AET 364 Chapter Notes - Chapter hamlet act 1 scene 2: Polonius
31 Jul 2021
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
As laertes prepares to head back to france, he and ophelia talk about his trip and promise to write to each other, but laertes quickly steers the conversation to the topic of ophelia and hamlet"s relationship. Showing the concern of a thoughtful older brother, laertes warns ophelia not to take hamlet"s attention too seriously. Laertes tells her that a person of hamlet"s stature does not have the liberty to choose a mate, and reminds ophelia that the welfare of a prince"s country may depend upon that choice. Reciprocating hamlet"s affection, he adds, could damage her reputation. While ophelia promises to take laertes"s counsel to heart, their conversation is interrupted by their father, polonius, who is surprised to find laertes still in residence. Once laertes leaves, polonius echoes much of his warnings about. Hamlet, dismissing ophelia"s claims that hamlet"s expressions of love are sincere.
