The chariest maid is prodigal enough / If she unmask her beauty to the moon.
Act I, Scene 3 · Laertes
Context
Laertes tells Ophelia that even the most modest young woman risks her reputation simply by being seen or showing herself, emphasizing the danger of any romantic exposure.
Analysis
The hyperbole 'even to the moon' makes privacy impossible—if revealing oneself to an inanimate celestial body counts as 'prodigal,' then there is literally no safe audience. This extreme standard doesn't protect Ophelia; it traps her, because no amount of caution will ever be 'chary' enough. The logic is circular and controlling.
Essay Tip
Use this to argue that the play's male characters don't guide Ophelia—they immobilize her. Laertes sets a standard of chastity so extreme that any action becomes a violation, which helps explain her later passivity: she's been taught that doing nothing is the only safe choice.