HAMLET Act 1 Scene 3 Flashcards

Created by

@RelaxedCherryTree

Study Notes

Summary of Act 1, Scene 3

Laertes advises Ophelia against getting involved with Hamlet, warning that Hamlet’s affections are unreliable due to his royal obligations and potential to marry for state stability.
Ophelia responds with a sense of independence but promises to heed her brother's advice.
Polonius enters, chastising Laertes for his tardiness and providing lengthy, prescriptive advice about social conduct and integrity, emphasizing self-honesty as crucial.
Upon Laertes's departure, Polonius inquires about Ophelia’s conversation with her brother and learns of Hamlet's declarations of love.
Polonius dismisses Hamlet's intentions as insincere, considering them a mere pursuit of physical intimacy, and commands Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet, which she vows to do.

Attitudes Toward Women

Laertes’s concern for Ophelia's reputation mirrors Hamlet’s worries about Gertrude’s fidelity, highlighting a thematic connection regarding female honor and sexuality.
The exchange illustrates unequal gender roles; Ophelia is expected to comply with Laertes's warnings, reflecting societal expectations of female submissiveness.

Laertes's Authority

Laertes employs metaphors such as "fashion," "toy in blood," and "violet" to depict love as fleeting, attempting to assert a moral and intellectual superiority over Ophelia akin to Polonius's approach.
His perception reveals a transactional view of relationships, implying female purity as valuable and male desire as opportunistic.

Warning Imagery

Laertes warns Ophelia against losing her virginity to Hamlet using conquest-based imagery, suggesting she is a prize in a male-driven game.
His metaphors of disease and decay foreshadow the destructive consequences of sexual intimacy, implying damage to her innocence and future stability.

Polonius’s Double Standards

Polonius treats Laertes with advice while issuing commands to Ophelia, reinforcing a power imbalance where women are expected to obey male authority.
This dynamic exemplifies societal norms around gender and highlights Polonius's authoritative disposition when addressing Ophelia.

Parental Dynamics

The relationship between Ophelia and Polonius reflects wider themes of subservience across gender and generational lines, as both Ophelia and Hamlet comply with parental authority.
The dynamics emphasize the natural loyalty to family combined with societal expectations of behavior.

Objectification of Ophelia

Polonius's language toward Ophelia is transactional, reducing her worth to her virginity and chastity, illustrating a dehumanizing view similar to commercial transactions.
His phrase usage indicates a prioritization of his honor over Ophelia's agency, revealing the societal commodification of women and their sexuality.

Description

Explore key events and characters in Act 1, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Hamlet. This quiz covers Laertes' warnings to Ophelia and Polonius' advice, highlighting the complex family dynamics and themes of love and duty. Test your understanding of this pivotal scene.