Question

read the excerpt from act ii of hamlet. polonius: well be with you, gentlemen! hamlet: hark you, guildenstern; and you too, at each ear a hearer: that great baby you see there is not yet out of his swaddling-clouts. what is the effect of hamlets use of metaphor in this excerpt? the metaphor reveals that hamlet respects polonius. the metaphor shows that hamlet wants poloniuss help. the metaphor portrays polonius as foolish and weak. the metaphor establishes polonius as angry and mean.

Explanation:

A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated but share some common characteristics. In this case, Hamlet refers to Polonius as a "great baby... not yet out of his swaddling - clouts." A baby in swaddling - clouts is typically seen as foolish (unaware of the world, unable to make rational decisions) and weak (dependent, lacking strength). This metaphor is used to describe Polonius, so it portrays him in that light.

Answer:

The metaphor portrays Polonius as foolish and weak.