ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -’Neither a borrower nor a lender be’ is a line from Act 1 Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. It is spoken in a speech by Polonius, King Claudius’ chief minister.

Detailed explanation-2: -’Neither a borrower nor a lender be’ is a line uttered by Polonius, a councillor to the King, Claudius, in Act 1 Scene 3 of the play. He is bidding farewell to his son, Laertes, who is leaving Denmark for France.

Detailed explanation-3: -Polonius, within these lines, is suggesting that his son should be like him and not “borrow” or lend money because: loan oft loses both itself and friend, and borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.

Detailed explanation-4: -Neither a borrower, nor a lender be. For loan oft loses both itself and friend. And borrower dulls the edge of husbandry.” This portion from William Shakespeare’s ‘Polonius advises Laertes’ is relevant even today. It is a piece of advice to people who often borrow money and forget to pay.

Detailed explanation-5: -In this line from Hamlet, Polonius gives his son Laertes advice on managing money. He starts off by telling him never to lend or borrow money from friends. You will often end up losing the money and the friend in doing so.