If you order your custom term paper from our custom writing service you will receive a perfectly written assignment on What are the different ways in which an audience can interpret the actions of Ophelia in Hamlet?. What we need from you is to provide us with your detailed paper instructions for our experienced writers to follow all of your specific writing requirements. Specify your order details, state the exact number of pages required and our custom writing professionals will deliver the best quality What are the different ways in which an audience can interpret the actions of Ophelia in Hamlet? paper right on time.
Our staff of freelance writers includes over 120 experts proficient in What are the different ways in which an audience can interpret the actions of Ophelia in Hamlet?, therefore you can rest assured that your assignment will be handled by only top rated specialists. Order your What are the different ways in which an audience can interpret the actions of Ophelia in Hamlet? paper at affordable prices!
Ophelia, the daughter of Polonius (the Kings adviser) and lover of Prince Hamlet is a very complex character. We see several sides to her persona; the audience could interpret her actions differently depending on their own views and opinions of her predicament.
There are two main ways in which Ophelia could be viewed. She could be viewed as a callous, weak-willed, morally suspect, selfish temptress or, as feminists argue, the victim as she was exploited throughout the play. There is sufficient evidence to support both of these claims, but in order to decide either way we have to study Ophelias actions to see how they could be perceived.
We could decide that Ophelia is weak willed as she chooses her father's wish over her relationship with her lover. When she is told not,
'to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet' (1.)
She obliges with minimal resistance. Ophelia's weak, careless attitude is portrayed throughout the play and she seems to go along with everyone else's plots and schemes. She had little say over her being used in her father's spying of Hamlet She is not strong headed and is very easily dominated. An example of this is when she agrees with her brother's view, when he tells her not lose
'your [Ophelia's] chaste treasure' (Act 1 Scene Line 1)
to Hamlet as it would make her less desirable.
She rarely thinks for herself. The audience is left to wonder how much Ophelia actually loved Hamlet if she so readily,
'did repel his letters and denied his access to me [Ophelia]'.
(Act Scene 1 line 10-110)
She also acted quite callously towards Hamlet when she says,
'I have remembrances of yours that I have longed long to
re-deliver'. (Act Scene 1 Line -4)
Ophelia already thought that it was his unacquainted love for her that had led to his insanity. Giving him his 'remembrances' back is just being cruel. Some would think that she deserved Hamlets insults.
The concept of Ophelia being a defenceless, sweet little girl can also be seen as a farce. We are told that she is very flirtatious as she does 'jig and amble'. One could think that Ophelia just liked Hamlets attention and was just falsely leading him on; she clearly didn't love him as she ended her relationship with him too readily.Also, as Rebecca West states, Ophelia had tolerated obscene conversation with young Hamlet. An example of this is;
'Lady, shall I lie in your lap?' (Act Scene Line 110-111)
Here Hamlet's sexual innuendo insinuates sexual intercourse such indecent questions were certainly not a regular practice of the time. From this we could assume that Ophelia may not be a virgin and may already have had sex with Hamlet in the past (although there is no proof of this) and in Shakespearean times women had to be virgins at marriage.
Once more we have evidence of Ophelia being weak-willed as she runs straight to her father when she learns of Hamlets 'nervous disposition' as she can't think for her self and she is used to Polonius sorting out her problems for her. There is also some scope to view Ophelia as very selfish when she is, apparently grieving for Hamlet, her grievance seems very much like self pity as she says'
'Oh Woe is me' (Act Scene 1 Line 157)
and
'Of ladies most deject'. (Act Scene 1 Line 157)
Ophelia's suicide in itself shows her to be weak-willed as she chose the easy option rather than to face her bitter reality.
We can also see Ophelia in a completely different light. There is proof to show that Ophelia was actually oppressed and exploited, and many of the arguments put forward previously can easily be countered.
