8 Hamlet and Ophelia Many esteemed literary works feature foils whose complex lives enhance various traits of the protagonist and the overall plot. In Hamlet, minor character Ophelia is often connected to the life of protagonist Hamlet. Ophelia’s father Polonius closely monitors Hamlet’s every move and Ophelia herself has intimate affairs with Hamlet. Ophelia’s presence and relations with Hamlet serve to amplify the plot and further characterize Hamlet throughout the…
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play of Hamlet, relationships are seen as unstable and unreliable. Not only are relationships tested when an insanity scene occurs, but true love and affection is critical as well at this time. This relates to Hamlet, as his repetitive failures of a relationship occur because of his madness. The love Hamlet has for Ophelia is inconsistent, as he does not continue to love her through his insanity moments. At the beginning of the play Hamlet’s affection for Ophelia is seen through Ophelia’s eyes. As…
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Ophelia’s Road to Madness Thesis Statement: The origin of Ophelia’s madness is rendered through examination of her relationships with her father Polonius, her brother, Laertes, and her lover Hamlet. I. Polonius is self seeking and callous. A. Polonius uses her to further his own agenda. B. Ophelia obediently and dutifully refuses Hamlet at her father’s request. II. Laertes overshadows Ophelia’s hope. A. Laertes brotherly advice is demanding. B. Ophelia loses her friend and confidant in…
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against what her heart says. She is found always betraying her one true love, Hamlet, by obeying her father, Polonius, and later the king, Claudius, who believe that Hamlet has gone mad. Polonius seemed to be against Hamlet from the start, which should have been at least a signal to Ophelia to try and sneak around to be with Hamlet since Polonius did not even know him. First, Polonius told Ophelia not to ever speak to Hamlet again in act 3.1. ‘’Polonius – come, go with me: I will seek the king this…
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Of all the pivotal characters in Hamlet, Ophelia is the most static and one-dimensional. Parents could only hope for a daughter like Ophelia, she obeys her father’s commands and is a normal teenager, for most of the book at least. Her Father uses her throughout the book, but he loves her. Her father is Polonius, and when he orders her to quit seeing her abusive boyfriend Hamlet, she agrees, “I shall obey my Lord,” (1.3.145). She does exactly what she’s told, as long as she’s unmarried, she lives…
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In Hamlet the Laertes and Ophelia have this weird relationship that makes you question about it. Their relationship is weird because in Hamlet Laertes is very concern with her sexuality with boys (specifically towards Hamlet). Another thing that makes their brother/sister relationship weird is that his reaction towards her death reveal strong emotions he had toward her. This communication between them is not normal because he is worried about Ophelia’s title towards others when he should be worrying…
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Literary Devices: Metaphors: Polonius compares Hamlet to a flame that doesn’t give off heat (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 118). This means that he thinks that Hamlet is putting on an act. He also says that Ophelia must not mistake his show for the real thing. Polonius says that Hamlet’s vows are not going to show as dye does on a garment (Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 127-128), meaning that Ophelia’s relationship with Hamlet isn’t going to benefit her. Polonius compares Hamlet’s love to counterfeit coins, fake (Act…
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The tragedy of Hamlet, is one of Shakespeare’s most tragic plays. Most of the characters in this play suffered a heart-breaking death, although, all of the characters faced anger, regret, madness or distress. For instance the character Ophelia is completely driven to madness by the main character and ex lover, Hamlet. Ophelia exists as a tragic character in Hamlet and one that is entirely pitiable because of unfortunate circumstances that she has been put through. It is proven, in many ways, to be…
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Ophelia's state of mind is much more overwhelming and painful. "Shakespeare is ambiguous about the reality of Hamlet's insanity and depicts him as on the border, fluctuating between sanity and madness" (Lidz 156). Hamlet mourns for his father, but it is the bitterness and ill-will that he harbors towards his mother for her hasty marriage to his uncle that is his most reoccurring occupation. His thoughts of Ophelia are secondary at best. When it happens that Hamlet accidentally slays…
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Madness: Hamlet vs. Ophelia Ophelia said, “And he’s made the holiest vows to me, to back up what he says” (Shakespeare and Crowther 2003). This shows that she was wrapped within the embrace of love, defends what she and Hamlet shares against her father. A whim - only an illusion – is what it is, yet she still insists on fighting for love, the same adoration that dragged them down to disgrace. In the novel, Hamlet, Shakespeare shows the readers how Hamlet and Ophelia’s madness differs from one another…
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