'In 'Hamlet', Shakespeare uses comedy to make serious points.' Discuss.

Although 'Hamlet' is generally regarded as a revenge tragedy, Shakespeare integrates comic elements throughout, to make serious points. His character of Polonius serves a notably comic function as well as, arguable, the role of madness in the play. Overall, the statement does seem to present a compelling view.Shakespeare's Polonius is widely perceived as a comic figure, who exists only as a fool. This dramatic function was emphasised during the 18th and 19th centuries, in which many of his wiser lines were cut, including when he advises Laertes "to thine own self be true". This reduces the character of Polonius to one who serves a purely comedic function: a "tedious old fool" who does not have the capacity to make any serious points. In 1765, Dr Johnson suggested that he had "dotage encroaching upon wisdom" which implies that he was too old and foolish to be truly regarded as wise. However, over time, this reading seems to have changed as 20th century critics brought increasing emphasis to his morality. In 1962, Walter called him "a cold-hearted devil". This interpretation could be supported by his role as a spy, first on Hamlet and Ophelia, and then on Gertrude and Hamlet. In fact, he is the one who suggests "[loosing] his daughter to Hamlet". The feminist critic, Rebecca Smith, suggested in 1983 that "he trained his daughter to be obedient and chaste and is able to use her as a piece of bait for spying." The fact that he involves his daughter in his own immoral undertakings further supports Walter's claim. Modern productions have explored Polonius' repressive control over Ophelia extensively, while retaining his comedic function. In 1980, Tony Church's Polonius delivered his speeches twice as fast as the normal speaking rate like "an eccentric university lecturer" (according to Church himself). This would have emphasised his comedic function. However, in her madness, Ophelia wore Church's Polonius robes which emphasised the control that he had over her, even after his death. Overall, the character of Polonius does serve a comedic function, as the fool, however , through his actions, Shakespeare also makes a serious point about his immorality, and his treatment of women. Ultimately, it is his immoral act of spying that gets him killed, thus Shakespeare is suggesting that comedic characters should not be undermined.