Ophelia ran to her father frequently because she had nobody else to turn to. We see no one in the whole play except for Laertes and Hamlet who she was close to and Hamlet was apparently mentally ill and Laertes was in France; she had no one else. The fact that in the end she lapsed into insanity and was driven to suicide shows just how desperate and insecure she was. Feminist critics would argue that she was manipulated and 'trained' by her farther to be obedient. They would view her as the heroine. This in turn links to women's role in Shakespearean times politeness and obedience were 'regarded as the highest of female graces'. We are also left to ponder whether or not her death actually was suicide or if her death was accidental. She could have committed suicide or as the Queen says Ophelia could have been picking,
'Crow-flowers, nettles, daisies and land purples'
(Act 4 Scene 7 line 168)
and she just
'Fell in the weeping brook'. (Act 4 Scene 7 Line 174)
This could be true or the Queen may be lying so that the news doesn't upset Laertes as much and also so that Ophelia is still entitled to a decent burial.
Ophelia was an utterly helpless heroine who was oppressed by aggressive men like her brother and farther. Polonius trained Ophelia to be obedient so that he could use her for his own benefit. Just like he used her in his spying games. It's wrong to say that Polonius didn't love his daughter, but he was very strict and very possessive of her.He refused to let her love Hamlet. He commanded her to,
'repel his letters and deny his access to me [Ophelia]' (Act Scene Line 10-110)
he also says that Hamlet's vows of love for Ophelia are lies
'how prodigal the soul lends the tongue vows- these blazes that daughter giving more light than heat, extinct in both.' (Act 1 Scene line 116-118)
Ophelia also respects her brother's opinion about her relationship with Hamlet and this shows that she is a loving open-minded person. We can see that Ophelia values her family greatly but she may not have actually had a choice other than to do as they say as she was oppressed.
We could also argue that because Polonius tried to shield Ophelia from the harsh reality of the world that this made the events that transpired even more horrible for Ophelia as she had never held such a burden and she could not cope.
Due to Ophelia's passive but respectful attitude to everyone else's wishes, she is used by almost the entire cast in Hamlet. Polonius used her to 'gain favour'. Laertes used her to exsert his power and to treat her like a child. Claudius used her to spy on hamlet. Hamlet used her to pretend she was the reason for his fake insanity and a cover-up for his plot to kill the king.
When Ophelia participated in Polonius' spy games she did so with Hamlets best interests at heart as she hoped that she could
'bring him back to his wonted way again'. (Act Scene 1 Line 41)
The audience is also shown that Ophelia is a very compassionate character. She is driven to insanity because of her love for Hamlet and Polonius. This distress shows her consideration for others. This compassion is also shown when she is being insulted by Hamlet, instead of getting angry she just preys for him to recover;
'O Help him, you sweet heavens' (Act Scene 1 Line 15)
'Heavenly powers, restore him'. (Act Scene 1 line 14)
In my opinion I think that the audience would probably sympathise with Ophelia and see her as the victim of tragic events. Ophelia was presented somewhat as the victim in Kenneth Branagh's portrail of her character and her grief seemed genuine
I feel that she was genuine in her love of Hamlet as her madness shows, and even more genuine in her respect for her farther. Ophelia idolised her farther and thus she was obedient to his every wish although I would assume she was resentful as his wish didn't coincide with her own.
Please note that this sample paper on What are the different ways in which an audience can interpret the actions of Ophelia in Hamlet? is for your review only. In order to eliminate any of the plagiarism issues, it is highly recommended that you do not use it for you own writing purposes. In case you experience difficulties with writing a well structured and accurately composed paper on What are the different ways in which an audience can interpret the actions of Ophelia in Hamlet?, we are here to assist you.Your cheap custom college paper on What are the different ways in which an audience can interpret the actions of Ophelia in Hamlet? will be written from scratch, so you do not have to worry about its originality.
Order your authentic assignment and you will be amazed at how easy it is to complete a quality custom paper within the shortest time possible!
