Laertes advises Ophelia to treat Hamlet’s love as a “trifling of his favour,” and a “fashion and a toy”. He says that Hamlet’s affections are “sweet, not lasting.” It is unequivocally clear that Ophelia’s brother believes Hamlet is only physically attracted to her, and that any relationship could not seriously last. Laertes points out that “Perhaps” Hamlet loves Ophelia now, but “his will is not his own” and “he himself is subject to his birth”. He reminds Ophelia that Hamlet is a Prince, and that he may be forced to choose a wife who has royal blood, regardless of whom he might actually love. Therefore Ophelia could not become Hamlet’s wife. In addition, Laertes suggests that his sister should remain “chaste” as she would lose her honour if she lost her virginity to Hamlet before marriage, and she

Henceforth, the advice has great effect on the young character, as we see in the next Act. Wishing to please her father and respect his advice, she thus keeps her distance from her admirer. This is profound; it shows women’s tendencies to think of themselves as a lower status than men during that era. While Polonius and Laertes seem to have a relatively normal father-son relationship, their relationships with Ophelia seem somewhat troubling. They each assume a position of unquestioned authority over her, Polonius treating his daughter as though her feelings are irrelevant with “Affection! pooh! you speak like a

would become worthless. In fact, Laertes believes Ophelia should “fear it”; fear Hamlet, as she is “in the morn and liquid dew of youth”, and henceforth more easily corrupted. Ophe!

It is quite possible that Laertes has a variety of his own reasons for warning his sister away. Laertes is probably very sincere, as he wishes only the best for his sister. It is possible that he is bothered by Hamlet's recent behavior. Hamlet has been dressing only in black, and he has been mourning his dead father. It is also possible that Laertes is worried because he knows that Hamlet is not going back to college and therefore will have more free time. Perhaps Laertes knows something about Hamlet's reputation. Whatever his reasons, Laertes does not want Ophelia's buttons to be disclosed. Modestly, she covers them up. Ophelia answers that she will “the effect of this good lesson keep.” Yet she turns the tables on her brother, and says that she hopes that he is taking his own advice. She hopes that Laertes is not engaged in some “dalliance” himself She is worried that Laertes is going to “reck” his own “rede.”

lia’s brother tells her that even “The chariest maid is prodigal enough if she unmask her beauty to the moon.” Effectively, Ophelia could be the purest girl on earth, but if she allowed somebody to share her body before marriage, this would be enough to destroy her purity forever. Finally, Laertes shares with Ophelia his belief that “You

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