Before leaving Denmark, Laertes advises his sister Ophelia not to take Hamlet's advances too seriously. He accepts that Hamlet may well have feelings for her, but reminds her that, being a prince, Hamlet can't marry whoever he chooses; he has to marry for the good of the state.
Therefore if he says he loves her, he can only speak for Hamlet the person, not Hamlet the future head of state; so she mustn't expect him to marry her as it's not in his power. Therefore it is likely that any offers he makes her will just be sexual ("weigh what loss your honour may sustain...") Her wisest option is to say less than she feels, and not accept any offers he may make.
Tragically, it turns out that Laertes' and Polonius' attempt to protect Ophelia from Hamlet's advances only make matters worse, since judging by later events he probably did want to marry her, and his mother/ stepfather would also have been happy about that.
Therefore if he says he loves her, he can only speak for Hamlet the person, not Hamlet the future head of state; so she mustn't expect him to marry her as it's not in his power. Therefore it is likely that any offers he makes her will just be sexual ("weigh what loss your honour may sustain...") Her wisest option is to say less than she feels, and not accept any offers he may make.
Tragically, it turns out that Laertes' and Polonius' attempt to protect Ophelia from Hamlet's advances only make matters worse, since judging by later events he probably did want to marry her, and his mother/ stepfather would also have been happy about that.
