Question

In lines 126–7 of act 1, scene 3, Polonius reminds Ophelia that: "With a larger tether may [Hamlet] walk / than may be given you." What are two possible explanations for why Hamlet has a "larger tether"–more freedom and leeway–than Ophelia has?

Answer 1

Polonius suggests Hamlet has more liberty than Ophelia because of gender roles and social status in Elizabethan society; men had greater freedoms and nobility was allowed more leeway.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 3, when Polonius says to Ophelia, "With a larger tether may [Hamlet] walk than may be given you," he implies that Hamlet has more freedom than Ophelia due to two main reasons:

1. Gender roles: Hamlet, as a man, inherently has more freedom and societal privileges in the context of Elizabethan society, where women had limited roles and were expected to obey the male figures in their lives.
2. Social status: As a prince, Hamlet's noble position allows him a greater range of behavior, which would be deemed unacceptable for someone of a lower status like Ophelia.