Ophelia: The Tragedy Of Love
In 1600, William Shakespeare composed what is considered the greatest tragedy of all time, Hamlet, the tragedy of the Prince of Denmark. His masterpiece forever redefined what tragedy should be. Critics have analyzed it word for word for nearly four hundred years, with each generation appreciating Hamlet in its own way. While Hamlet conforms, without a doubt, to Aristotle's definition of a tragedy, one question still lingers. Did Shakespeare intend for the reader or viewer of Hamlet to feel greater sympathy for Hamlet, or for Ophelia, Hamlet's lover? Both characters tug at the heartstrings throughout the play, but it is clear that 'the tragedy of the Prince of Denmark' is a ...
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was to make Ophelia, a minor character in terms of the number of lines assigned to her, into a memorable character evoking the most sympathy.
To fully see Ophelia's metamorphosis, one must compare her at the beginning and at the conclusion of Hamlet. Appearing first in Act 1, Scene 3, Ophelia seems to be a spirited young girl. She is very trusting and innocent. Most important however, Ophelia is naive to the way things are. Laertes attempts to 'educate' her about love, in lines 10-44, but his advice falls on deaf ears because Ophelia does not truly 'understand' until she becomes mad. Starting in act 4, scene 5, line 42, Ophelia states: "Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be" (4.5.42ff). It seems clear that Ophelia, in her madness, knows what others "may be." She has become enlightened in her insanity. Unfortunately, because of her suicide, Ophelia is never given the chance to know what she herself might have been. Clearly though, Ophelia does change ...
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her virginity, he plants the idea that love is unworthy and that a lover is not to be trusted. Virginity is something to be strongly guarded in a world where all me are false. Poor young innocent Ophelia undoubtedly took his advise without knowing the hypocrisy in his statements. Laertes is heading for France and will, no doubt, meet a few 'ladies.' No one urges Laertes to guard his virginity. When Polonius dishes out his own brand of advice for Laertes, there is no single point dealing with the unkind world of love. This is one example of the hypocrisy and double standard between the sexes which continues to this day. In contrast to Laertes, Polonius is much crueler to Ophelia. ...
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"Ophelia: The Tragedy Of Love." Essayworld.com. January 15, 2006. Accessed November 22, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Ophelia-The-Tragedy-Of-Love/39663.
"Ophelia: The Tragedy Of Love." Essayworld.com. January 15, 2006. Accessed November 22, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Ophelia-The-Tragedy-Of-Love/39663.
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