Discussion Question #4

Laertes and Polonius object to Ophelia's relationship with Hamlet because they feel that Hamlet's status as the prince of Denmark is overwhelming for the sake of Ophelia and that she will not feel comfortable to have a relationship with a prince who has just lost a father and also is sort of in a depressive mood throughout the play. The argument that seems most persuasive is the argument about Hamlet's late mood after his father died, and how he has been acting very strange at certain times during the play. Their least fair argument is that she cannot handle to be in a relationship with a prince who has a lot of power. Laertes and Polonius's treatment of Ophelia in act I, scene iii, reveals that they were purposefully trying to split up the relationship that Ophelia was having with Hamlet, by separating them for a while, and taking away his letters that were sent to her. This suggests that their attitude toward Ophelia is one of protectiveness but maybe too protective for her sake, and also they think that they can control women's feelings by persuading them to do this or to do that. Class functions in their arguments by saying that since Hamlet is from a higher class that their argument is true that Ophelia can not handle the higher class that she has been put in by having a relationship with Hamlet.