King Lear

Hamlet - the Character of Ophelia Ophelia is in love with Hamlet, but like so many women, she is at the beck and call of her family first and foremost. Ophelia is not unintelligent, she is simply weak-willed. She doesn't know what she wants, so she lets other people decide for her, namely her father and brother. Hamlet's love letters are at odds with her father's wishes, and, because she is not able to form individual thoughts and opinions, she becomes confused as to what she really wants. Ophelia's weakness of mind and will, which catalyzes her obedience to her father and thus destroys her hope for Hamlet's love, finally results in her insanity and eventual death.

That weakness of mind and will, which permitted her obedience to her father and thus destroyed her hope for Hamlet's love, finally resulted in her insanity and death. When her father had challenged the honor of Hamlet's intentions, Ophelia could only reply "I do not know, my lord, what I should think" (III, iii). Used to relying upon her father's direction and brought up to be obedient, she can only accept her father's belief, seconded by that of her brother, that Hamlet's "holy vows" of love were simply designed for her seduction. She was to obey her father's orders not to permit Hamlet to see her again. Her father also wanted to prove Hamlet's madness to the king.

When she wore plain garments she gained dignity to her name which symbo... ... middle of paper ... ...would curb her doubts. Dorothea is not looking for a lover because her faith blinds her into thinking she always needs to gain more faith and knowledge but through his tone, the author shows that she needs a father figure now because she is still a child and continues to need guidance. It is wrong to say that the author is merely criticizing Dorothea as a person. Through many adjectives and allusions, he recognizes her as a young, clever woman who is seen as the ideal in respect to her purity and her lack of vanity. He comments on her “open, ardent, and non self-admiring” character because she views her sister as more beautiful and deserving of relationship than herself.

(III; iv; 29-30). Hamlet is revolted by the idea of his uncle and his mother married. Hamlet also encounters loneliness and despair from Ophelia. As part of Hamlet’s "plan" to put on an antic disposition he distances himself from Ophelia who he is actually in love with. He does this by insulting her and convincing her that he is mad and never had any true feelings for her.

King Lear as a Tragedy Caused by Arrogance, Rash Decisions and Poor Judgement of Character Shakespeare lays out the fate of all the characters in Ling Lear within the first scene of the play, leaving no doubt in the audience's mind that a terrible mistake is taking place, because of the way other characters react, Kent for example. Ironically the king states his wish "that future strife be prevented" by his division of the kingdom between his three daughters on declarations of their love. He is both naïve and vain in believing that carving up his kingdom in this way will create anything other than rivalry and disaster. Two of his daughters, Goneril and Regan, are prepared to flatter him because they both have ambitions for power and wealth, while the youngest, Cordelia, will not exaggerate her true feelings: that of a loving daughter, "I love your majesty according to my bond: nor more nor less." The king ignores the Earl of Kent who tries to defend Cordelia and banishes him for daring to speak out.

Cordelia thought to herself, “What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent” (11). As the favorite daughter of King Lear, Cordelia also offers his father the most pure and wholehearted devotion. However, her reticent nature prevented Cordelia from speaking her feelings aloud. Her love for her father is simply too great to describe in words, unlike the sheer flattery her two elder sisters spouted.

For instance, when Hamlet states, “Get thee to a nunnery. Why wouldst thou be a breeder / of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest, but yet I / could accuse me of such things that it were better my/ mother had not borne me” (3.1.121-23). He tells Ophelia that he doesn’t love her, which was cruel and uncalled for, even if Ophelia is not completely innocent in this situation as she is spying on him by her father’s orders. Furthermore, Hamlet’s misogyny continues as he disrespects his own mother, as he states, “She married—O most wicked speed!

Everyone else will have to stay single. Get yourself to a convent, fast” (III.i.136-152). In this rage, he tells Ophelia that if she marries a smart man he will know that she will ruin their marriage, he tells her that he doesn’t want to marry her anymore, and to bring herself to a whorehouse. He looked down on Ophelia at this moment because she had upset him by following what her father had told her to do. Hamlet tells her these things to try and hurt her feelings even though he loves her, her is mad at her for listening to Polonius all the times.

Soon after their elopement, envious Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him. Othello becomes enraged cursing Desdemona as a whore. When Othello questions her, we again see her strong sense of devotion, pleading for his trust rather than vehemently defending herself. "I hope my noble lord esteems me honest… Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed?" However, her faith in Othello is so strong that it undermines her "modern", prideful characteristics.

Desdemona represents many characteristics throughout the play Othello. The attributes of one such as Desdemona appear to be the perfect qualities that a woman can possess. Yet it is these same seemingly wonderful qualities that turn against their host, blinding them to the realities of society. Her trust in her husband does not allow her to see the beast he has become. Her loyalty to her friends blurs how the relationship may be seen from outside sources.