Ophelia's Madness in William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Ophelia has a unique, very powerful and interesting form of madness; she carries out an important role in the elaboration of the plot because she presents a theme of love and innocence. 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 a very obedient young girl who is ready to suppress deeply her feelings in order to obey her father's wishes. She is the daughter of Polonius, the chief advisor to the new King Claudius, and a highly respected man. Her fath . . .
1, 143-145) This incident causes Ophelia to become disturbed. She did nothing wrong, but so many wrongs were dealt to her. It becomes clear now, when she sings the song about a maid on St. In this song she says, “Ouoth she, ‘Before you tumbled me, you promis’d me to wed. Valentine’s Day, that the way Hamlet treated her was a great contribution to her insanity. She died because of her virtues, while others perished because of their faults. Unlike the other characters in the play, Ophelia died from loving too much, being too innocent, and too pure. Perhaps the biggest cause of Ophelia’s madness was the death of her father.
Common topics in this essay:
IV Sc, Act Sc, , Queen Hamlets, III Sc, Hamlet Ophelia, Ophelias Hamlets, III Sc1, King Claudius, Day Hamlet, ophelias madness, sc 1, act iii, death father, sc 3, act iii sc, iii sc, iii sc 1, act iv sc, hamlet ophelia, sc 5, iv sc, act iv, iv sc 5, act sc 3, |
Acceptance Essays
