Shakespeare plays Hamlet displays the character flaws of Hamlet, Ophelia, and Claudius and their downfall. Hamlet’s inability to take action leads him his demise, Ophelia follows her father and brother decisions, and Claudius is an antagonist who let his greed of power control him. Shakespeare displays that every character falls victims to their own flaws, but in the play, Hamlet, Ophelia, and Claudius stand out in the play. Especially in Shakespeare other tragic plays, he shows how their flaws are their own demise. For example, in the play Macbeth, Macbeth’s
Emily Dickinson once said “Much madness is divinest Sense— To a discerning Eye—“. This type of madness can be found in the play “Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Though many characters show madness throughout the play, Ophelia’s madness is the most prevalent. Ophelia has good reason for this irrational behavior because of the trauma she has gone through. First, her boyfriend dumps her, then he calls her vulgar names, and lastly, he kills her father.
The story of Hamlet by William Shakespeare is a story of betrayal, revenge, and intrigue. Hamlet, the title character discovers that his uncle killed his father and married his mother effectively stealing the throne. Hamlet decides he must kill his uncle Claudius as revenge for what he had done. However, as the new king, Hamlet isn't sure how to get to him, so he decides to fake madness, but his plan backfires as Claudius doesn't trust him and makes sure he is always watched. In his fumbled plan for revenge, Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius, forces Polonius's son Laertes to seek revenge against him, and drives Ophelia crazy causing her to kill herself.
In “Hamlet” William Shakespeare uses the character Ophelia to get to the men around her. She’s portrayed as a weak, trusting woman that tells her father and brother everything. They see her as a virtuous, unsuspecting, loyal daughter. Hamlet sees her differently. He sees her as an object, easily disposable.
Sometimes in life people do not portray things how the really mean to. Sometimes people treat the people they truly love harshly. Sort of like how in the play of Hamlet, Hamlet acts like he does not really love Ophelia. But, in the tragedy of Hamlet, the protagonist, Hamlet, really did love Ophelia. This can be seen through his actions toward her before he found out about his father’s death being a murder, pretending to be crazy simply to prove to the king and Polonius, and by his actions after Ophelia 's death.
Considering Hamlet's internalized deep-rooted emotions of discontent towards his mother, it is safe to assume the line was spoken with negative connotations. For instance, Hamlet expresses similar opinions toward Gertrude, "Such an act That blurs the grace and blush of modesty" (Act 3 Scene 3 lines 47-48). He criticizes his mothering immodesty for remarrying shortly afterward the King's death. The line depicts her hold internal anger towards his mother. Analyzing the scene in which Hamlet converses with Ophelia, it essentially was done to belittle her, possibly stemming from the betrayal he felt from his mother.
He gives an incite of the perception of males when it comes to having relations with women. He stated that Hamlet didn’t genuinely love Ophelia and it was simply a lie to make her feel special. In a way he lowered Ophelia’s confidence by suggesting that he would not choose her over a prettier woman. He then argues with Ophelia and tells her that all Hamlet wanted to do was get in her pants because she was easy and gullible to him. Another situation that shows significance to this paper is how the household is being run.
Consequently, Hamlet’s view of women being adulterous not only root from his mother; however, they root from his misogynistic tendencies as
For the duration of the play, Ophelia was portrayed as a naïve and submissive woman. Her passivity and powerlessness reinforce the voicelessness of women during the Elizabethan era. For example, “I shall obey, my lord” (I.iii.134) shows that Ophelia concedes to her father’s will, even though she believes Hamlet’s love is genuine. She is willing and expected to obey her father despite the fact that she still loves Hamlet, which emphasizes her character’s submissive nature. Furthermore, in Act I Laertes warns Ophelia that it would be shameful of her to love Hamlet, and she responds with “I shall the effect of this good lesson keep as a watchman to my heart” (I.iii.45).
Ophelia’s death results from Hamlet's madness, his telling Ophelia that she needs to go to a nunnery, and Polonius's death. Hamlet telling Ophelia to go to a nunnery made Ophelia feel insecure. Especially when Hamlet told Ophelia that he would marry her just so she would sleep with him. Then, Hamlet comes back to Ophelia telling her that she needs to go to a nunnery. Which is basically calling Ophelia a whore, because a nunnery is like a whorehouse. Ophelia at this point felt very insecure about herself and she questioned her relationship with Hamlet.
“Love can be uncertain, but true: The story of Hamlet and Ophelia” Love is a feeling difficult to understand. In fact no one exactly knows what does it mean to be in love. Some argue that being in love is feeling butterflies in the stomach and being constantly thinking about someone special. In my opinion, to love someone means to care for them and show respect at all times. In this play, The Tragedy of Hamlet, love is portrayed between the main character, Hamlet and the dear Ophelia.
While Hamlet argues with Ophelia, he proclaims, “Get thee to a nunnery… God has given you one face and you make yourselves another. You jig and amble, and your lips, you nickname God’s creatures and make your wantonness your ignorance. Go to, I’ll no more on’t. It hath made me mad. I say, we will have no more marriages” (3.1.123-148).
In The Tragedy of Hamlet, Hamlet has a unique relationship with Ophelia. Throughout the beginning of the play you learn very little about their relationship. Their relationship was referenced however. In the beginning of the play, Laertes warns Ophelia about Hamlet, claiming he does not actually love Ophelia. Throughout the play it is implied that Hamlet and Ophelia were involved with one another, but never showed the details of their "love."
In “Hamlet” a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, the death of a character is an occurring event. William Shakespeare uses imagery and allusion to demonstrate the result of manipulation from other characters upon Ophelia, daughter of Polonius, and leading up to her death. Her death was not the consequence of disgraceful actions of her own, but rather by the involvement of others and their influence on her life. Hamlet’s apparent rejection of her love and her father’s personal vindictive leads up to her simple-minded state, entering a world of madness. She has now gone mad, singings nonsense songs and giving people flowers that she has picked from the garden.
In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet there are many male characters, but the only two significant female characters are Ophelia and Gertrude. Ophelia is the daughter of Polonius, a high ranking official in the court in Denmark who serves as a love interest and an object of desire for Hamlet, although it is often unclear which at many point during the play. Gertrude is the wife of King Claudius, the widow of the former king, King Hamlet, and the mother of Hamlet. In Hamlet the women often appear as if they do not have a significant role in the play. However, Ophelia’s interactions with Hamlet exaggerate his apparent madness and by being a foil to Hamlet.
