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Representation of women in Shakespeare's plays
Discuss the role of female characters in Hamlet
Discuss the role of female characters in Hamlet
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Throughout many literary works we are met with characters who appear briefly throughout that work. In the literary work Hamlet (Shakespeare, 1603), we are introduced to the character Ophelia. Ophelia can either been seen as driven for her mad love towards Hamlet, or seen just as a victim to society for the outrageous expectations she has for being a woman. Ophelia appears briefly throughout Hamlet, but when she appears she is caught between the her father and brother’s instructions, and Hamlet’s overwhelming demands. Throughout most appearances Ophelia has in Hamlet she is met with nothing but request from Hamlet and her father and brother. During the duration of Hamlet, the reader or audience member may feel a sense of woebegone for Ophelia
In the playwright Hamlet by William Shakespeare, there are many characters that change throughout the play. For example, Hamlet is one of the characters who changed a lot throughout the play. Hamlet changes a lot because at first, Hamlet was depressed then became suicidal and in the end, Hamlet wanted revenge. However, Ophelia is also a character that changes throughout the play. In my opinion, I believe that Ophelia’s change throughout the play is the most important because Ophelia was obedient at first, then she became depressed and lastly, she became insane.
In Shakespeare's tragedy, Hamlet, the audience finds a docile, manipulated, scolded, victimized young lady named Ophelia. Ophelia is a foil to Hamlet. Plays have foils to help the audience better understand the more important characters in the play. The character of Ophelia is necessary so that the audience will give Hamlet a chance to get over his madness and follow his heart.
Ophelia is portrayed as a sensitive, fragile woman. Easily overpowered and controlled by her brother and father, Ophelia is destined to be weak. Ophelia’s brother, Laertes, warns and pushes Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet and is further supported by their father Polonius. “Polonius enters and adds his warning to those of Laertes. He orders Ophelia not to spend time with Hamlet or even talk to him. Ophelia promises to obey” (“Hamlet” 95). Ophelia’s obedience to her father’s directions prove the side she
Ophelia was driven mad by the death of her father Polonius and how Hamlet betrayed her love with his own wave of madness which was just an act. In her madness, Ophelia talks about her father and his death and about the “Tricks in the world” (terrible things that happen to people). Ophelia’s madness was also the extent of her being used by her father so he could spy on Hamlet to see if he was truly crazy and then by Hamlet when he claimed he no longer loved her and that he didn’t send her any letters (remembrances). Ophelia’s speech and her fragments of songs are unsensible. Her song was about her father’s death “He is gone, He is gone” (4.5.220), and a maiden who is tricked into losing her virginity with a false promise of love and the possibility of marriage. “To be your valentine, then up he rose and donned his clothes and duped the chamber door” (4.5.56-58)
In The Tragedy of Hamlet, Shakespeare developed the story of prince Hamlet, and the murder of his father by the king's brother, Claudius. Hamlet reacted to this event with an internal battle that harmed everyone around him. Ophelia was the character most greatly impacted by Hamlet's feigned and real madness - she first lost her father, her sanity, and then her life. Ophelia, obedient, weak-willed, and no feminist role model, deserves the most pity of any character in the play.
Ophelia is a beautiful young woman, easily influenced by the opinions and desires of those superior to her. This simple-mindedness is revealed through her relationships with the men in her life. Ophelia is most molded by her father and brother, Polonius and Laertes, who love her with their own faults. On the other hand, Hamlet manipulates his way into Ophelia’s heart and mind through professions of love. However, Hamlet is a womanizer and believes all women to be the same. This misogynistic perception is reflected in Ophelia and Gertrude’s striking similarities as the only two women in the play. Her lack of self without the dominating figures pulling her in opposite directions leads to her ultimate destruction.
