1.3 49-56

Why does Opheila tell Laertes to heed his own advice just as he has told her to do?

It seems Ophelia is hinting that Laertes has previously been involved in behavior which counters this advice. She suggests this by saying, "Do not [...] show me the steep and thorny way to heaven, whiles [...] himself the primrose path of dalliance treads"(1.3.49-56). She must live a strict life, while he leads one of self-indulgence. Ophelia has reason for responding to Laertes' advice with skepticism for it seems that he does not follow his own advice. He is about to embark on a journey while she remains at home. There is also a possibility that Ophelia is bombarded with this advice because she is viewed as a delicate woman versus the man Laertes is. Ophelia may be a weak woman who needs the guidance from her more worldly brother. He does not need to heed his own advice because he is a man and will not let his guard down just as Ophelia may with Hamlet. We must applaud Ophelia for pointing out her brother's hypocrisy and address just one of the many injustices between the sexes.