At Ophelia’s funeral, Gertrude, speaking to the departed Ophelia, tells her “I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet’s wife” (Act V, Scene I) being completely dismissive of Ophelia’s suicide. Gertrude’s lack of tact is further illustrated in the way she is, instead of mourning Ophelia’s death, dreaming of what kind of bride she could have been for Hamlet. This also illustrates Gertrude’s selfish nature, for instead of mourning for Ophelia she is considering the “trophy wife” she would have made for Hamlet, therefore improving the royal…
I was shocked by the madness of Ophelia, and the manner in which Gertrude approaches the situation, both were unexpected. Earlier in the novel, the relationship of Ophelia and her father is revealed, and it pears to be a very weak relationship, based on the oppression of her under her father’s rule. From this relationship that the two share I would never assume that Ophelia would be driven mad by the death of her father. I sympathize with Ophelia since she has endured so many pains, first discovering Hamlet’s madness, then discovering the death of her father. She is entirely alone in her sorrow, and the King and Queen do nothing buy agitate her and pick at her wounds. Also in this scene Gertrude refuses to see Ophelia, and only agrees when…
Is Ophelia driven mad by her love for Hamlet, or is she the victim of a society that has created impossible expectations for its women? Had she the license to think for herself, Ophelia might have reasoned…
Ophelia was a modern day good girl gone bad. She obeyed her father, Polonius, and brother, Laertes’ wishes to stay away from Prince Hamlet while trying to fight for her love for Hamlet and being herself. Throughout the entire play Ophelia is used as pawn in a game of revenge between Hamlet, Polonius, and King Claudius. Polonius and Laertes forbid Ophelia from seeing Hamlet because they believe that he is only using her for sex, yet Polonius uses her to seek information from Hamlet as though she were his personal spy. Although Hamlet loves Ophelia and genuinely cares for her, he sees the danger he and the royal court pose on her. Hamlet wants to get her away from the corruption while putting on an act for King Claudius to prove that he is really mad, and in that attempt, acts as though Ophelia means nothing to him. He treats her in the same manner he treats his mother and all women for that matter. Hamlet sees all women as ignorant and deceitful. Despite Ophelia’s ability to see through Hamlet’s charade, there is still a sense of pain in the words he speaks to her. “Get thee to a nunnery, go. Farewell...To a nunnery, go, and quickly too. Farewell.” (Act 3.1) This had to have been the largest insult to Ophelia ever spoken, but was not meant in that…
When the reader reads the book Hamlet they will better picture the struggle that Ophelia and Hamlet face, feel for them when they are showing their emotions, and know that the decisions they made are understandable and relatable. Hamlet and Ophelia mind as well be our mere reflection of ourselves. In the story, pay attention to anything they say or do and you may learn something about yourself and can share that feeling with…
After Hamlet started to turn against Gertrude because of her actions, he took the anger and used it against Ophelia. Hamlet says to Ophelia “God hath given you one face and you make yourselves another. You jig and amble, and you lisp, you nickname God’s creatures, and make your wantonness your ignorance.” (III.i.142-145). He comments on the way women mask their faces, all being unfaithful and dishonest. Hamlet completely loses trust in Ophelia after she was not honest with him and turned her back on him and listened to her father instead. Ophelia deceived Hamlet and in turn he is rude to her and continues to tell her that his love for her was false and demands that she go to a nunnery, he also makes it clear there will be no marriage for the…
Ophelia, a fictional character in Hamlet, is the daughter of Polonius and young lover to the main character. Her father, the right hand of the king, originally requests she keep her distance from Hamlet. Quite soon, the company of Hamlet believes he has gone mad. Polonius, of course, asks his obedient daughter to spy on her lover. Mary Salter stated, “She certainly has a great deal of respect for her father and unquestioningly obeys his instructions…” Ophelia and Hamlet spend an extravagant amount of time together. In the time of Shakespeare, this was nearly unacceptable. One could understandably be under the impression they…
Ophelia’s relationship with Hamlet was one that was very hard to understand. She was in love with him and that complicated things. The character of Ophelia was the daughter of the King’s Advisor. She was not royalty or even remotely from a royal lineage. Hamlet, on the other hand, was a prince. He was the prince in line for the throne. Ophelia was in love with Hamlet and the only chance she had was to conspire with him and earn his trust. Hamlet discovered that his father had been murdered by his uncle. His uncle, Claudius, then became the king. Hamlet pretended to be crazy in order to expose his uncle. Ophelia found out that this was what was happening and went along with it in order to convince her father, Polonius, that Claudius had murdered the king. Polonius was, after all, the king’s advisor. Speaking of Hamlet, she says in Act 2 Scene 1, “He took me by the wrist, and held me hard” (1546). She knew, by telling her father that Hamlet had gone crazy and grabbed her, that he would relay it to the queen and her new king.…
