Ears and Trust
...128). The ear is the instrument that allowed the double betrayal. After Claudius and Polonius listened, concealed, to Hamlet’s “get thee to a nunnery” scene with Ophelia, Polonius says, “You need not tell us what Lord Hamlet said;/ We heard it all” (III.i.178-179). This betrayal is similar to the one just discussed, and while there is no use of the word “ear,” ear imagery is evoked with the use of “heard.” Later in the same speech, when Polonius is suggesting a similar scheme to find out what Hamlet says to Gertrude, he says “I’ll be placed, so please you, in the ear/ Of all their conference” (III.ii.183-184). He is talking about hiding behind the tapestry where he is later killed. His betrayal of Hamlet’s privacy is described with an ear image, this time that he will be in earshot of the conversation, but there is also a continuing image--especially with Polonius--that the ear is the tool for a certain kind of betrayal. It is interesting that Polonius’ death was caused by the fact that Hamlet was alerted to his presence by hearing him cry out. This character that was consistently untrustworthy and often using ear images was killed because of an act of betrayal and a noise he made. The ghost of King Hamlet uses the word “ear” three times. The first time the he says it is when he is talking about all the horrors of the afterlife that he cannot describe: “this eternal blazon must not be/ To ears of flesh and blood” (I.v.21-22). The ghost cannot tell Hamlet about the afterlife because it is forbidden. This does not have anything to do with mistrust directly--unless the idea is that mortals cannot be trusted with the information--but it shows that the ghost is following the rules, that he can be trusted, unlike so many other characters in the play. When the ghost tells Hamlet that the story about the cause of his death is false, he uses the word “ear” a second time. He says, “the whole ear of Denmark/ Is by a forgèd process of my death/ Rankly abused” (I.v.36-38). The ear is the means by which the untruth about King Hamlet’s death is spread. The last time that the ghost says “ear” is when he describes the actual method Claudius used to kill him. He says to Hamlet, “thy uncle . . . in the porches of mine ears did pour/ The leperous distilment” (I.v.61-64). This is important because this action by Claudius is what sets the entire play in motion. After the ghost tells him this, Hamlet’s main conflict has to do with whether he should revenge this action or not. This betrayal is the most offensive to Hamlet and is the one that chronologically happens first in the world of the play. The act of pouring something toxic into the ear is a physical version of telling someone something that is false, and that happens many times throughout the play. This is the most important mention of ears, and recognizing it tells the reader what to think about other uses of the word. The basic reason for the presence of Rosencrantz and Gildenstern in the play is for them to betray Hamlet. They are invited to Elsinore by the king and queen to find out what is the matter with Hamlet, and they carry the order that he is to be killed. They are, for the most part, pawns and do not do a lot of betraying of their own choice; but at the very least, they are instruments of betrayal. As such, it is not surprising that the ear image is used in reference to them more than once. When they first appear and Claudius is telling them about Hamlet’s madness, he says, “Something have you heard/ Of Hamlet’s transformation” (II.ii.4-5). This hearing image is not used in reference to Rosencrantz and Gildenstern, but it is King Claudius talking to them and he is about to ask them to spy on Hamlet. In the letter that he has the sailors send to Horatio, Hamlet says, “I have words to speak in thine ear will make thee dumb” (IV.vi.21). Here the ear image is used in reference to Rosencrantz and Gildenstern, specifically referring to the news that they were carrying the order to kill Hamlet. In the last scene, the English ambassador says, “The ears are senseless that should give us hearing/ To tell him his commandment is fulfilled” (V.ii.313-314). This is the last use of the word in the pl...