Friday, May 31, 2019

Hamlet - the Character of Ophelia :: Essays on Shakespeare Hamlet

Hamlet - the Character of Ophelia Ophelia is in love with Hamlet, but like so many women, she is at the beck and call of her family first and fore to the highest degree. Ophelia is not unintelligent, she is simply weak-willed. She doesnt do it what she wants, so she lets other people decide for her, namely her pay back and brother. Hamlets love letters are at odds with her fathers wishes, and, because she is not able to form undivided thoughts and opinions, she becomes confused as to what she really wants. Ophelias weakness of mind and will, which catalyzes her obedience to her father and thus destroys her hope for Hamlets love, finally results in her insanity and eventual death. When her father had challenged the value of Hamlets intentions, Ophelia could only reply I do not know, my lord, what I should think (III, iii). Used to relying upon her fathers direction and brought up to be obedient, she can only accept her fathers belief, seconded by that of her brother, that Hamle ts holy vows of love were simply de shortened for her seduction. She was to obey her fathers orders not to permit Hamlet to see her again. Her father also wanted to prove Hamlets madness to the king. He used Ophelia as bait so he and the king could listen to Hamlets words. Ophelia willingly obliged to her fathers desires. By not thinking for herself and only doing as her father wished, she ruined her chances of love with Hamlet. Hamlet put pressure on Ophelia by expecting her to surpass his mothers shortcomings and be an epitome of womankind. He searched her innocent face for some sign of loving truth that might restore his faith in her. He took her mute terror for a sign of her guilt and found her to be a false person, like his mother. In his letter to her, he addressed the letter to the most beautified Ophelia and he terminated the letter with I love thee best, O most best, believe it (II, ii). He used the word beautified to display a sincere tribute, and it is apparent he allay loves her. His attempts to win her affection are not triumphant. Ophelia is still too much under the influence of her father to question his wisdom or authority, and she has no mind of her own to understand how much she has made her fan suffer.

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