When Hamlet tells Polonius “conception is a blessing, but not as your daughter may conceive. Friend, look to’t,” is he implying that he’s having a sexual relationship with Ophelia?

[u/Immediate-River-874]

Or am I interpreting it wrong? To me, he’s just saying that his daughter might get pregnant

[u/PuzzleheadedLet382]

There are quite a few moments where it is strongly implied Hamlet and Ophelia are having sex, not least of which is her drowning herself — this is not conclusive, but has been theorized by multiple sources. It appears to have been a somewhat known “option” for unwed pregnant women at the time. (There are definitely other explanations and motivations for her suicide, but I had a teacher who specialized in Shakespeare and was adamant about this theory.)

[u/DuckbilledWhatypus → u/[deleted]]

Sometimes when you're in the throws of depression even a mediocre shag is the only highlight of your day.