Question: Polonius tells Ophelia to be wary of Hamlet and his motives in flirting with her. How does he justify his cautionary words? From what we know about Hamlet, could his behavior be cause by more than just him being "young" (1.3.133)?
Initially I felt that Hamlet's contemplative nature seen in his first soliloquy was the cause of his unclear behavior towards Ophelia. However, after reading the peer responses, I also realized how lust could be one of the primary forces driving Hamlet's lack of commitment to Ophelia and that it was naïve to think of Hamlet as so thoughtful that he is beyond teenage-boy lust.
I also thought that it was interesting that Hamlet submits silently to King Claudius' wishes, yet his thoughts are so much deeper than the surface-level obedience he shows the king. This was reminiscent of when the Vet in Invisible Man advises the IM to "play the game" (168), but not believe in it. Hamlet shows strength that the IM lacked in that he is able to say yes to the King while internally questioning his motives.
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2 comments:
Ella - I completely agree with you about lust being a factor in Hamlet's demonstrated "affection" towards Ophelia. I would like to pose a few questions: do you think Hamlet's status as potential ruler of the kingdom allows him certain privileges in his behavior toward women such as Ophelia? And, does his position force him to consider the potential consequences of his behavior in a different light than the average member of society?
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