Ophelia

Ophelia

1. She is seen to be very passive - Little character and willing to conform to the many expectations of her regardless of how she feels about them. Shakespeare uses this passivity to provoke responses from other characters and the audience.

   • 'I shall obey my lord'
     • This is her final statement- showing that no matter how she feels she will always be bound by societal restrictions- almost a statement of defeat, as regardless to what she has said previously she has submitted to her fathers orders. This could mirror Hamlet's submission to father- their obligations prevent them from being happy together- emotionless- doesn't reveal true feelings.
     • Both L + P are concerened only with Ophelia's sexuality more than her feelings. Shows how they view her- valuable.
   • 'No more but so'
     • The first thing she says is obedient- but could also be said as a question, challenging Laertes' statement. It could also be argued that she is agreeing to simply calm Laertes, although she doesn't agree with him. The ambiguity this statement brings introduces the ambiguity of her actions throughout the play- despite their seemingly obedient nature- there are layers of possible meanings hidden in them
   • 'Do not as some ungracious pastors do/ ..recks not his own rede'
     • Part of her wittiness does come through however- and although it is slight- it suggests she does in fact have a mind of her own- it is just that she is bullied and intimidated by other characters'
   • 'My lord he hath importuned me with love/ in honourable fashion'
     • Here we see she is defending Hamlet- this shows she does think Hamlet loves her-despite her brothers lengthy conversation
   • 'I do not know my lord, what I should think'
     • Unlike other Shakespearian women, she does not fight the will of her family- but rather- she seeks it'
     • Her rejection is important for the story- she is Hamlets love interest- and is another way to add to the tragedy and heighten our sympathy for Hamlet- but this is not the main focus. This makes her death more tragic, as she does nothing wrong outside of what society expects her to do, however she is caught in the crossfire anyway. This could be Shakespeare’s way of showing the fact that revenge gets many people hurt, who are innocent.

2. Very obedient- seen as the perfect stereo-typical version of a woman. Never see her chllenging her subordinate role or thinking/acting independantly.

   • Seems fitting that she sould obey as her name means 'serving woman'
   • 'as you did command/I did repel his letters'
     • Hamlet may be confused by her utter complience- and refusal to follow her desires - This scene is again used to show she has no voice- She is used by the men in her life- Hamlet could be using her as a reason for his madness. She is naieve and too trusting-her father is happy to use her a a pawn for his own gain.
     • She is trusting of her father- despite his trust of her- showing she is naieve and too trusting-her father is happy to use her as a pawn for his own gain.
   • 'I think nothing my lord'
     • When Hamlet is being cruel to her- she cannot say anything- and so has to keep her mouth shut- constantly being opressed/ pressured by other characters-Audiences sympathise with her as we know the way she felt about Hamlet- Although we don't blame Hamlet as much as we should.
   • Has to rely on men even more than Gertrude as she is not established in the Danish Court.

3. Ophelia's Soliliquy shows her sadness, and describes Hamlet's greatness before his antic disposition- reminding the audience of what the state of Denmark has lost. She pours out her heart gaining sympathy from the audience

   • 'The expectation and the rose of the fair state'
     • 'Rose- symbolises youth and beauty and romance- Sees hamlet as the heir to the throne- valued by the whole country- she feels for the whole state
   • 'glass of fashion'
     • He was iconic- not only she but others looked up to him- she admires him- glass has connotations of fragility and delicacy
   • 'quite, quite down'
     • Contrasts all this positivity with 'down' meaning destroyed/ruined emphasising the loss she feels
   • 'most deject and wretched sucked the honey of his musicked vows'
     • She now sees herself as a worthless lady- perhaps because she did not heed her brothers warning or because Hamlet did not want her- either way she feels stupid for having believed Hamlet had true feelings for her
   • 'woe is me'
     • Outwardly expressing her feelings- only time she can do this is on her own-By interpreting his behaviour as madness she fails to identify any part she may have played in causing Hamlet's distress.

4. Ophelia's madness is the result of her grief in losing Hamlet and her father-

   • winks and nods and gestures’
     • Trouble communicating too- suggests she is so unused to communicating her feelings now she is mad and prepared to try- she cannot. Portrays a vulnerable- misunderstood helpless girl- making the queens refusal to speak with her more cold. Madness signalled by response to others. – Even so she is a much more powerful figure mad than she was sane
   • ‘she may strew / Dangerous conjectures
     • There is a fear of madness- and from the audiences point of view – we see how it has become a theme in the now ‘Rotten state’ along with plots and fakery and even the threat of War. Sense of body of people in chaos and disorder from this one act which has disrupted the natural balance and order of things.
   • ‘At his head a grass-green turf/ At his heels a stone
     • Emphasis on her as a grieving daughter here- fact that she sings everything- links to her innocence portrayal-She keeps switching between a grieving daughter and heartbroken lover. She sings of death and betrayal in decorative terms
     • Without the men she depended on- suggests she is unable to function without them- weak view of women.
   • ‘Valentines day.. Before you tumble me you promised me to wed’
     • Lovers breaking their promises- shows they are untrustworthy- Perhaps through her madness she is revealing her own experiences—and it made her mad to do it.
     • Shows how she has sexuality on her mind- pressures of being chaste have led her to madness.
   • ‘Theres rosemary: ..pansies.. violets . columbines’
     • Rosemary for remembrance and pansies for thought are offered to Laertes- her way of asking him to remember her perhaps- the infidelity columbines could perhaps be given to the queen- the rest of the order is unclear- the whole act of distributing flowers links her with nature- and shows an innocence she has making us feel sympathetic for her character. Also daisy’ for unrequited love- all the themes are addressed here.

5. -Gertrude describes Ophelia's death in a lyrical narrative poem- which is consistent with the way in which Ophelia has been represented- mainly in song. –Perhaps she romanticizes Ophelia’s death to spare Lertes feelings and so lessen his desire for revenge against Hamlet- as this account does seem unrealistic.

   • Nettles, daisies and long purples’ willow grows’
     • Reference to lots of flowers- dainty- fresh- beautiful and sweet. Natural imagery throughout suggests a raceful death. –Such delicacy could perhaps not survive in such a vicous world. A willow is associated with unrequited love- suggesting this may be a cause of Ophelia's madness.
     • Her death was also inbetween a murderous plot and Claudius' lie-- emphasising she is a victim of a corrupt world.
   • mermaid like’
     • Presents mystery and dreamy- Ophelia's death is graceful and tragic in a way none of the previous deaths in the play have been. There is no violent or barbarically graphic imagery- preparing us for the tragedy of Hamlets passing. She is victimised and shown to be someone who accidentally died- in a way true as although she committed suicide- was a pawn in the game of Hamlet, Polonius and the King.
   • 'incapable of her own distress'
     • This description seems more inkeeping with her character as she allows the river to take her life just as she allows P + L to control her.