Hamlet - the Character of Ophelia :: Essays on Shakespeare Hamlet

Hamlet - the Character of Ophelia Ophelia is in lovemaking with Hamlet, but identical so many women, she is at the beck and call of her family first and foremost. Ophelia is not unintelligent, she is just now weak-willed. She doesnt know what she wants, so she lets other people decide for her, namely her render and brother. Hamlets love letters are at odds with her stupefys wishes, and, because she is not adequate to form individual thoughts and opinions, she becomes confused as to what she really wants. Ophelias weakness of judgment and will, which catalyzes her obedience to her father and thus destroys her hope for Hamlets love, finally results in her madness and eventual death. When her father had challenged the honor of Hamlets intentions, Ophelia could only reply I do not know, my lord, what I should think (III, iii). Used to relying upon her fathers direction and brought up to be obedient, she can only accept her fathers belief, seconded by that of her brother, that Hamlets holy vows of love were only if de cuted for her seduction. She was to obey her fathers orders not to permit Hamlet to see her again. Her father also wanted to prove Hamlets madness to the king. He used Ophelia as bait so he and the king could listen to Hamlets words. Ophelia willingly cause to her fathers desires. By not thinking for herself and only doing as her father wished, she washed-up her chances of love with Hamlet. Hamlet put pressure on Ophelia by expecting her to overcome his mothers shortcomings and be an epitome of womankind. He searched her innocent face for some sign of loving truth that might restore his faith in her. He took her mute terror for a sign of her guilt and found her to be a false person, like his mother. In his letter to her, he communicate the letter to the most beautified Ophelia and he terminated the letter with I love thee best, O most best, believe it (II, ii). He used the word beautified to pageantry a sincere tribute, and it is appar ent he still loves her. His attempts to win her spirit are not triumphant. Ophelia is still too much under the deflect of her father to question his wisdom or authority, and she has no mind of her declare to understand how much she has made her lover suffer.