Question

Hamlet: Am I not i’ the right, old Jephthah?

Polonius: If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter that I love passing well.

In the excerpt, Hamlet calls Polonius Jephthah, after the priest in the Old Testament who sacrifices his daughter to God. What does this allusion suggest about Polonius’s treatment of Ophelia?

1.)Polonius is sacrificing his daughter to trick Hamlet.
2.)Polonius is a better father than Hamlet’s father was.
3.)Polonius is very protective of his innocent daughter.
4.)Polonius is very loyal to the royal family of Denmark.

Answer 1

Ophelia is courted by Hamlet. But Polonius does not believe that Hamlet has sincere desires with Ophelia, because of this he decides to create a plan to test Hamlet's feelings and that plan includes that Ophelia be used as bait.

Hamlet discovers the plan and becomes furious and therefore calls Polonius of Jephthah who was a man who sacrificed his own daughter to God.

Answer 2

Answer: 1) Polonius is sacrificing his daughter to trick Hamlet.

In Act 2, scene 2, Polonius wants to find out whether Hamlet is indeed in love with Ophelia. He decides to use her as bait, and hide, to see Hamlet's reaction to her. However, the plan is discovered by Hamlet, who accuses him of being like Jephthah.

This is a reference to the Bible. Specifically, Judges 11:31. In the story, Jephthah promised to sacrifice whatever first comes out the door when he is back home in exchange for victory in battle. The first person to come out and greet him is his daughter. Hamlet is implying that Polonius is sacrificing Ophelia in the same way.