Act I, Scene-III Detailed Summary of Hamlet: "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare
This is a room in the house of Polonius, in Elsinore. Here Ophelia and Laertes are having a conversation while Laertes is telling her that Hamlet is in love with her; however, she must not only rely upon Hamlet's will because his high stature puts him in a different position altogether:
"His greatness weigh'd, his will is not his own;
For he himself is subject to his birth."
Laertes advises Ophelia to be careful while in love Hamlet because he is the state in himself and she must preserve her chastity:
Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister,
And keep you in the rear of your affection,
Out of the shot and danger of desire.
Ophelia says to her brother that he must not show her the tortuous and thorny path to heaven though she will act upon his advice:
"'Tis in my memory lock'd,
And you yourself shall keep the key of it."
Polonius enters the room and asks Laertes to hurry for his journey. He advises his son with worldly wisdom and bids him farewell. While Leaving, Laertes reminds Ophelia to remember what he advised her. Polonius inquires her and she tells about Hamlet:
" He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders
Of his affection to me."
Polonius does not like it and asks her to avoid the trifles of Hamlet while she advocates Hamlet:
"My lord, he hath importun'd me with love
In honourable fashion."
she says that Hamlet has taken solemnly vows but Polonius is a wise man. He advises his daughter to stay away from Hamlet and don't trust his words because :
"I do know,
When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul
Lends the tongue vows."
Here Ophelia promises to "obey" her father.
