Ophelia's Dramatic Irony

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The Tragedy of Hamlet is written as substantial, yet subtle. Shakespeare creates this drama with twists and turns in each scene, which spikes some readers to sit on edge of one’s seat. Shakespeare uses soliloquies, dramatic dialogues, and revenge tragedy to unfold a tremendous amount of details of Hamlet, thus causing a dramatic irony approach. Hamlet and Ophelia’s love for one another is played quite differently in Laurence Oliver than Franco Zeffirelli’s version of this tragic play. Ophelia and Hamlet’s love for one another was separated due to Ophelia’s oppression in the play. Hamlet and Ophelia was in a lustful relationship, as proven in the play. During their dialogue, Hamlet says, “The fair Ophelia. -Nymph, in thy Orisons be all …show more content…

In Act 3, Scene 1, Oliver creates Hamlet to be very calm, otherwise sharp with Ophelia. Hamlet seems to be expressionless, doubtful, and paranoid of Ophelia’s appearance as he nonchalantly states, “The fair Ophelia…Well, well, well.” Ophelia has the appearance of being more devoted to Hamlet in this specific play. As Hamlet questions her on why she came to see him, Ophelia is regretful and does not dare to look Hamlet in the eye. The audience would think of the demeanor of Ophelia as her being forced to do something she does not want to do. For example, Ophelia has her head turned as she says, “Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.” After Hamlet’s outburst about Ophelia’s father playing the fool in his own home, Ophelia reaches in to hug hamlet, thus showing emotion. This action caused Hamlet to throw her down and him to storm up and down the stairwell as he rambled and curse Ophelia and her future life and reputation. Laurence Oliver showed Hamlet as careless and angry, while showing Ophelia as broken and in seek of forgiveness. Some would say that this account was oddly agreeable rather than the newer