How Does Hamlet Deceive Ophelia

The conversation between Ophelia and her family in the third scene interrupts the dramatic buildup in achieved within the first act. From the conversation the audience learns that Hamlet and Ophelia are in a relationship and her family does not necessarily approve of the pair. Both Polonius and Laertes warn Ophelia of her the impending end to her relationship and the idea that Hamlet has an ulterior motive is paralleled in both conversations. Early on in the conversation with Laertes when Hamlet is referenced words such as “His greatness weighed” are used to convey that the status of Ophelia’s family is much lower than that of Hamlet’s. This distinction between the levels of the families in Danish society leads to Laertes’s warning that “his will is not his own…And therefore must his choice be circumscribed/ Unto the voice and yielding of that body/ Whereof he is the head.”; meaning that when the time for marriage comes Hamlet will not have a say in who he marries. For those reasons Laertes says that even if Hamlet does truly love Ophelia his love is “not permanent, sweet, not lasting,” and that it will eventually come to an end. He follows to warn Ophelia to preserve her chastity because “The …show more content…
While Laertes believes that Hamlet may actually love Ophelia, Polonius calls her naive for believing “in his tenders”. In this conversation he advises Ophelia to not ruin the reputation of the family and to “Tender yourself more dearly”. His words are reminiscent of a military strategy to maintain her chastity and not fall “for his vows, for they are brokers”. While Laertes did not mention to her that she must cut off ties with Hamlet, Polonius suggests that she should end the relationship. Like any other filial daughter she heeds the words of her brother and father and agrees to cease contacting Hamlet despite her feelings that his love is indeed