What news does Ophelia bring Polonius? How does Polonius misinterpret it, and how does this work to Hamlet’s advantage?

Ophelia tells Polonius that Hamlet burst into her room and started acting crazy. This is a very interesting piece of information for Polonius, as it confirms his suspicions that Hamlet's stark staring mad. What's more, Polonius now thinks he has a neat explanation for Hamlet's unusual behavior: he's fallen head over heels in love with Ophelia.
Wily old Polonius immediately sees an opportunity to exploit what he thinks is Hamlet's amorous feelings. Along with Claudius, he contrives a meeting between the two would-be love birds. As part of the plan, Claudius and Polonius will hide behind a curtain and eavesdrop on their conversation, hoping to find out for sure if Hamlet's lovesickness really does explain why he's been acting so strange lately.
Unfortunately for them—and for poor, innocent Ophelia—nothing goes according to plan. Hamlet realizes that there's something up and turns the situation to his advantage. Instead of proclaiming his undying love for Ophelia, he subjects her to an abusive rant, during which he tells her in no uncertain terms that she should take herself off to a convent to avoid giving birth to sinners like herself. This may not be Hamlet's finest hour, but at least he's turned the tables on Claudius and Polonius, and in doing so has bought himself more time to wreak revenge upon his wicked uncle.


In act II, Ophelia brings her father, Polonius, the news that Hamlet burst into her room looking wild with his clothes messed up. He grabbed her arm and then went away without saying anything.
We as an audience know that Hamlet is wild-eyed and acting crazily around Ophelia because he has just seen his father's ghost. However, Ophelia and Polonius do not know this. (This is dramatic irony: the audience knows what the actors do not.)
Polonius misinterprets Hamlet's action of bursting wildly into Opheila's room as evidence that Hamlet is madly in love with his daughter. He believes that Hamlet is lovesick. This works to Hamlet's advantage because it becomes a believable explanation for his crazy behavior. While Claudius, Gertrude, and Polonius are worried about him being in love with Ophelia, Hamlet can try to discover whether or not Claudius really did murder his father.

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