Here's why:
* Shrewd: Polonius is a master manipulator, using his wit and cunning to control situations and people. He devises elaborate schemes, like sending his son Laertes to France and spying on Hamlet, to further his own agenda.
* Concerned about outward appearances: Polonius is deeply invested in social status and reputation. He values appearances over substance, often giving empty advice and prioritizing decorum. His famous line, "This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man," is ironic given his own actions.
Other characters like Claudius and Gertrude also exhibit some level of shrewdness and concern for appearances, but Polonius embodies these qualities most explicitly throughout the play.