Ophelia is weak…
In my opinion I believe that Ophelia is weak in many aspects of her Character in Hamlet.
Firstly, I think she shows great weakness in the way she allows the men in her life to manipulate her throughout the play. Clearly, the main factor of manipulation is through her love and emotions towards Hamlet, which is continually used almost against her and to the men’s advantage. Her father and Claudius order Ophelia to meet with Hamlet whilst they spy on the couple to observe Hamlets actions around her and Ophelia without hesitance obeys. Frankly her ‘dependant/needy’ nature is unmistakable from the beginning. Her nasty meeting with Hamlet, which goes against her feelings for him, demonstrate her utter obedience to her father. As an example, from the start Ophelia told her father that she likes Hamlet and thinks a lot of him. Additionally linking this to Polonius, she suggests that Hamlet is a good and honourable man, and that she does have feelings for him. Ophelia's further actions sacrifice these affectionate feelings by order of her father, proving her total submission to his authority. Ophelia specifically agrees with her father not to see Hamlet again. Consequently, showing that Polonius has complete control over his daughter, with her desire to please her father as the direct cause. Ophelia has an obvious need to please others, even when it means forfeiting her own personal feelings, and her obedience apparently originates from this.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
After Hamlet started to turn against Gertrude because of her actions, he took the anger and used it against Ophelia. Hamlet says to Ophelia “God hath given you one face and you make yourselves another. You jig and amble, and you lisp, you nickname God’s creatures, and make your wantonness your ignorance.” (III.i.142-145). He comments on the way women mask their faces, all being unfaithful and dishonest. Hamlet completely loses trust in Ophelia after she was not honest with him and turned her back on him and listened to her father instead. Ophelia deceived Hamlet and in turn he is rude to her and continues to tell her that his love for her was false and demands that she go to a nunnery, he also makes it clear there will be no marriage for the…
- 138 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
Ophelia was a modern day good girl gone bad. She obeyed her father, Polonius, and brother, Laertes’ wishes to stay away from Prince Hamlet while trying to fight for her love for Hamlet and being herself. Throughout the entire play Ophelia is used as pawn in a game of revenge between Hamlet, Polonius, and King Claudius. Polonius and Laertes forbid Ophelia from seeing Hamlet because they believe that he is only using her for sex, yet Polonius uses her to seek information from Hamlet as though she were his personal spy. Although Hamlet loves Ophelia and genuinely cares for her, he sees the danger he and the royal court pose on her. Hamlet wants to get her away from the corruption while putting on an act for King Claudius to prove that he is really mad, and in that attempt, acts as though Ophelia means nothing to him. He treats her in the same manner he treats his mother and all women for that matter. Hamlet sees all women as ignorant and deceitful. Despite Ophelia’s ability to see through Hamlet’s charade, there is still a sense of pain in the words he speaks to her. “Get thee to a nunnery, go. Farewell...To a nunnery, go, and quickly too. Farewell.” (Act 3.1) This had to have been the largest insult to Ophelia ever spoken, but was not meant in that…
- 582 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Ophelia is a crutch to Hamlet, a living symbolic representation of Hamlet’s emotions much in the same way that ancient Greek stories used a chorus. Ophelia is the one woman chorus of Hamlet (the play and character both), a fact which makes her one of the most elementally affluent of Shakespeare’s characters in a literary sense. In his play, Hamlet, William Shakespeare uses his character Ophelia’s descent into madness as a parallel…
- 718 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Having been lectured on the dangers of Hamlet by Polonius, Ophelia responds, “I shall obey my Lord” (1.4.145). Considering she is his daughter, her response seems peculiar, and almost servant like. Polonius and Laertes, Ophelia’s father and brother, order her to refrain from relations with Hamlet, because they believe that due to his nobility, he is incapable of loving her properly. Ophelia, Hamlet’s love, is interpreted as more of a puppet than a strong female lead, even though the love, of which Hamlet and Ophelia had prior to the bombardment of interferences, was undeniable.…
- 359 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Ophelia, a fictional character in Hamlet, is the daughter of Polonius and young lover to the main character. Her father, the right hand of the king, originally requests she keep her distance from Hamlet. Quite soon, the company of Hamlet believes he has gone mad. Polonius, of course, asks his obedient daughter to spy on her lover. Mary Salter stated, “She certainly has a great deal of respect for her father and unquestioningly obeys his instructions…” Ophelia and Hamlet spend an extravagant amount of time together. In the time of Shakespeare, this was nearly unacceptable. One could understandably be under the impression they…
