I think that when Ophelia said the "tis' locked in my memory you yourself have the key to it" she is referring to what leartes said her about staying away from Hamlet.She is not referring to the key to her chaste treasure. As leartes commands her not to love Hamlet she says that I will remember it and it is locked in my memory and only who have the key to that *memory* not the *chaste treasure*. And I think that is the thing that is making confusion.
@@xhebax9004 and Farzan Butt, I agree with both of you. In order not to digress from the point it is sometimes not possible to give every detail; especially when the subject matter has many unspoken references it is up to the reader to think deeply as they consider the conversation, relations, or events.
It's a little weird to say "And you yourself shall keep the key of it." if she is talking about his advice than what does it mean to keep the key? would he unlock it someday and then she can ignore the advice and open the chest ?? seems pointless to me.
i agree, it also helps with showing the representation of the patriarchal society as the second learns leaves polonius asks her what they were discussing and due t the power imbalance and aphelia's submissiveness she immediately tells him.
These videos are helping so much!!! Please post more!!! because we are studying the play right now in class and I need these videos to help me understand the play better. Thanks!
I really appreciate this type of content. Your videos are incredibly helpful and even entertaining considering this, topic, please keep the videos coming.
I was going over this scene with my class and your interpretation caused a very interesting discussion between us. The double meaning in "you yourself shall keep the key of it" refers to her viriginity and chastity. Laertes is telling Ophelia to guard her virginity. In that time you had a term called a "chastity belt" which literally had a key. As Ophelia's brother, Laertes feels responsible for guarding (keeping the key) to her virginity. A father would also feel like he is responsible for guarding the virginity of his daughter (quite literally) because they both want to protect her reputation and marriage prospects. I think that the practice of men guarding women's virginity as a cultural practice can be construed as peverse and somewhat incestuous and that's probably where he was going with it. Like he says in the video - there's no right answer and that is his pleading interpretation. But textually - I feel like Dave is reaching. l she is telling him really that he should keep his 'chaste treasure' so that she does not perceive him as a hypocrite. If he is telling her about the importance of being chaste but then he himself goes off and engages in promiscuous behaviour that would ruin his repuation and their family name - that would make him a hypocrite. That's what I think.
Great sir, but it would be good if you had explained leartes speech. I have difficulty in understanding meaning what should i do i read 1 page in 2 hours 😭.
I liked the part when you showed both sides of the argument for Ophelia's character, but you didn't offer a counterargument about Ophelia and Laertes's possible incestuous relationship.
hmmm.. i really dont feel like it has anything to do with incest... I think she was just being polite or obedient by saying that he will have the key as the "permission" , only he can give her the pass to lose her virginity, not that her virginity is kept safe for him I think he was being overprotective of what kind of man his sister should end up with.
