An Inquiry into Ophelias Madness

A detailed Summary of An Inquiry into Ophelias Madness

The character Ophelia in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet plays a very interesting and important role in the elaboration of the plot. In the beginning, she starts off in a healthy state of mind, in love with her boyfriend Hamlet, yet controlled by her father in regard to their relationship. During the play she encounters several troubling experiences involving Hamlet which cause her to become distressed. Near the end, the death of her father leaves Ophelia mentally unstable and in a state of madness that eventually leads her to death. So, due to all of the unfortunate events that took place with the people she loved the most in her life, Ophelia gradually becomes mad, and in the end passes away.

Ophelia's and Hamlet's love for each other in the beginning was very real. Following the death of his father Hamlet falls in love with her, and is much attracted by her beauty. It is not uncertain, however, that Ophelia is very much controlled by her father. She is the daughter of Polonius, the chief advisor to the new King Claudius, and a highly respected man. Her father demands that she tell Hamlet at once that she can no longer be with him and tells her "I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth have you so sland

Ophelia's madness progresses throughout the play as she comes across more and more unfortunate incidents. She starts off happy with Hamlet by her side, but due to the fact that her life was under so much control by her father she lost him. The occurrences after their breakup were even more unsettling to Ophelia because of the unpleasant way Hamlet treated her. The death of her father is more than she can bare, and she ends up going completely insane. Ophelia's madness and the events that lead her to it are key parts in the plot in Shakespeare's play, Hamlet.

that Ophelia's love is what made him mad. "That hath made him mad" (II. i.110). Polonius then goes to tell the King and Queen of Hamlet's strange behavior and plans to spy on Hamlet to prove he's gone mad. Ophelia now is left feeling guilty. When she sees Hamlet later on she tries to speak with him, but is rejected coldly. He does not listen to her and screams harsh words leaving her feeling worthless and embarrassed. "...I loved you not." (III.i.119). "Get thee to a nunnery." (III.i.121) "... you jig, you amble, and you lisp, and nickname God's creatures, and make you wantonnes your ignorance. Go to, I'll no more on't;" (III.i.146-48) This incident causes Ophelia to become slightly disturbed. She sits weeping while her father and the King practically step on her weak body to find out more reason for Hamlet's actions. In this depressed state all she can say is "O! woe is me, to have seen what I have seen, what I see!" (III.i.163-64) So, because of Hamlet's rudeness and rejection through this part of the play, Ophelia is driven even more closer to insanity.

Perhaps the biggest cause of Ophelia's madness was the death of her father. The news of Polonius' death was just enough t

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Approximate Word count = 1186
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English