Hamlet 2

Laertes takes after his father in the way he looks after his sister Ophelia. When the audience first meets Ophelia, Laertes is lecturing her about being wary of Hamlet's advances. He warns her to "keep ... in the rear of her affection" and not allow her emotions to overcome her (I.iii.38). He also warns that "his will is not his own" because of his duty to the state, and he therefore cannot be trusted in an intimate relationship (I.iii.20). He acts very patronizing of his sister, while it is clear that his intention is to keep her happy and protected. Their father is the same way. When he enters and gives Laertes his blessing, Polonius lists a myriad of tips that he wants Laertes to remember for his trip, such as "be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar" and "Thou canst not then be false to any man" (I.iii.66, 86). He is very specific in his orders to his grown son, just as Laertes is clear about his instructions to his sister who probably has proficient judgement skills herself. Just like his son, Polonius simply wants to ensure that his loved ones stay safe.

Interestingly, many themes of this dialogue parallel Hamlet's core values. Hamlet holds in high regard the virtue of staying true to oneself, as Polonius advises Laertes as his most important advice. In addition, Laertes warns Ophelia not to allow her emotions to overshadow her logic. Hamlet, another character who is extremely intelligent but in an unstable emotional state, undergoes an analogous internal struggle on the opposite end of the emotional spectrum due to the death of his father.