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Hamlet: The Cause Of Ophelia's Insanity - College Essay

Hamlet: The Cause Of Ophelia's Insanity

Shakespeare, through his intricate uses of symbolism and dramatic
irony, arranges a brilliantly detailed account of how Hamlet's mental
upheaval served as the driving force of Ophelia's swelling insanity and
imminent suicide. He floods the early acts with an impending sense of
confusion within Ophelia, for her feelings toward hamlet greatly contrast
those of her brother and father. Ophelia begins to willingly take heed of
her family's advice as the prince finds himself removed from a lucid
pattern of thought. However, because her feelings for him are genuine, this
serves only to exalt her mental strain. In the height of Hamlet's
incoherent rage, he provides Ophelia with the ultimate ...

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puh! You speak like a green girl
Unsifted in such perilous circumstance.
Do you believe his "tenders" as you call them?
Oph.
I do not know, my lord, what I should think.
(I, iii, ln.107-113)

Ophelia openly professes her confusion. Polonius' response is presented in
a manner which is clearly intended to sincerely disdain Hamlet before his
daughter, making obvious his opinion of their involvement. His intent for
her actions, however, will merely magnify her confusion. Ophelia concedes
that she is not aware of a solution with which to halt or even improve this
situation. For this reason, no preventive measures are taken, only
allowing the situation to worsen.
Hamlets mind grows more and more clouded as his goal becomes clear,
and in the midst of his pervading preoccupation, he pushes Ophelia to the
point of mental breakdown. This notion appears in the second act, after
Ophelia first sees a deranged Hamlet.

Oph.
Lord Hamlet…
…with a look so ...

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Hamlet: The Cause Of Ophelia's Insanity. (2005, February 7). Retrieved January 22, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Hamlet-The-Cause-Of-Ophelias-Insanity/21855

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"Hamlet: The Cause Of Ophelia's Insanity." Essayworld.com. February 7, 2005. Accessed January 22, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Hamlet-The-Cause-Of-Ophelias-Insanity/21855.

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 2/7/2005 06:15:26 AM
Category: Arts
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 838
Pages: 4

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