Character Descriptions from Hamlet
Ophelia has the potential of becoming a tragic heroine by overcoming adversities, but instead she crumbles into insanity, becoming simply tragic. Through Ophelia we see Hamlet's newfound view of women not as the innocent virtuous beings he had once thought they were, but as being corrupt by sexual desire. Due to his mother's behavior, Hamlet now sees all women, including Ophelia, as whores. But to the rest of us, Ophelia represents only goodness. She is childlike and naive, unaware of the harsh realities of life. Her father and brother love her tremendously and she returns this love with unselfish affection. She rejects Hamlet's courtship on her father's strict advice, who believes Hamlet's love cannot be sincere. Ophelia clings to the memory of Hamlet treating her with respect and tenderness, and she defends him and loves him to the very end despite his brutality. She is incapable of defending herself, but we can see her intense suffering. Ophelia: Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so.Hamlet: You should not have believed me . . . I loved you not.Her frailty and innocence work against her as she cannot
cope with the unfolding of one traumatic event after another. A constant reminder of the life he took to quench his thirst for power, adding to his guilt. This act of treachery by Gertrude, whom Hamlet greatly loved at one time, tortures his very soul. But underneath the appearance of the kind, honest, honorable king he makes himself to be, Claudius is filled with lies and covered with hidden intentions. Hamlet:Our first impression of Hamlet sets the tone for the play. He would be tall with brooding eyes and dark, messy hair which falls over them. His attire would consist of only the finest material, that fir for a king. From behind his mask of giving the impression of being a sincere and genuine person, he is really plagued with evil. The sudden absence of her father is the limit of what she is capable of enduring and she goes insane. He gives Hamlet advice to no longer grieve his father's death and shows overall concern for his well-being. He wears his dead brother's sword at his side as well as the crown he proudly wears on his head. For they are the actions a man might play,But I have that within which passes show,These but the trappings and suits of woeHamlet is a prince with an elegant intensity about him. The emphasis in not made on his strength of will or passion, but on his thoughts and sentiments. At first he appears to be happy about his marriage to her and goes so far as to later confess that she was the reason he murdered his own brother. He increases this appearance by also showing his respect for Polonius.
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