Hamlet's Conversation Towards Ophelia Analysis
Hamlet’s conversation with Ophelia illustrates his complicated attitude toward someone he used to love. The exchange highlights the influence of his struggle concept of honesty and human nature. These two factors impact Hamlet’s attitude toward Ophelia, altering feelings of love into those of uncertainty. Hamlet’s language in the conversation with Ophelia reflects the mistrust and betrayal he feels after discovering Claudius murdered his father. This finding opens his eyes to man’s tendency to lie, causing him to question whether trust truly exists in such a depraved world. An internal battle reveals itself in Hamlet’s dialogue with Ophelia, whom he questions for her honesty as well. His knowledge of Ophelia’s allegiance to her father and
…show more content…
After finding the truth of his father’s death, Hamlet not only realizes this facet of his uncle’s character, but also of his own. Hamlet registers his own “proud, revengeful, and ambitious” character, revealing to him that sin does not discriminate (3.1.120). The awareness of his own corruption intensifies his psychological conflict, leading him to ask himself a central question: will his sin blemish the purity of love? [3] This doubt of his ability to love, creates a barrier that prevents him from harboring hope for ever rebuilding a meaningful relationship with Ophelia. He conveys his frustration through chastising Ophelia and accusing her of wearing a mask to hide her true nature: “God hath given you one and you make yourselves another” (3.1.135-36). While Hamlet admits he is far from perfect and bears his flaws on his sleeve, Ophelia makes an effort to disguise her impure nature. Hamlet associates this hiding with denial, feeling that Ophelia, so blinded by her duty to her father, cannot see her vice. He encourages her to get to a “nunnery” in an effort to prevent her from turning into a “breeder of sinners” and spreading her immorality any further (3.1.118). The conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia exemplifies the complexity of grasping the negative aspects of human nature and learning to overlook these attributes within a loved one. By questioning Ophelia’s
After finding the truth of his father’s death, Hamlet not only realizes this facet of his uncle’s character, but also of his own. Hamlet registers his own “proud, revengeful, and ambitious” character, revealing to him that sin does not discriminate (3.1.120). The awareness of his own corruption intensifies his psychological conflict, leading him to ask himself a central question: will his sin blemish the purity of love? [3] This doubt of his ability to love, creates a barrier that prevents him from harboring hope for ever rebuilding a meaningful relationship with Ophelia. He conveys his frustration through chastising Ophelia and accusing her of wearing a mask to hide her true nature: “God hath given you one and you make yourselves another” (3.1.135-36). While Hamlet admits he is far from perfect and bears his flaws on his sleeve, Ophelia makes an effort to disguise her impure nature. Hamlet associates this hiding with denial, feeling that Ophelia, so blinded by her duty to her father, cannot see her vice. He encourages her to get to a “nunnery” in an effort to prevent her from turning into a “breeder of sinners” and spreading her immorality any further (3.1.118). The conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia exemplifies the complexity of grasping the negative aspects of human nature and learning to overlook these attributes within a loved one. By questioning Ophelia’s