History Fridge / Hamlet

* At first glance, Polonius may seem like a jerk in immediately assuming that Hamlet (whom, presumably, he's known all his life) is only toying with Ophelia's affections and that his vows of love are insincere. But consider the marriage customs of the time--the suitor usually asked the maiden's father for her hand in marriage. Polonius probably thought that if Hamlet's intentions were sincere and he did intend to marry Ophelia, he'd have spoken to Polonius about it long before this. (Besides, as Laertes points out, Hamlet, being a royal, isn't free to MarryForLove, and Polonius knew that as well.) With all this in mind, it doesn't seem too unreasonable that Polonius would have advised Ophelia to back away from Hamlet until he made such a formal offer. This makes him come off in a much better light--not wanting Ophelia's reputation to be trashed or her heart to be broken over a love affair with no future in it.

* At first glance, Polonius may seem like a jerk in immediately assuming that Hamlet (whom, presumably, he's known all his life) is only toying with Ophelia's affections and that his vows of love are insincere. But consider the marriage customs of the time--the suitor usually asked the maiden's father for her hand in marriage. Polonius probably thought that if Hamlet's intentions were sincere and he did intend to marry Ophelia (and keep in mind, as Laertes pointed out, Hamlet isn't free to marry for love, and Polonius knew that as well), he'd have spoken to Polonius about it long before this. With all this in mind, it doesn't seem too unreasonable that Polonius would have advised Ophelia to back away from Hamlet until he made such a formal offer. This makes him come off in a much better light--not wanting Ophelia's reputation to be trashed or her heart to be broken over a love affair with no future in it.