Hamlet Polonius Quotes

Polonius > Ophelia

Quote 7

POLONIUS
[…]
I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth
Have you so slander any moment leisure
As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet.
Look to 't, I charge you. Come your ways.

OPHELIA
I shall obey, my lord.
(1.3.141-145)

Ophelia isn't actually agreeing here; she's just acknowledging that she has to obey Polonius. Parents in this play (and in powerful families of the Early Modern period) weren't necessarily interested in helping their kids develop to their fullest potential, or whatever the helicopter parenting line is now; they saw their kids as pawns in the game of life.

Polonius

Quote 8

POLONIUS
[…] and there put on him
What forgeries you please—marry, none so rank
As may dishonor him, take heed of that,
But, sir, such wanton, wild and usual slips
As are companions noted and most known
To youth and liberty.
(2.1.21-26)

In a long tradition of helicopter parenting, Polonius spies on his kid while he's away at college. And he's not the only one. Claudius, Hamlet's step-father / uncle, also goes to great lengths to find out what Hamlet's up to and even tries to have him murdered. We know that Hamlet idealizes his own father, but we wonder —if Old Hamlet were still alive, would he be any better than Claudius and Polonius?