Thursday, February 2, 2012

Hamlet Act 1 Scene 3

1) What is Laertes advice to Ophelia?

Laertes doesn't believe that Hamlet is being honest about his feelings for Ophelia so he warns her and tells her to be careful. Hamlet is the prince and has a duty to put the people before himself - he doesn't have control over who he can love or marry. 


2) How does “The canker galls the infants of the spring/ too oft before their buttons be disclos’d” fit into the ideology of the decaying garden?

The sentence means that worms ruin flowers before they bloom; the worm meaning Hamlet and the flower meaning Ophelia. If the 'worm' were to ruin the 'flower', Laertes meaning that Hamlet would take Ophelia's virginity, she would end up either at a horehouse or a nunnery. The garden alludes to the the Garden of Eden. 


3) What analogy does Ophelia give to her brother as an answer to his advice? What does she mean?


"But, good my brother, do not, 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." (47-51) 

Ophelia thinks it's funny that her brother is giving her advice - she tells him to stop being a hypocrite and to take some of his own advice. Laertes earlier asked to go to France, and she hints here, at knowing the reason why.

4) List five of the “few precepts” that Polonius gives to Laertes.

Don’t say what you’re thinking, and don’t be too quick to act on what you think. 
Be friendly to people but don’t overdo it.
If you find good and trustworthy friends, keep them - but don't waste you're time shaking other mans hands you meet. 
Don't be quick to pick a fight, but if you do, you're in it so hold your own and fight. 
Listen to people, but talk to few - hear people's opinion but hold your own judgement. 
Spend as much money as you can on clothes, but buy for their quality, not there flashiness. 
Don't borrow money and don't lend it. 
BE TRUE TO YOURSELF. 


5) In lines 105-109, what is the metaphor that Polonius uses to describe Hamlet’s words of love?

Polonius, Ophelia's father is being protective of his daughter and is saying that Hamlet's words are 'tenders' or coins but that they are not sterling silver. He's comparing the fake coins to the fake love Hamlet has for Ophelia. 


6) List and explain one metaphor found in the lines 115-135.


"When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul lends the tongue vows. These blazes, daughter, giving more light than heat, extinct in both, even in their promise as it is a-making."

Polonius is trying to tell his daughter that Hamlet is more after her body than anything. The 'blood' is his sexual desire for her that will allow him to say anything to fulfill it. Polonius says that when a hearts on fire it gives out more light than heat, and the heat for Ophelia will be out before he finishes making his promises to her. 



7) What is Polonius’ command to Ophelia?

To stop seeing Hamlet. 

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