Hamlet, William Shakespeare, pg. 87, 95
Laertes:
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
Polonius:
Marry, I will teach you. Think 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.
Both Polonius and Laertes are giving Ophelia (daughter and sister respectively) the same advice to beware of Hamlet but both approach it so differently. Laertes is the first to speak to Ophelia and he advises his sister to beware of Hamlet's attentions. Laertes presents his advice in a very loving way. He does not want to see his sister hurt or shamed. In contrast when her father Polonius gives her the same advice he does so in a very insulting manner by calling her a "baby" and a "green girl" and implying that she is as stupid as a "woodcock."
In the particular passage that I have chosen for Polonius he uses the word tender in three different ways. The first tender is referring to Hamlet's affections but he uses the word to refer to a form of payment. His second use of the word tender is meant to refer to her taking care of herself, and Polonius does not think she has been careful enough. His last use of the word tender is perhaps the most hurtful of all. In the last line tender means to make and it can be read three different ways. One, if Ophelia continues in her reckless manner she will make herself into a fool; two, she will make her father into a fool; and/or three, she will give her father a grandchild and shame them all with her indecent behavior. So although both Laertes and Polonius are giving Ophelia the same advice Laertes does so in a very caring and concerned (concern for his sister, not himself or their father) way whereas Polonius has a very curt and scolding approach.
Laertes:
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
Polonius:
Marry, I will teach you. Think 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.
Both Polonius and Laertes are giving Ophelia (daughter and sister respectively) the same advice to beware of Hamlet but both approach it so differently. Laertes is the first to speak to Ophelia and he advises his sister to beware of Hamlet's attentions. Laertes presents his advice in a very loving way. He does not want to see his sister hurt or shamed. In contrast when her father Polonius gives her the same advice he does so in a very insulting manner by calling her a "baby" and a "green girl" and implying that she is as stupid as a "woodcock."
In the particular passage that I have chosen for Polonius he uses the word tender in three different ways. The first tender is referring to Hamlet's affections but he uses the word to refer to a form of payment. His second use of the word tender is meant to refer to her taking care of herself, and Polonius does not think she has been careful enough. His last use of the word tender is perhaps the most hurtful of all. In the last line tender means to make and it can be read three different ways. One, if Ophelia continues in her reckless manner she will make herself into a fool; two, she will make her father into a fool; and/or three, she will give her father a grandchild and shame them all with her indecent behavior. So although both Laertes and Polonius are giving Ophelia the same advice Laertes does so in a very caring and concerned (concern for his sister, not himself or their father) way whereas Polonius has a very curt and scolding approach.
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