At the beginning of the scene, Laertes is about to leave for France. He bids farewell to Ophelia, and warns her about Hamlet's intentions with her. Laertes does not believe that Hamlet takes his relationship with Ophelia in a serious manner. Ophelia was uncomfortable speaking with Laertes about the details of their relationship; however, she told Laertes that Hamlet had written her letters of his love. He brings to Ophelia's attention that he has to marry someone that will assist him in advancing politically. Polonius joined in on Laertes' opinion of Hamlet, stating that he also believed that he does not take his relationship with Ophelia serioiusly. He then forbids Ophelia to see Hamlet; and she promises that she will obey his request. Polonius bids farewell to Ophelia.
Do you think that Ophelia will obey her father, or go against his word and continue to see Hamlet?
Contrary to what Polonius states about Hamlet's intentions with Ophelia, do you think he would want his daughter to marry royalty?
Thanks, Mia and Madison for a very concise overview of what we read today. It's difficult to know exactly what Ophelia feels, but I would assume it is awkward to have her brother and father so minutely inlvoved in her personal life.
ReplyDeleteI really like the way you ask questions about what might be coming in the near future and about what might be motivating Polonius.
I think that anyone in the kingdom would know that Ophelia is too far beneath Hamlet's social station for a marriage to even be possible.
Some editors have suggested that Polonius (as the etymology of his name suggests) may be a retired general. The implication then would be that he wasn't necessarily a man of wealth, but had, perhaps, arrived at his station by climbing through the ranks of the military.
I think that Ophelia would disobey her father because she believed every thing that Hamlet wrote on the letters he sent her.I think that she is in love with Hamlet by the way she argues with her father about the letters he sent her. There fore she will pretend to listen to her father, but at the same time disobey her father. I would think that he would want her to marry royalty because they were rich and could do what ever they want. And also to try to stop the war between Denmark and Norway since the two country are fighting to own the land that Denmark owned.
ReplyDeleteI believe Ophelia will disobey her father because every person likes the idea of being a "rebel" or a bad *** (being PG due to the "class" setting). I mean I'm almost 100% positive that everyone at some point in time in their lives has had their parents say "don't do this" and you end up doing it anyways.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I would think that he would want his daughter to marry royalty because as J Fong metioned royalty = wealth. The family's social status would go up so to speak if Ophelia was married to a prince. But I would kind of assume that Polonius being a father would want his daughter to be happy as well because thats what a good parent would want. So if Ophelia marrying royalty made her happy I think he would embrace it.
I think we all might like to think that, as a good parent, Polonius might take Ophelia's happiness into account. And yet, remember Juliet and her father's insistence that she marry Paris? Remember how quickly he loses patience with her and tells her to "beg, hang or starve in the streets?"
ReplyDeleteChildren were expected to subordinate their happiness for the good of the family, especially daughters. Polonius advises her in economic terms, telling Ophelia to make herself scarce so that Hamlet has to "pay more" to have a relationship with her.
I think you both likely are right, Polonius thinks Hamlet would never marry Ophelia if he can enjoy her attentions for the price of a few letters. He may want Hamlet to make the ultimate commitment--marriage.