Examples Of Ophelia's Road To Madness

Ophelia’s road to madness The play Hamlet Written by Shakespeare, was set in the late middle ages. Often women in Shakespeare’s plays have a very significant role, Ophelia herself did not have a very significant role in the plot but she did have an effective influence on some characters. During this time period women were oppressed by the dominant sex. This had a very negative effect on women in that society. Because of male dominance, Ophelia was brought to madness which eventually lead to her death. There had been three very male dominant oppressors in Ophelia’s life. These three male figures had no doubt loved her. But there love quickly spread to control. Although they were both hurt over the loss of their dear, sweet Ophelia, the men

Although Hamlet had driven her insane with the complicated signs, she had also been a reason for his insanity as well. Hamlet had been corresponding with Ophelia for some time at the beginning of the play, but she had to cease all feelings and connections with her love because of her father’s orders. This had given a reason for Hamlet to begin acting mad toward Ophelia. He barged into her sewing closet, “As if he had been loosed out of hell/ to speak of horrors-he comes before me.” (Act 2. Scene 1. Lines 92-93). Hamlet had made Ophelia fearful. Hamlet handled her in such a way in her closet, as almost a form of abuse. But when she repelled his letters it drove him mad according to Polonius. Then the two met and discussed their love for each other and he had embarrassed her after they once loved each other. Hamlet claims that he did not love her and instead of being in the palace she should “Get thee to a nunnery! Why wouldst thou be a/ breeder of sinners?” (Act 3. Scene 1. Lines 131-132). He is yelling at her and she just takes it. She just replies as she would reply to anything being said to her. Ophelia has very little power among men. This is another reason Ophelia has gone mad because Hamlet is so bipolar with her. He does not realised that this hurts her and this is leading her down the path to madness. The third and least effective oppressor in her life is her brother, Laertes. He is

Scene 3. Lines 17-22)

This is actually an example of Laertes being a good, older brother and watching out for her so she does not end up hurt. But when her father comes, Laertes takes his side and does not defend her in any way, so he is letting Polonius control her. Then he leaves for England till Act 4, when he returns he comes to find that she has gone crazy and he tries to talk some sense into her but it is too late. Laertes has no way of undoing all the injustice she has received in her life thus far. Later in the play Ophelia is soon pronounced dead, when she is laid in the grave Laertes goes mad and climbs into the grave with her dead body. Then Hamlet jumps into the grave with him and they start fighting over her. Hamlet is getting attacked by laertes and proclaims “ I prithee take thy fingers from my throat;/ For though i am not splenitive and rash,/...Hold off thy hand.” (Act 5 Scene 1 lines 259, 260, 262). This symbolises how even when she is finally at peace she still has men trying to control