Hamlet Act 1.3 and 4

Polonius and Laertes both decide to take upon themselves to tell Ophelia, Laertes' sister and Polonius' daughter, that the man that she is in love with, Hamlet, only shows love to her for one thing. One can easily assume what this "one thing" may be. Nevertheless, Polonius and Laertes both understand the true motives of Hamlet and they want to do everything they can to get their young family member away from that man. Not only do they tell her about the danger of Hamlet, but they actually make her not associate herself with him in any way anymore. Laertes was the one who initiated the conversation with Ophelia and he was actually kind, yet he was also extremely up front and to the point with her as well. He told her for what it was, "Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister, and keep you in the rear of your affection, out of the shot and danger of desire" (I.3.33-35). Polonius then came into the room and began to reem out Ophelia for her love for Hamlet. Overall, the main reason that the two men approach Ophelia and warn her of Hamlet is because they know what Hamlet's real motive is, he wishes to have sexual intercourse.

Horatio's fear of Hamlet following the ghost to where it wants to go is that Horatio believes that if Hamlet begins to become attached to the ghost then he will also begin to loose his wits and he will become crazy. Horatio says this when he is speaking to Hamlet: "...which might deprive your sovereignty of reason and draw you into madness..." (I.4.73-74). One cannot fully blame Horatio for having this natural discomfort. Hamlet really should not be following this unknown ghost. One can only wonder if Horatio will be correct about how Hamlet will be affected due to the giving in of the urgent calling by the ghost.