In the play Hamlet, the story centered around the psychological state of the main character Hamlet who is the prince of Denmark. Other character 's strength are not as well represented in the play. Nevertheless, the exception to this is one of the most important female characters: Polonius ' daughter Ophelia. Ophelia is a round, developing character. She moves from a confused, compliant daughter and a lying girlfriend to a bold, truth-teller and then a tortured woman. In the beginning of the play, Ophelia appear to be an obedient daughter and sister. She listens to her father and brother 's teach. Ophelia 's father Polonius and brother Laertes does not want Ophelia to be close to Hamlet because they know as a prince, Hamlet is only going
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Ophelia sings to Claudius and Gertrude as they come to visit. “Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s day, All in the morning betime, And I a maid at your window, To be your Valentine. Then up he rose, and donned his clothes, And dupped the chamber door. Let in the maid that out a maid. Never departed more”(Hamlet 4.5.45-50). As she sings, she talks about death and unrequited love. Women at the time were not allowed to voice their opinions, especially for a noble woman like Ophelia. Therefore, Ophelia 's outspokenness here is viewed as insane. Hamlet plays a role when it comes to Ophelia 's insanity. Ophelia loves Hamlet dearly but when she learns that her lover is the murder of her father, she becomes really confused. In a different point view, Claudius thinks it 's her father 's death that has driven her mad. In Ophelia 's song, she also mentions: “And will he not come again? And will he not come again? No, no, he is dead, Go to thy deathbed. He never will come again. His beard was as white as snow, All flaxen was his poll. He is gone, he is gone, And we cast away moan,God ha ' mercy on his soul.—And of all Christian souls, I pray God. God be wi ' ye (Hamlet 4.5.160-165). Therefore, Claudius advise Horatio to follow and watch over Ophelia because at this point her psychological state is very unstable. Finally, Ophelia goes through the stage where she suffer from all these …show more content…
When all the dilemma hits her, it forces her into madness. At the end, she cannot take it anymore and commits suicide. Gertrude uses these words to describe Ophelia 's death: “Her clothes spread wide, And mermaid-like a while they bore her up, Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds. As one incapable of her own distress, Or like a creature native and indued. Unto that element. But long it could not be. Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay. To muddy death” (Hamlet 47.74-81). The significance of Ophelia 's death in the play is that it shows that Ophelia is a selfless person. She is the only person who can be considered absolutely innocent in the play. However, her obedience subjugate her identity and cause her to end up committing suicide. Ophelia has great values in the play. The play kind of shows what happens when woman 's voices are sacrificed without much in way of care and reflection by men. She shows how a round character change from an obedient daughter and a lying girlfriend to a bold, truth-teller and then a tortured woman. Ophelia becomes the representation of why the assertion of women 's voice is essential in a world where men are in the position of power. Her suicide is a reminder of what happens to any human being when voice is silenced and identity is not
Ophelia sings to Claudius and Gertrude as they come to visit. “Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s day, All in the morning betime, And I a maid at your window, To be your Valentine. Then up he rose, and donned his clothes, And dupped the chamber door. Let in the maid that out a maid. Never departed more”(Hamlet 4.5.45-50). As she sings, she talks about death and unrequited love. Women at the time were not allowed to voice their opinions, especially for a noble woman like Ophelia. Therefore, Ophelia 's outspokenness here is viewed as insane. Hamlet plays a role when it comes to Ophelia 's insanity. Ophelia loves Hamlet dearly but when she learns that her lover is the murder of her father, she becomes really confused. In a different point view, Claudius thinks it 's her father 's death that has driven her mad. In Ophelia 's song, she also mentions: “And will he not come again? And will he not come again? No, no, he is dead, Go to thy deathbed. He never will come again. His beard was as white as snow, All flaxen was his poll. He is gone, he is gone, And we cast away moan,God ha ' mercy on his soul.—And of all Christian souls, I pray God. God be wi ' ye (Hamlet 4.5.160-165). Therefore, Claudius advise Horatio to follow and watch over Ophelia because at this point her psychological state is very unstable. Finally, Ophelia goes through the stage where she suffer from all these …show more content…
When all the dilemma hits her, it forces her into madness. At the end, she cannot take it anymore and commits suicide. Gertrude uses these words to describe Ophelia 's death: “Her clothes spread wide, And mermaid-like a while they bore her up, Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds. As one incapable of her own distress, Or like a creature native and indued. Unto that element. But long it could not be. Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay. To muddy death” (Hamlet 47.74-81). The significance of Ophelia 's death in the play is that it shows that Ophelia is a selfless person. She is the only person who can be considered absolutely innocent in the play. However, her obedience subjugate her identity and cause her to end up committing suicide. Ophelia has great values in the play. The play kind of shows what happens when woman 's voices are sacrificed without much in way of care and reflection by men. She shows how a round character change from an obedient daughter and a lying girlfriend to a bold, truth-teller and then a tortured woman. Ophelia becomes the representation of why the assertion of women 's voice is essential in a world where men are in the position of power. Her suicide is a reminder of what happens to any human being when voice is silenced and identity is not