Laertes, early on, tells Ophelia that she must guard against a relationship with Hamlet. The heart of this warning lies in one sentence: Hamlet “cannot, as worthless people do,/sculpt for himself” (1.3 19-20). Laertes specifically means that Hamlet, as royalty, cannot cut his own flesh. Tips, however, are more involved. Laertes is also saying that Hamlet cannot choose his own wife, he is childish and cannot kill or look after himself. These themes are central to the entire tragedy. The forbidden relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia is complicated, which begs the question of whether Ophelia can ever be Hamlet's wife. From the beginning of the play, Ophelia is warned by Laertes and Polonius to stay away from Hamlet. She agrees, but she really has no choice, so she has to obey. Laertes reminds her that, whatever her feelings towards Hamlet, and whatever he promises her, he is not free to choose his own wife. As royalty, Hamlet is a subject of the king and must marry whoever he is ordered to. It is not clear whether Hamlet could have married Ophelia, until he is ...