Hamlet

Act 1, Sc. 3, lines 100-113: How does this passage lend to the developing view of Polonius?

Ophelia: "He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders Of his affection to me."

Polonius: "Affection, puh! You speak like a green girl Unsifted in such perilous circumstance. Do you believe his 'tenders,' as you call them?"

Ophelia: "I do not know, my lord, what I should think."

Polonius: "Marry, I will teach teach you. Think of yourself a baby That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay, Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly, Or (not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, Running it thus) you'll tender me a fool."

Ophelia: "My lord, he hath importuned me with love In honorable fashion--"

Polonius: "Ay, 'fashion' you may call it. Go to, go to!"

Polonius: "Affection, puh! You speak like a green girl Unsifted in such perilous circumstance. Do you believe his 'tenders,' as you call them?"

Ophelia: "I do not know, my lord, what I should think."

Polonius: "Marry, I will teach teach you. Think of yourself a baby That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay, Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly, Or (not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, Running it thus) you'll tender me a fool."

Ophelia: "My lord, he hath importuned me with love In honorable fashion--"

Polonius: "Ay, 'fashion' you may call it. Go to, go to!"

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Polonius is a contriving and controlling old man. Ophelia is his property and he wants to control her future: this includes her romantic life. He is more concerned with his reputation than Ophelia's happiness.