Who Is Ophelia Losing Adedijo In Hamlet

Loss of Awareness
(A Personal Essay in Response to Hamlet)
Blessing Adedijo
Throughout history mankind has proved time and time again that we will continue to make the same mistakes. We have a tendency to choose the same course of action, which more often than not proves fatal. Margaret J. Wheatley accurately remarked that, “without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful.” There is a certain self-awareness the human race possesses. This separates us from the animals that roam the Earth. According to the play, “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare, when one lacks the ability for self-awareness and self-reflection to take place, it is impossible for individuals to take
any responsibility for their actions.
In ‘Hamlet,’ it is insinuated that Ophelia took her own life due to her debilitating grief over the death of her father and Hamlet’s betrayal.
Ophelia was sinking in oblivion; it was impossible for self- awareness to take place. Her deteriorating mental state stopped her catharsis. In the end was there really anyway for Ophelia to know that her suicide would serve as a fatal catalyst? No, by then Ophelia’s judgment and forethought were irretrievable. She was no longer in control of her actions the same way she was no longer sound of mind. Her death created unforeseen ripple effects that ultimately kill Hamlet and Laerates. Without her ability to reason and judge the soundness of her actions, Ophelia cannot be held responsible for the events that took place after her perceived
suicide
I have hurt people unknowingly because I was so lost in my own head that I did not realize how my self-hate during my depressive cycles transferred on to my younger sister or how my despondent attitude confused and frightened my mother. Like Ophelia, I could not see anyone but myself and without the ability to reason and contemplate it was impossible for me to stop and take ownership of the mess I would make. During my first depressive episode, I closed myself off from my family. I constantly needed to be alone. Whenever my sister or mother sought me out, I would shut them out and ignore their attempts to make me happy. To this day it is hard for me to be at peace with the things I said and did during that time. Ophelia’s character in, “Hamlet,” poses the question of how can one who is mentally ill be responsible for actions caused by sickness. The answer is that they cannot. With mental illness it is difficult to understand and realize that my sickness is not who I am. The actions I make due to it do not shape who I am neither do they define me. Ophelia’s descent into oblivion reminds me of who I was after my first manic-depressive cycle.
My life appears to have control and order, but in truth my mental state is constantly shifting. Ophelia’s suicide correlates to the actions I make when I am having either manic or depressive episode; the loss of her sanity and my cyclothemia prevents both us from reflection and self-awareness. Like Wheatley said, “without reflection we go blindly on our way.” Our vision was impaired by our sickness and we created, “unintended consequences.” If a blind mine bumps into you, can you blame him for something that he cannot control, something he was born with, something that is clearly no fault of his own? People like me regret our actions, we hurt because of them. Even so, I have learned not blame myself for something I was born with, something I cannot
control.

In conclusion, reflection and awareness enhance the brain’s ability to judge and weigh the right or wrong of decisions. Without either it is impossible to really see or understand the consequences that may arise by making them. Ophelia slowly loses her mind, sinking in an oblivion she could not see out of. There was no way for her to see the aftermath her death would leave behind. “Hamlet,” shows us that responsibility is subjective especially when it is not really the individual making these choices but an illness they cannot control.