The relationship Hamlet has with his parentsis better than Polonius’s relationship with his children though. Polonius actslike he is the boss of Ophelia, while Ophelia feels like she is obligated to submitto her father out of fear.
Polonius uses his daughter as a tool for his own benefitand is more obsessed with his family’s honour than his daughter’s feelings. Inthe first act, Polonius tells Ophelia she cannot get too close to Hamlet, as hedoes not want her to jeopardise their position in the court by her being a helpless’woodcock’ to Hamlet’s allegedly insincere ‘ vows’ (Act 1, Scene 3, ll. 114-116). He orders Ophelia to: Tenderyourself more dearly, Or(not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, Runningit thus) you’ll tender me a fool (Act 1, Scene 3, ll. 107-109).
Thisdemonstrates that Polonius is acting in his own interest and that he is more worriedabout his place in the kingdom than his daughter’s happiness. Ophelia meeklyfollows his orders, saying ‘ I shall obey, my lord’ (Act 1, Scene 3, l. 136).
Thisshows how Polonius forces Ophelia to depend on him and how Ophelia blindlyfollows his commands. Hamlet calls Polonius a ‘ fishmonger’ (Act 2, Scene2, l. 172) when referring to how Polonius controls Ophelia. This was Elizabethan slangfor “ brothel keeper”, and therefore would have been considered a major insultby the original audience. Moreover, this demonstrates that Hamlet is consciousthat Polonius and Ophelia have a bad relationship.
Moreover, Polonius uses hisdaughter to spy on Hamlet’s actions so that he can report back to Claudius. Becauseof her loyalties towards her father Ophelia complies with her father’s wishes. Polonius’sintention is to make himself appear to be a great father, but Ophelia’sdependency on Polonius is what eventually causes her to go mad and commitsuicide after his death. Therefore, this shows that she loved her father, eventhough he treated her so badly, and it also demonstrates how much she dependedon him.
