Hamlet 1.3 | Ophelia Lectured By Laertes & Polonius

Question 1

1.3 “A violet in the youth of primy nature”

Answer 1

‘Violet’ like a beautiful new flower, attractive but superficial. ‘perfume’ - sweet and appealing but impermanent

Question 2

1.3 “your chaste treasure open”

Answer 2

metaphor for Ophelia’s chastity being her main source of worth

Question 3

1.3 “Best safety lies in fear”

Answer 3

Repetition that laertes relationship defined through anxiety and danger

Question 4

1.3 “The canker galls the infants of the spring” / “contagious blasments”

Answer 4

Phallic imagery, sex seen as source of contamination and corruption

Question 5

1.3 “My daughter and your honour”

Answer 5

Polonius presents Ophelia as naive whilst also suggesting that her behaviour may taint his reputation

Question 6

1.3 “You speak like a green girl”

Answer 6

Ophelia presented as naive and inexperienced

Question 7

1.3 “Ay, springes to catch woodcocks’

Answer 7

This metaphor presents Ophelia as naive and easily tricked (like the foolish ‘woodcock’ bird) by hamlets ‘springes’ (traps

Question 8

1.3 “I shall obey, my lord”

Answer 8

Monosyllables of Ophelia’s reply conveys her submission and compliance

Question 9

1.3 “Ophelia is deprived of thought, sexuality and language”

Answer 9

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