It shows that Ophelia lacks in her own independence of thought and who continually accepts the thoughts of male figures in her life. From the very beginning of the play, Ophelia is compliant to her fathers will. This is represented through Ophelia’s response to her father when she says 'I did repel his letters, and denied his access to me' (Act II, scene I) were Ophelia complies with her father’s orders. Ophelia’s response to her father suggests that Ophelia lacks her own independence and who is under the authority of her father. Ophelia’s actions show how willingly she is able to sacrifice her feelings for Hamlet under the order of her father and that she will give up her happiness in order to please and obey her father. Throughout the play, Ophelia continuously portrays her obedience to her father. In particular, Ophelia decides that she will no longer insist on seeing Hamlet anymore after the request from her father with her response, ‘I shall obey, my lord’ (Act I scene III.) The actions of Ophelia show that Polonius is in control over her as she sacrifices her feelings for Hamlet to satisfy her father.…
These contrasts are Hamlet’s desires, the things that he desperately needs and what keeps him living. Ophelia is the coal to his train (of thought), something which Ophelia does not always feel the same about him. “Hamlet: Lady, shall I lie in your lap? Ophelia: No, my lord. Hamlet: I mean, my head upon your lap? Ophelia: Ay, my lord. Hamlet: Do you think I meant country matters?” (60) As the story progresses Ophelia realizes that the man she loved has gone through a transformation. He is no the longer the same person. In frustration and despair, she effectively puts her foot down, a brake, by what most readers believe to be suicide. As she, the tracks, tear themselves apart, the train that is Hamlets goes careening off down the middle to destruction, a ten pounder flying down the bowling lane determined to knock down all pins: his adversaries and friends. Ophelia was the crucial point that held together all that was Hamlet; with her death, so was sealed the fate of every other…
At the end of the Act 3, Polonius was killed by Hamlet. Ophelia heard the news about her father’s death in the Act 4. After she heard the news, the became insane. She lost her dignity as a noble lady and continued to sing in front of people. The song she sang seemed meaningless to others; however, there was a meaning to those.…
Her weak mindedness and cowardice eventually leads to her suicide; however, the cause of her of emotional weakness is due to forces beyond her control. Ophelia’s subjection to the loss of two loved ones at the same time allocates an overwhelming feeling of devastation that she is incapable of coping with due to her lack of mental strength. Claudius recognizes the intensity and overpowering nature of her suffering as he states that “when sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in batallions,” (IV, iv, 77). Ophelia’s immense losses include the Polonius’ murder, in addition to the Hamlet rejecting her feelings. The death of Polonius not only means the death of her dad additionally the one whom she derives all of her guidance from. The lack of support for Ophelia during this vulnerable period of her life further weakens her emotional stability; furthermore, Hamlet’s unusual conduct leaves Ophelia feeling more isolated and disliked. Hamlet illuminates his unorthodox demeanor to her by denying her mementos and by blatantly denies having ever loved her as states, “I loved you not” (III, i, 118). Denying the remembrances, he alludes to the…
After talking with the Queen, Ophelia felt that she should try talking to Hamlet herself. Of course, Hamlet will think that she is crazy and she know it. Her strategy may have been decent but not good enough to change Hamlet. In Act: IV Scene: I the King states “His liberty is full of threats to all.” That moment is when the King and Queen wants an end to all of Hamlets madness. They both speak of the death of Polonius. They then realized he should be killed and orders that he be killed upon his arrival in England. Eventually it seems that everyone, in their own way wants to either help Hamlet or get rid of…
Gertrude feels guilt towards Ophelia because Gertrude knows what Hamlet did and knows that if Ophelia knew the love of her life did this she would be crushed even more. She also knows the pain she is going through and knows she can’t fix it…
Ophelia’s madness meant that she was unable to save herself; she was “incapable of her own distress,” and a “poor wretch.” She does not blame Ophelia, but the mania she was afflicted with. It is the fault of the sliver that broke, her garments, the brook into which she fell. However, we only know about this story through Gertrude, and she claims Ophelia “chanted snatches of old lauds” as she drowned. It is highly improbable that the Queen, or anyone, witnessed the drowning. Shakespeare’s inclusion of this detail indicates that Gertrude is misrepresenting the drowning. Gertrude presents the audience with this glorified, peaceful description of death. Ophelia is likened to mermaid with her “clothes spread wide.” She slowly sinks to the bottom…