- 632 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Her weak mindedness and cowardice eventually leads to her suicide; however, the cause of her of emotional weakness is due to forces beyond her control. Ophelia’s subjection to the loss of two loved ones at the same time allocates an overwhelming feeling of devastation that she is incapable of coping with due to her lack of mental strength. Claudius recognizes the intensity and overpowering nature of her suffering as he states that “when sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in batallions,” (IV, iv, 77). Ophelia’s immense losses include the Polonius’ murder, in addition to the Hamlet rejecting her feelings. The death of Polonius not only means the death of her dad additionally the one whom she derives all of her guidance from. The lack of support for Ophelia during this vulnerable period of her life further weakens her emotional stability; furthermore, Hamlet’s unusual conduct leaves Ophelia feeling more isolated and disliked. Hamlet illuminates his unorthodox demeanor to her by denying her mementos and by blatantly denies having ever loved her as states, “I loved you not” (III, i, 118). Denying the remembrances, he alludes to the…
- 899 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Ophelia’s relationship with Hamlet was one that was very hard to understand. She was in love with him and that complicated things. The character of Ophelia was the daughter of the King’s Advisor. She was not royalty or even remotely from a royal lineage. Hamlet, on the other hand, was a prince. He was the prince in line for the throne. Ophelia was in love with Hamlet and the only chance she had was to conspire with him and earn his trust. Hamlet discovered that his father had been murdered by his uncle. His uncle, Claudius, then became the king. Hamlet pretended to be crazy in order to expose his uncle. Ophelia found out that this was what was happening and went along with it in order to convince her father, Polonius, that Claudius had murdered the king. Polonius was, after all, the king’s advisor. Speaking of Hamlet, she says in Act 2 Scene 1, “He took me by the wrist, and held me hard” (1546). She knew, by telling her father that Hamlet had gone crazy and grabbed her, that he would relay it to the queen and her new king.…
- 978 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
Due to Ophelia’s fickle behavior regarding Hamlet, he is unsure of her affection and does not deem her trustworthy. Ophelia is not yet a married woman, meaning she is not admitted to disobey her father, and not able to control her own choices. When her father demands “I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth have you so sander and moment leisure as to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet.” (I, III, 136-140) Ophelia must heed her father’s commands. When Ophelia is requested to converse with Hamlet by Polonius and Claudius, she must endure. She attempts to return letters that Hamlet wrote for her, this seeming to have a powerful effect on him. Although he has suspicions that their conversation is being eavesdropped on, Hamlet does not restrain himself with his reaction towards Ophelia. Hamlet seems to contradict himself when proclaiming her “Get thee to a nunnery, go.” (III, I, 138). Nunnery, also meaning brothel, shows Hamlet’s indecisive feelings for Ophelia, by using a word that paints her as holy and sinful. As he continues to insult Ophelia, it becomes clear that Hamlet presumes all women to be deceitful, describing that “God has given you one face and you make yourselves another.” (III, I, 145). Although it is not certain whether or not Hamlet truly loves Ophelia, it can be deducted that due to his mother’s actions he cannot be definite in his…
- 840 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Ophelia goes insane and acts very childlike. Her way of coping with somthing is to Sing songs about flowers. The songs she sings in front of Laertes, Gertrude and Claudius are sorrowful reminders that the corrupt world has taken its toll on Poor Ophelia. Ophelias Pure innocence really shows in the play because shes not taking the news too well about how hamlet really is. In the beginning of the play Ophelia talks about Hamlet and Her brother Laertes warns Ophelia that Hamlet does not have the freedom to just marry whoever he wants, as Laertes walks out Ophelias dad Polonius comes in and he overheard the conversation and he adds in that he doesn’t want Ophelia talking to Hamlet because he fears that Hamlet is not earnest about her. Ophelia respects her dads feelings but when hamlet starts talking about her she catches feelings and forgets everything her dad and brother has told her. Not thinking with her head she falls…
- 587 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Hamlet does like Ophelia. The moment that he sees his brother on the grave he starts attacking and saying that he loves Ophelia.…
- 776 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
