RALPH: It's unclear what's happening in these initial moments of conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia. Are they getting along, or is it kind of awkward between them?

SARAH: Some critics think Hamlet's use of words like"nymph" and "orisons" is affected, as if he is mocking Ophelia, or keeping distant from her. But when Shakespeare uses these words elsewhere, it's usually in a non-ironic sense. Nymph may simply be a term of endearment.

RALPH: And it seems likely that Hamlet's request is sincere as well — that she remember, or pray for, all of his sins. As we know from the soliloquy he's just delivered, Hamlet's worried about the consequences of his actions, and especially the actions he's planning to carry out soon.

SARAH: Ophelia is certainly asked to remember a lot of things! You recall that Laertes also asked her to remember his words of advice.

RALPH: But when Ophelia asks how he has been "for this many a day", this implies that they haven't seen each for some time. But it may have been just the day before this when Hamlet came to her room, looking like a forlorn lover.

SARAH: Remember that Hamlet has been acting mad for the past several weeks or more; perhaps Ophelia is trying to pretend that that strange speechless encounter in her chambers did not happen.