Question

Read the excerpt from Act III of Hamlet.

Polonius:My lord, he’s going to his mother’s closet:
Behind the arras I’ll convey myself
To hear the process; I’ll warrant she’ll tax him home;
And, as you said, and wisely was it said,
’Tis meet that some more audience than a mother,
Since nature makes them partial, should o’er-hear
The speech, of vantage. Fare you well, my liege:
I’ll call upon you ere you go to bed
And tell you what I know.

Polonius’s character is complex in the excerpt because

he represents suspicion.
he is loyal to King Claudius.
he predicts Hamlet’s behavior.
he practices deception.

Answer 1

he practices deception.

He plans to hide “behind the arras” to eavesdrop on Hamlet and Gertrude and intends to report what he hears — a clear example of spying and deceit.