Friday, June 7, 2019
Development of Ophelia in Hamlet Essay Example for Free
Development of Ophelia in Hamlet EssayWilliam Shakespeare in the play Hamlet develops the character of Ophelia in three unique stages. Initially, Ophelia is portrayed as a normal and obedient character. As the play progresses, she falls madly in love and ultimately goes insane. Ophelia progresses in a damaging direction as the speckle of the play moves on.In the beginning of the play Ophelia is depicted as the normal, obedient daughter. Laertes explains to Ophelia that even if Hamlet says he loves her, he may not be vocalizing the truth. After Laertes speaks, Ophelia respects the personal knowledge on relationships that he has to offer. Ophelia accepts his speech and shall the effect of this good lesson keep as watchman to her heart (I, III, 48-49). Ophelia listened to Laertes advice and obediently accepts his guidance. implications later Ophelias father, Polonius, requests that Ophelia stop seeing Hamlet. In response, Ophelia says, I shall obey, my Lord (I, III, 140). Polon ius word appears to be of importance when Ophelia responds in such a lamblike manner. Primarily, Ophelia is interpreted as a well-behaved teenage girl, however this depiction soon changes.Although Laertes and Polonius try to steer Ophelia in the right direction, she ends up falling most irrationally in love with Hamlet. Ophelias utter obedience leaves her vulnerable to the abuse of Hamlet, who accuses her of being unfaithful and deceptive. Ophelia claims that Hamlet took her by the wrist and held her hard (II, I, 97). Although Hamlet physically abuses Ophelia, her love for him is stronger than him mistreating her. date Hamlet tells Ophelia that his love for her has departed, she is in utter shock and dismay. Ophelia responds with O heavenly powers, restore him (III, I, 153). Ophelia cannot believe that Hamlet no longer loves her and wishes that he would love her again once more. Her love is clearly consuming her every thought. Although Hamlet no longer loves Ophelia she cannot ac cept or cope with this reality and the nidus ultimately leads to her death.After Ophelia realizes that Hamlet no longer has feelings for her, she goes insane. Ophelia sings a vulgar song about a maiden who is tricked into losing her virginity with a false promise of marriage. While Ophelia is prancing around singing her outrageous song, she relates her song to Hamlet. Ophelia says, Quoth she, before you tumbled me, you promised me to wed (IV,V,62-63). Ophelia felt that they were going to get married and she believed that Hamlet was certainly going to propose to her. Later, Ophelia push down into the water and drowned. The Queen speaks up and says, Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay to muddy death (IV,VII,196-198). Rather than trying to save herself, she passively let herself drown because she didnt care to continue living without Hamlet. In the end, Ophelias emotions controlled her, and these negative emotions led to her d emise.Ophelia develops over the course of the play in a number of ways. Initially she is obedient and normal, and later turns into a girl controlled by love and eventually she commits suicide. Ophelia is a dynamic character that changes throughout the play. Her blind making love for Hamlet causes her to lose the ability to think or act rationally. Life, to her, is meaningless without him, and she chooses death over life. Ophelia surely progressed through the play in a negative manner.
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