Read the passage from Hamlet, Act I, Scene iii.
Polonius: Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not express’d in fancy; rich, not gaudy;
For the apparel oft proclaims the man,
And they in France of the best rank and station
Are most select and generous, chief in that.
Which meaning of habit does Shakespeare use in this passage?
a.addiction
b.attire
c.behavior
d.custom
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is b. attire.
In this passage from Hamlet, Polonius is advising his son, Laertes, about how to conduct himself while in France. The term “habit” in this context refers to the clothing or attire one wears. Shakespeare often uses words with multiple meanings, and in this instance, “habit” signifies outward appearance, specifically the clothes someone chooses to wear. The phrase “costly thy habit as thy purse can buy” suggests that one should dress well according to their means, but without overdoing it or making the clothes overly extravagant (“but not expressed in fancy; rich, not gaudy”).
Polonius is trying to convey that one’s attire can reflect their character and social standing. He emphasizes that in France, the best and most respected individuals dress in a refined and selective manner. The point is that clothing can send a signal about a person’s rank or status. “For the apparel oft proclaims the man” is a famous line from this scene, meaning that the way a person dresses can tell others a lot about who they are, their social position, and their values.
The other options (a. addiction, c. behavior, and d. custom) do not fit the context of the passage. “Habit” as addiction refers to a habitual dependence, which is unrelated to the topic of clothing. “Behavior” and “custom” could be plausible meanings in other contexts, but here they don’t align with the discussion of dress and outward appearance. Therefore, the meaning of “habit” in this passage is best understood as attire, specifically the way in which one dresses, in line with their status and the social expectations of the time.