It shows that Ophelia lacks in her own independence of thought and who continually accepts the thoughts of male figures in her life. From the very beginning of the play, Ophelia is compliant to her fathers will. This is represented through Ophelia’s response to her father when she says 'I did repel his letters, and denied his access to me' (Act II, scene I) were Ophelia complies with her father’s orders. Ophelia’s response to her father suggests that Ophelia lacks her own independence and who is under the authority of her father. Ophelia’s actions show how willingly she is able to sacrifice her feelings for Hamlet under the order of her father and that she will give up her happiness in order to please and obey her father. Throughout the play, Ophelia continuously portrays her obedience to her father. In particular, Ophelia decides that she will no longer insist on seeing Hamlet anymore after the request from her father with her response, ‘I shall obey, my lord’ (Act I scene III.) The actions of Ophelia show that Polonius is in control over her as she sacrifices her feelings for Hamlet to satisfy her father.…
- 494 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Also, Ophelia has also shown obedience towards her father Polonius. Her obedience is shown when Polonius has asked her to get away from Hamlet. Polonius speaks to Ophelia about what is going on with Hamlet and her; she obeys and tells him…
- 527 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Ophelia has been known as "the good daughter." She does whatever is asked of her by any male figure in her life. In the list of characters found in the lay she is simply listed the "daughter of Polonius." This implies that she is a minor character who still "belongs" to her father. Amanda Mabillard believes that it is out of love that Ophelia obeys her father's and brother's every desire (Mabillard, "Ophelia"). However, many believe that it is not out of "love" that prompts her obedience, but fear. When Laertes tells Ophelia to distrust Hamlet, she willingly obeys him and gives him the authority over her heart. In many of the exchanges between herself and her father, she simply responds with, "I will obey." For instance, in act 2 scene 1, Polonius asks Ophelia if he had denied contact with Hamlet and Ophelia tells him, "...but as you command , I did repel his letters."…
- 336 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Although Hamlet continued to pursue her as a lover, he eventually discovered that her loyalties did not lie with him, as she became a spy for Claudius and Polonius. It is unclear as to whether or not Hamlet is aware that Ophelia is being used by the men, but he is reassured of her loyalty to them when he asks, “Where’s your father?” and Ophelia replies, “At home, my lord” (3.1, 130-131). Ophelia’s social position as a woman in society is virtually nonexistent as the presences of manipulative men merely use her obedience as a means of improving their social positions, with little regard for hers. In accordance with the time period, Ophelia would have followed codes of conduct “influenced by religious literature, the attitude taken by most writers of deportment manuals reflect the theologians’ traditional dislike and distrust of women” (Kincaid 103). While there is no indication that Ophelia has broken any codes, Hamlet takes out his frustration with his mother on her, and chastises her for shortcomings as a woman when he says, “Let me think on’t. Frailty thy name is woman!” (1.2, 146). Regardless of Ophelia’s proper social behavior, Hamlet reveals that she cannot escape her fate as a woman. Hamlet tells her, “If thou dost marry, I’ll give thee this plague for thy dowry: be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunnery” (3.1, 135-37). Even if Ophelia follows every social norm and remains chaste, she will always be restricted by society because of the men that define…
- 1399 Words
- 6 Pages
Powerful Essays -
He has been holding onto the secret about his uncle for a long period of time and is struggling with knowing how to avenge his father’s death. The difficulties in Hamlet’s life continue to add up and cause him to become more on edge. Polonius, the King’s helper and Ophelia’s father, tries to convince the King and Queen that Hamlet is acting crazy simply because he is in love with Ophelia. A plan is then created where Ophelia stands and waits for Hamlet while Polonius, Claudius and Gertrude hide and observe Hamlet’s actions. Once Hamlet approaches Ophelia, he realizes that he has been set up and is furious. Although Hamlet is clearly irate because he is being spied on, it is implied that part of Hamlet’s frustration is due to the betrayal and dishonesty from Ophelia, the one he loves. Hamlet has little trust in anyone at this point, and now he cannot trust the one who holds his heart. Hamlet reproaches Ophelia, “Get thee to a nunnery, go. Farewell. Or, if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool; for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them. To a nunnery, go; and quickly too. Farewell” (III, 1, 54). This quote is proof that Hamlet is very upset with Ophelia and no longer wants to be associated with her because he does not trust her. It is likely that Hamlet feels alone because he is facing many problems on his own and cannot trust the people who are important to…
- 1293 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays