Act 1 Scene 3 Flashcards
Ophelia, Laertes and Polonius
What does Laertes say about Hamlet and his options in life/ in women?
“His greatness weighed, his will is not his own, for he himself is subject to his birth.” - Hamlet can’t choose for himself as the Prince of Denmark.
What does Laertes say Hamlet’s choice for a wife depends on?
“He may not, as unvalued persons do, carve for himself, for on his choice depends the safety and health of this whole state” - his choice depends on the safety and health of the country in mind.
How does Laertes diminish Ophelia’s intelligence?
“It fits your wisdom to believe it”
What does Laertes actually care about when it comes to her relationship with Hamlet?
“Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain” - it’s all about reputation.
What does Laertes warn her about doing?
“If with too credent ear you list his songs, or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open to his unmastered importunity. Fear it Ophelia” - letting him seduce her and her giving in and sleeping with him.
What does Laertes recommend she should do?
“Keep you in the rear of your affection, out of the shot and danger of desire.” - Warns her to not let him pay attention to her. A military metaphor to tell her to stay away from the frontline of battle.
What does Laertes believe is part of the reason she should keep WELL clear of Hamlet despite whatever good intentions she may have?
“Virtue itself ‘scapes not calumnious strokes.” - even good intentions do not escape slander and gossip.
How does Laertes use the metaphor of disease?
“The canker galls the infants of the spring too oft before their buttons be disclosed” - the disease (of roses) poisons the rose too soon. Rose = Ophelia Disease = Hamlet.
“Contagious blastments are most imminent” - attacks of blight (a disease) are doomed to spread.
How does Ophelia respond to Laertes’ recommendations?
“I shall the effect of this good lesson keep as watchman to my heart. But good my brother, do not do as some ungracious pastors do, show me the steep and thorny way to heaven, whiles like a puffed and reckless libertine himself the primrose path of dalliance treads, and recks not his own rede”
What are some of Polonius’ pieces of advice for Laertes before he leaves for Paris?
“Give thy thoughts no tongue”
“Be thou familiar but by no means vulgar”
“Giver every man thy ear, but few thy voice”
“This above all, to thine own self be true”
What is the last thing Laertes says to Ophelia before he leaves and how does she respond?
“Farewell Ophelia, and remember well what I have said to you.”
“Tis in my memory locked, and you yourself shall keep the key of it.”
How does Ophelia immediately go against what she has promised to Laertes?
She tells her father that Laertes said “something touching the Lord Hamlet”
What does Ophelia say, to her father is the problem with Hamlet?
“He hath my lord of late made many tenders of his affection to me”
What is Polonius’ response to Ophelia saying she thinks Hamlet has feelings for her?
“Affection? Pooh, you speak like a green girl” - immature/naive.
What shows that Ophelia isn’t as bold with her father as she is with telling Laertes what she thinks?
“I do not know my lord what I should think”
What is Polonius’ solution to Ophelia’s problem?
“Tender yourself more dearly or… you’ll tender me a fool”
How does Ophelia defend Hamlet?
“My lord he hath importuned me with love in honourable fashion”
What does Polonius think Hamlet is trying to do?
“Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, when the blood burns, how prodigal the soul lends the tongue vows.” - he thinks Hamlet is trying to entrap Ophelia because men will say anything in order to have sex. he says this because he speaks from experience.
What does Polonius warn about any promises that Hamlet might make to Ophelia?
“Giving more light than heat, extinct in both, even in their promise… you must not take it for fire.” - Although Hamlet may say things and he may act a certain affectionate way towards her, she cannot take it as genuine.
What does Polonius reiterate is what Ophelia should do?
“Set your entreatments at a higher rate” - play hard to get.
What is the final command Polonius gives to Ophelia?
“I would not in plain terms from this time forth have you so slander any moment leisure as to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet” - he doesn’t want her seeing or talking to Hamlet anymore
How does Ophelia respond to the last command from her father to not speak or see Hamlet again?
“I shall obey, my lord” - no hesitation or protest.
