Comparing Hamlet And Ophelia In Shakespeare's Hamlet

After the deaths of their respective fathers, both Hamlet and Ophelia from Shakespeare’s Hamlet are virtually consumed with grief. Hamlet was engulfed in thoughts of vengeance, while Ophelia’s sense of mental wellbeing dissipated. Though the circumstances around the deaths of their fathers were relatively similar, the contrasting manners in which they handled their grief imply a distinctive difference between Hamlet and Ophelia’s personalities and reveal their departure from traditional gender customs. To begin with, Hamlet’s grief manifested as the ghost of his recently passed father, who proceeds to tell Hamlet a tale of betrayal on the part of Hamlet’s uncle Claudius, which ultimately resulted in Hamlet Sr.’s death. The ghost is already

Claudius’ challenge of Hamlet’s manhood enrages him further, bolstering his resolve to kill him. Incidentally, multiple opportunities present themselves, such as when Claudius has his back turned while on his knees praying. Hamlet is poised to take his life, but hesitates, thinking “now might I do it pat, now he is praying...villain send to heaven.” (3.3.77-83). Under the guise of not wanting to kill Claudius while he is repenting— lest he be spared from an eternity in hell—Hamlet falters. Even though one of Hamlet’s main traits is viciousness, he appears to ultimately be ruled by fear. His fear bleeds into his thought process, dictating what he does—and does not—do. Frustrated, he contemplates suicide, questioning whether “to be or not to be,” and hopes that “all [his] sins [will be] remembered” (3.1.64-98). Again, Hamlet is paralyzed by fear. In this case, he relinquishes the thought when he considers what may happen to himself after he dies. Hamlet’s inability to take any course of action at all further disheartens him, and even compels him to question his own manhood. This is also seen later in Ophelia’s grief, where she also disregards the traditional gender roles her dearly departed father ingrained in