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All Site ContentHamletAct 1Scene 3
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"tender"
Wordplay
Act 1,
Scene 3
Lines 101-109

An explanation of the wordplay on “tender” in Act 1, Scene 3 of myShakespeare’s Hamlet.

Polonius 

Affection? Pooh! You speak like a green girl
Unsifted in such perilous circumstance.
Do you believe his ‘tenders’, as you call them?

Ophelia

I do not know, my lord, what I should think.

Polonius 

Marry, I'll teach you. Think yourself a baby
That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay
Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly,
Or — not to crack the wind of the poor phrase
Running it thus — you'll tender me a fool. 

The word tender has several meanings, providing ample opportunity for wordplay in this passage:

To present or offer something

  • Hamlet offers his love
  • Ophelia’s behavior presents Polonius as a fool
  • Polonius orders Ophelia to offer her company at a higher price

Legal contract or currency

  • Marriage contract (what Polonius wants)
  • Legal money; e.g. the pound sterling used in Great Britain

Loving and gentle

  • According to Polonius, Ophelia should treat herself more tenderly by withholding her attention from Hamlet