Comparison Of Ophelia In Hamlet And William Shakespeare's Hamlet

The play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, looks at the issue of madness and how it effects the characters of the play. Madness can be looked at from very different perspectives, such as strong and uncontrollable emotions, a person’s desires, and also a persons mental stability. Throughout the play, the audience is questioning the sanity of the main character, Hamlet, as he goes on his quest for revenge. The people around him also show signs of madness, such as Ophelia and Claudius, but in different forms. Existentialist philosopher Friedrich Nietzche says, “There is always some madness in love. But there is also some reason in madness.” What Nietzche is saying is that when you are in love with someone or something, there is always a little

Hamlet is an acknowledging Shakespearean play that was later filmed in 1990 by Franco Zeffirelli and in 1996 by Kenneth Branagh. Both these directors interpret the play differently adding unique twists and turns of their own to help focus on one thing than the other. In their contrasting films, these two directors depict the character of Ophelia very differently. Through Zeffirelli’s film, Ophelia, played by Helena Bonham Carter is portrayed as a dreamy, naive, childish character, however in Branagh 's version; Kate Winslet portrays Ophelia as a more mature, sensible and strong willed character. These different portrayals of Ophelia can be further analyzed through cinematography, set and costume designs and through the actor themselves.

Denmark is in a state of chaos shown by the opening death of the true

  In Shakespeare's tragedy, Hamlet, the audience finds a docile, manipulated, scolded, victimized young lady named Ophelia. Ophelia is a foil to Hamlet. Plays have foils to help the audience better understand the more important characters in the play.  The character of Ophelia is necessary so that the audience will give Hamlet a chance to get over his madness and follow his heart.

Especially after finding out that her once boyfriend had killed her loving father, “I would/ give you some violets, but they withered all when/ my father died” (4.5.207-209). She knows she made a mistake but yet she can’t forgive herself, for the events that happened. “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance./ I pray you, love, remember” (4.5.199-200), We could say that insanity has definitely taken over Ophelia only because of Prince Hamlet and her father's death but because she doesn't know what the true meaning/ feeling of love really is, and she desperately wants it. Ophelia’s insanity drives her mind to places she would never imagine, “...she chanted snatches of old lauds,/ As one incapable of her own distress” (4.7.202-203). There’s a point in her insanity when all she wants is to end everything, she is convinced that Prince Hamlet would never forgive/ be able to love her ever again and her father being dead make his love for her disappear as well, so at this point she feels alone and not wanted. “As we have warranty. Her death was doubtful” (5.1.234). Her death was expected but not in the way she did it. Her resort was the water, the way the whole world just fades above you and the warm feeling you get when your mind leaves and enters

Madness, the state of being mentally ill, exuberating extreme behavior, or a state of a frenzied mind. A definition which is a recurring major theme in Hamlet. By comparing and contrasting Hamlet to Ophelia, readers can see the different state of mind between the two characters.

Hamlet by William Shakespeare is a compelling tragedy that to this day still captures reader’s attention. In the play there are only two female characters; when considering the time period in which Hamlet was written, it makes sense.It has been theorized that since Shakespeare wrote the parts of Gertrude and Ophelia for male actors they are not nearly as in depth as the male characters. Considering that the reader sees so little of both female characters it’s fascinating how they fit into the play, each with very different parts but some similar characteristics and opposites. Both female characters had very tragic deaths in the play, by their own hands, that related to their characters quite well. An interesting difference between Ophelia and

Ophelia agrees to abide by the advice: “I shall the effect of this good lesson keep as watchman to my heart.” After Laertes’ departure, Polonius inquires of Ophelia concerning the “private time” which Hamlet spends with her. He dismisses Hamlet’s overtures as “Affection, puh!” Polonius considers Ophelia a “green girl,” incapable of recognizing true love: “These blazes . . . you must not take for fire.” He gets her assurance that she will not talk with Hamlet anymore. Ophelia shows herself to be pliable and obedient to family members. Grace Latham, in her critical essay “O Poor Ophelia,” alleges a sheltered existence of the young Ophelia:

