Ophelia. Act 1. Submissiveness?

Act  1 Scene 3 is the first we scene in which we see Ophelia, and right away her complex and confusing love with Hamlet is condemned by her male “superiors”. While leaving port, her brother cautions her of Hamlet and her premature love.

Laertes: And in the morn and liquid dew of youth,

Contagious blastments are most imminent.

Be wary, then. Best safety lies in fear.

Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.

Ophelia: I shall the effect of this good lesson keep

As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother,

Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,

Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven

Whiles, like a puffed and reckless libertine,

Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads

And recks not his own rede.
 (1.3.45-55)

Laertes is preparing to leave and says his goodbyes to start this scene. He tells Ophelia to write him, and warns her of Hamlet. He says, “Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood” (1.3.7), basically saying that her love for him is simply a short fling, and she should not be so quick to jump the gun on her feelings. He tells her to keep her guard up, and in the exchange above, he tells Ophelia to “Be wary” (1.3.47) (be careful) and to keep her guard up against all, for fear is true protection. Ophelia responds, saying she will “the effect of this good lesson keep” (1.3.49) or hold is words in high regard. She also feels as if he is being somewhat hypocritical, and that “himself the primrose path of dalliance treads- And Recks not his own rede” (1.3.54). She shows that will not give up her love for Hamlet so quickly, and will challenge the words she finds to be wrong, while regarding the truth that those same words have the potential to hold. She isn’t completely submissive to her brother.