary
objective is sensual pleasure.
Avoid
fruitless quarreling, but when it can’t be avoided, give it your best shot.
Listen
to voices coming from every direction, but don’t add to the ignorance being
broadcast, especially on social media. Recognize ill-informed gossip and avoid
it.
Pay
thoughtful attention to criticism, but don’t jump to judgment about other
people’s actions and conversation.
Dress
conservatively and affordably; true, what you wear says a lot about you, but
you will waste your money fruitlessly if you try to dress to project a high or
popular standing. You’ll never match the French anyway—they alone know how to
pull that off.
Don’t
borrow money, and don’t lend it. You’ll end up losing both money and friends in
the process. It’s a sign of poor self management and makes it ever more
difficult to match your means to your needs.
And
finally, decide who you are, where you came from and how you want to live your
life, and never compromise the ideals that you’ve accepted as right and
honourable. Your steadfastness in this will be noticed and rewarded.
Finally, go with my blessing. Know that you always have my goodwill and support."
*****
Here’s the speech as Will Shakespeare wrote it into the mouth of Polonius:
Yet here, Laertes! aboard, aboard, for shame!
The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail,
And you are stay'd for. There; my blessing with thee!
And these few precepts in thy memory
See thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue,
Nor any unproportioned thought his act.
Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.
Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel;
But do not dull thy palm with entertainment
Of each new-hatch'd, unfledged comrade. Beware
Of entrance to a quarrel, but being in,
Bear't that the opposed may beware of thee.
Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice;
Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment.
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy;
For the apparel oft proclaims the man,
And they in France of the best rank and station
Are of a most select and generous chief in that.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine ownself be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell: my blessing season this in thee!