Ambiguity In Hamlet Essay

The tragedy Hamlet, one of the most renown Shakespearean shows, displays an impressive amount of ambiguity. The show is well loved by many because the ambiguity allows people to relate to Hamlet in ways not often seen in literature. One of the biggest ambiguities in the tragedy has to do with Hamlet’s love interest, Ophelia. At the beginning of the show it is revealed that Ophelia is receiving love letters from Hamlet and is advised by her father not to reciprocate as Hamlet is far above her station and could easily break her heart and ruin her reputation. Later we see Ophelia play the role of the spy and check up on Hamlet under the orders of Claudius and her father. Finally, after the death of her father, we see Ophelia break. She is considered

Ophelia is first ordered by Laertes to be careful around Hamlet with the reasoning that “he is subject to his birth” (citation) explaining that Hamlet may have to marry above his station or marry someone to resolve tensions between kingdoms rather than marry Ophelia. Next Ophelia is commanded by her father Polonius in the same scene to reject Hamlet’s advances because it is likely that Hamlet is only trying to gain access to her bed and in doing so, would not only dishonor Ophelia but also Polonius. Not long after this, Ophelia is commanded to spy on Hamlet to ascertain the reasons for his alleged madness. Hamlet, already knowing that the King is trying to spy on him, sees through Ophelia’s act and rebukes her. He commands her to “get…to a nunnery” (citation) and while Ophelia responds to these comments with “God have mercy on his soul” (citation), it isn’t confirmed whether Ophelia is playing along with Hamlet’s faked “madness” or whether she actually believes his

Ophelia starts on a happy note by speaking of St. Valentine’s day and then moves on to a more troubling topic. In the song she describes a young woman used by her lover. At first this seems that maybe Ophelia is mad before taking into account Laertes’ and Polonius’ advice to Ophelia in Act one. Both Laertes and Polonius warned Ophelia against Hamlet for the reason that she might fall victim to his enticements. In falling victim to these compliments, Ophelia would risk her virginity, the most valuable thing to a higher class woman. No man in his right mind during that time would marry a dishonored woman even though it was a different story for men. The lines “Then up he rose, and donned his clothes,/ And dupp’d the chamber-door;/ Let in the maid, that out a maid.” Reveal that Ophelia knows more about intimacy than a proper lady of her time should. Taking that into account, this song may be Ophelia using the guise of madness like Hamlet did, to confess her infidelity. Ophelia also speaks out against the social norms during this song. At the end of the song she speaks of the difference between men and women stating how a man bedding a woman is considered normal for the man but disgraceful for the woman. In her song she rebukes the men of society during that time by the