Have you been in love? Love does not have any shape, It does not look at social classes, skin color, even if your parents do not like you to be with her o him, but sometimes those are small obstacles that do not allow us to be with the person we love. A clear example, can be Ophelia and Hamlet on the play called Hamlet written by William Shakespeare. This pair of characters were in love with each other, but, Polonius, Ophelia's father, was against this relationship because he thinks Hamlet is playing around with her. As many relationships, everybody has parallel and contrast things. Even though compared to Hamlet, Ophelia has someone who supports her after her father's death , Hamlet and Ophelia loss of a parental figure and both of them

    The Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet features two female characters in main roles, Ophelia and Gertrude. They are similar in a surprising number of ways. This essay proposes to elucidate the reader on their likeness or similarity.

While everything was going on, Ophelia was in misery. She was not well after her father had passed away. Polonius and her were very close as they were Father and Daughter. She obeyed in any remark he demanded. For instance, Polonius had spoken to her about Hamlet and forbid her from seeing Hamlet. Polonius wanted Ophelia to stop seeing him because his intentions weren’t meaningful. He said,” you’ve made yourself quite available to him,Offer yourself more respect (l.lll).” Nonetheless one afternoon, Ophelia had roamed around the hallways crying and singing with agony. She couldn’t bare the thought of her father being dead. As a women who wanted her father back there was no one who could help her.

In the midst of her madness she gives the reader a lot of insight as to why it was that she had become that way, but traditional interpretations of Hamlet choose to devalue it. As the queen begins to talk to her in Act 4, scene 5, Ophelia sings “SONG” and there dopp’d would mean opened, implying the man in the story seduced a maid(en) to bed. She was the first person he saw on Valentine’s Day which according to tradition means she would be his true love. The very interesting part of this song is that the man removes his clothes before even opening the door, he knew what he wanted prior to the lady’s arrival; a body. The most controversial line in her song is when she sings “Before you tumbled me, You promised me to wed”.

The play Hamlet originates from the 12th-century Danish history, uses the Danish court in medieval as background. Through the processes of Hamlet’s revenge for his father, the author depicts the real pictures of the late Renaissance of British and European social conditions. In the story, Denmark is as turbulent and dangerous as the British in reality at the time, with the wicked and the conspiracy-looking court. As the victim of the times, Hamlet and Ophelia both display the elements of hamartia, anagnorisis, and hubris, proving them to be tragic heroes. Hamaratia means the flaw or error of judgment of characters, and this is one of the reasons why Hamlet and Ophelia become tragic heroes.

Not one character is confident enough to speak out against or even for their partner or loved ones, resulting in their disastrous endings. The way Hamlet and Ophelia interact with each other is easily connected to how they interact with their parents. Hamlet’s relationship with his mother is extremely complicated; almost as much as his relationship with Ophelia. Gertrude is physically harmed by her son numerous times, and is often highly insulted as well. During their confrontation of Hamlet’s behaviour, Hamlet even states (Hamlet offends mom). This complete negligence for his mother’s feelings perfectly reflects in his relationship with Ophelia. When Ophelia confronts Hamlet of his feelings not only does he physically harm her, but he also states (nunnery quote). This quote is a near mirror image of the previous to his mother, emphasizing his contempt of the women surrounding him. Hamlet refuses to speak any truth to the characters surrounding him; ultimately destroying them with himself, taking his relationship with Ophelia down as well. Opposedly, Ophelia and Polonius’ relationship is respectful in both ways, yet fragile too. Ophelia is completely compliant to her father and is even willing to give up Hamlet to affiliate to his needs. Polonius treats Ophelia more as a pet however than a daughter; either showing her off to the king and queen or baiting her for Hamlet. Both Polonius and Laertes seem to value her virginity more than herself as a person. This argument can be easily proven by (Two quotes from Polonius and Laertes about Ophelia staying a virgin). Since this behaviour is so familiar to Ophelia, it is no wonder why she allows Hamlet to treat her the

The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return. Stuck in a bubble of doubt, uncertainty and pride. Hamlet and Ophelia find themselves in the middle of a of a deadly paradoxical love abyss that may be deserved for both of them but not necessarily what they need at this moment. For his heart may burn for her but, Hamlet’s mind may be set on doing what he thinks is right: vengeance.