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

Hamlet - the Character of Ophelia Ophelia is in neck with Hamlet, but give care so many women, she is at the beck and call of her family first and foremost. Ophelia is not unintelligent, she is hardly weak-willed. She doesnt know what she wants, so she lets other people decide for her, namely her produce and brother. Hamlets love letters are at odds with her haves wishes, and, because she is not suitable to form individual thoughts and opinions, she becomes confused as to what she really wants. Ophelias weakness of read/write head and will, which catalyzes her obedience to her father and thus destroys her hope for Hamlets love, finally results in her aberration 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 solely de supported 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 induce to her fathers desires. By not thinking for herself and only doing as her father wished, she undone her chances of love with Hamlet. Hamlet put pressure on Ophelia by expecting her to slip away 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 address 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 pageant a sincere tribute, and it is apparent h e still loves her. His attempts to win her inwardness are not triumphant. Ophelia is still too much under the square up of her father to question his wisdom or authority, and she has no mind of her bear to understand how much she has made her lover suffer.