[pbourke]

I think this view has changed over time. Polonius’ advice was my late father’s favourite passage in Shakespeare. I was surprised, at university for a degree in Literature, to hear that it was thought of as a bunch of passé rambling.

And nowadays I agree 100% with my dad - it’s great advice.

[xhevahir]

Lionel Trilling gives a really good account of this change in Sincerity and Authenticity; near the beginning of the essay he makes special reference to Polonius's speech: http://www3.nccu.edu.tw/~kangchan/translations/Trilling_Sinc...