An Inquiry into Ophelias Madness
The character Ophelia in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet plays a very interesting and important role in the elaboration of the plot. In the beginning, she starts off in a healthy state of mind, in love with her boyfriend Hamlet, yet controlled by her father in regard to their relationship. During the play she encounters several troubling experiences involving Hamlet which cause her to become distressed. Near the end, the death of her father leaves Ophelia mentally unstable and in a state of madness that eventually leads her to death. So, due to all of the unfortunate events that took place with the people she loved the most in her life, Ophelia gradually becomes mad, and in the end passes away. Ophelia's and Hamlet's love for each other in the beginning was very real. Following the death of his father Hamlet falls in love with her, and is much attracted by her beauty. It is not uncertain, however, that Ophelia is very much controlled by her father. She is the daughter of Polonius, the chief advisor to the new King Claudius, and a highly respected man. Her father demands that she tell Hamlet at once that she can no longer be with him and tells her "I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth have you so sland
It becomes clear now, when she sings the song about a maid on St. What's worse, she finds out that her dearest father was murdered by the one she loves, Hamlet. She is used to relying on her father's direction and has been brought up to be very obedient. 146-48) This incident causes Ophelia to become slightly disturbed. After that she tells her father, and he believes that Ophelia's love is what made him mad. She does not talk to him now as herself, she sings and speaks of rosemary's and pansies which are invisible to everyone else. He held her by the wrists and stared deeply into her face, long and hard, then storms out, leaving her intensely troubled and saddened. These are now the final stages of Ophelia's madness. Valentine's day, that the way Hamlet treated her was a great contribution to her insanity. 62-3) You can tell by the words she sings that she is upset because Hamlet slept with her during their relationship and had promised her they'd get married. As well, her brother Laertes agrees with what their father is saying.
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