The story of Hamlet is a morbid tale of tragedy, commitment, and manipulation; this is especially evident within the character of Ophelia. Throughout the play, Ophelia is torn between obeying and following the different commitments that she has to men in her life. She is constantly torn between the choice of obeying the decisions and wishes of her family or that of Hamlet. She is a constant subject of manipulation and brain washing from both her father and brother. Ophelia is not only subject to the torture of others using her for their intentions but she is also susceptible to abuse from Hamlet. Both her father and her brother believe that Hamlet is using her to achieve his own personal goals.
Ophelia is concerned with hamlet because in the past of their relationship he would buy her presents and write her romantic love letters. Ophelia decides to break things off with him because hamlet starting acting weird. Ophelia said that, Hamlet came up to her dressed very strangely, with his stockings askew, his shirt untucked, and no hat, and that he was "pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each other; and with a look so piteous in purport as if he had been loosed out of hell." His clothes are a mess, and he’s flustered, super pale, and looks like he 's just seen a ghost. Hamlet then grabs her hand, and with his other hand, felt her face "as he would draw it." He’s acting very strange, feeling her face like he wants to memorize it, and then, he "raised a sigh so piteous and profound as it did seem to shatter all his bulk." He shook her arm a few times, shook his head a few times, then left the room, all the while keeping his eyes fastened on her. In Hamlets mind, he is upset at his mother for marrying his uncle so quickly after his father 's death. I feel that
Ophelia, in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, represents a self-confident and aware female character. She analyzes the world around her and recognizes the multitude of male figures attempting to control her life. Her actions display not only this awareness, but also maturity in her non-confrontational discussions. Though she is demeaned by Laertes, Polonius, and Hamlet, Ophelia exhibits intelligence and independence and ultimately resorts to suicide in order to free herself from the power of the men around her.
Melancholy, grief, and madness pervade Shakespeare's great tragedy, Hamlet. The emotional maladies presented within Hamlet, not only allow the audience to sympathize with prince Hamlet, but also with the tragic lady Ophelia as well. It is Ophelia who suffers at her lover's discretion because of decisions she was obligated to make on behalf of her weak societal position.
Ophelia trusts the advise given and her obedience is very evident in this matter as she avoids contact with Hamlet until she is told by her father, with the King and Queens approval, to meet up with him by 'accident' in the lobby. Deceit not being in her nature, believing that her father, the king and queen are right and true; that Hamlet is mad; and probably curious to know if Hamlet is "mad in love" with her the young, obedient, powerless Ophelia does her part to search out the truth. But tragically this one forced step outside of her true character begins her downfall. In a precarious predicament, loyalty to her father compelled Ophelia to lie to Hamlet when he asked about her father?s location at that moment saying he was at home instead of behind a tapestry right the...
Act 1: Ophelia has been plotting for the throne for a long time. Her father, Polonius is the king’s trusted advisor and her brother Laertes is a soldier. Ophelia’s mother died when she was very young. Polonius insists she is the spitting image of her mother. Laertes is often away and only receives update letters from his father in which he praises Ophelia.
In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia is the most static character in the play. Instead of changing through the course of the play, she remains suffering in the misfortunes perpetrated upon her. She falls into insanity and dies a tragic death. Ophelia has issues surviving without a male influence, and her downfall is when all the men in her life abandon her. Hamlet’s Ophelia, is a tragic, insane character that cannot exist on her own.
Ophelia’s betrayal ends up putting Hamlet over the edge, motivating him in his quest for revenge. Ophelia is one of the two women in the play. As the daughter of Polonius, she only speaks in the company of several men, or directly to her brother or father. Since we never see her interactions with women, she suppresses her own thoughts in order to please her superiors. Yet, however weak and dependent her character is on the surface, Ophelia is a cornerstone to the play’s progression.
In Act III.II.I-XLVII of Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Hamlet gives the actors who are to star in the famous “mousetrap play” a list of advice: the to do’s and not to do’s. Hamlet’s advice, specifically lines XVII-XXXVII, serves as a mirror to nature as its purpose is to ensure that the play is a device for truth, and consequently an exposé for flaws. Hamlet’s advice appears to be for the good of the play, but, in actuality, its purpose is to reveal his feeling towards Claudius, Gertrude, and Ophelia.