In Act 3, Scene 3,
bothandgivesome advice about her relationship with . Their advice is not altogether dissimilar,
but Laertes is much more optimistic about 's intentions than Polonius is. First, Laertes tells
her,
For Hamlet, and the trifling of his
favor,
Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood,
A violet in the youth of primy
nature,
Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,
The perfume and suppliance
of a minute,
No more. (3.3.6-11)
In other words,
she should think of Hamlet's feelings for her as a passionate flirtation only. It will be only
temporary and, though sweet, it will last no longer than a minute because it is just a youthful
fling. He further cautions her that "[Hamlet's] will is not his own, / For he himself is
subject to his birth" (3.3.20-21). Laertes means that Hamlet will likely not be able to
choose his marriage partner himself because he is of royal blood; Laertes does not believe that
Hamlet would be allowed to marry Ophelia even if he wanted to.
Polonius is a
little more forward than Laertes, and a little more pessimistic about Hamlet's motives. He,
too, believes that Ophelia needs to forget about Hamlet and move on, but he is less willing to
see Hamlet as another innocent youth caught in the throes of young love and much more inclined
to see him as someone out to get Ophelia into bed. He says,
In few, Ophelia,
Do not believe his vows, for they are brokers,
Not
of that dye which their investments show,
But mere implorators of unholy
suits,
Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds
The better to beguile.
(3.3.135-140)
Polonius advises her to remember that
Hamlet enjoys a great deal more freedom than she does. (Subtext: Hamlet is a young man with
royal blood and sleeping with someone will have no effect on his reputation or marriage
prospects.) He cautions her against believing Hamlet's vows of love (even if they seem
honorable) because his intentions only seem pure when they are really
lustful.
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