Hamlet

Act 1, Sc. 3, lines 100-113: What is the tone of his comments to Ophelia?

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 angry and even threatening in these lines. Polonius wants to control his daughter and her romantic relationship with Hamlet comes as a surprise to him. Polonius feels that it is he that is made to looks like a fool when Ophelia has romantic relationships that not have been sanctioned by him. He belittles Ophelia as being a "green" schoolgirl that knows nothing about love and sex.