Hamlet by William Shakespeare †Ophelia Character Analysis Essay

Even as a sm all(prenominal) fry char ventureer in the play Hamlet, the character Ophelia plays a vital segment in the development of twain the plot and thematic ideas. However, Ophelia is an extremely multiform character as she can be read in umpteen different ways. This in effect causes the readers or audition to be more than insightful and gain a greater understanding of the plot and thematic ideas in the play such as Love and Loyalty, and Madness. When exploring the character of Ophelia we mustiness(prenominal) take into addressation personal beliefs, knowledge and outside criticisms which may pretend our reading of the character. For example, if the reader analyses Ophelias character from the perspective of feminism, concerned with the pit rights and fair treatment of women, or historical context, an understanding of what it was like in the period of time the play was both written and set their views of the character will differ, which then causes the reader to has ten a more in depth understanding of the plot and themes.Ophelia is present in only a few scenes of the play. This is due to the fact that when the play was written in the Elizabethan period females were considered to be very backstage miscellany of people. There speculate was to stay home, look after the family and complete the housework. They were non allowed to perform and thereof there be very few female characters in Shakespeares plays. If a play did consist of female characters they were generally played by young boys, which effectively caused restrictions and limitations amongst characterisation.Using feminism makes it possible to believe that Ophelia is not to pose as a main character of the play, but to act as a foil, to help the audience understand the more most-valuable characters in the play. Hamlets madness and Ophelias feelings of rage for both Hamlet and her father are prime examples of the use of Ophelia as a foil. In both instances she is organism used to he lp the audience severalize the emotions and discrepancies of Hamlet and her father. Unfortunately, as Ophelias presence is limited it is believed that her character, although important, is poorly real and thence provides readers with the opportunity to make up their own judgement.Ophelia can be argued as a character that despite her beauty is weak, frail and advantageously controlled. Her lack of self confidence makes her an easy target for Hamlets abuse. Ophelia has a very connected relationship with her brother, Laertes, and father, Polonius, but unfortunately she allows them to recognise her how to live her animateness. An example of this is where Laertes warns Ophelia against having a relationship with Hamlet_For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour,__Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood,__A violet in the young of primy nature,__Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,__The perfume and suppliance of a minute,__No more._( exploit 1 Scene 3 lines 5-10)He suggests to Oph elia that Hamlet may not actually love her, he equitable wants a little girlfriend because that is the fashionable thing to do. That is what everyone else his age is doing and therefore it is not true everlasting love. Furthermore, Polonius uses his parental power to convince Ophelia that she is excessively young and doesnt understand that her decision to go with Hamlet would be a bad option. He also explains to Ophelia that as they are noble, continuing her relationship with hamlet will affect not only her life but also the lives of her family members_Marry, well bethought.__Tis told me he hath very oft of late__Given private time to you, and you yourself__Have of your audience been most free and bounteous.__If it be so as so tis put on me,__And that in way of caution I must tell you__You do not understand yourself so clearly__As it behoves my female child and your honour.__What is between you? Give me up the truth._(Act 1 Scene 3 lines 90-98)These both positions both demon strate the theme of Love and Loyalty. In both instances Ophelia is being warned against her love for Hamlet. She is put in the situation of having to postulate between her love for Hamlet or her loyalty to her family. However, as the play continues so does the situation between Love and Loyalty, and we begin to notice that Ophelia lacks an identity of her own. She is dependant on the men in her life as is apparent(a) in Act 3 Scene 2 (line 126), where she raises I think nothing, my Lord. At this plosive speech sound she has been hurt so badly and is so confused that she doesnt consider her thoughts to be important. Unfortunately, as time goes on the conflicts continue and Ophelia is forced to choose loyalty over love causing her to go into a state of madness.Madness is a theme evident throughout the entire text. It is evident in Hamlet, Ophelia, Polonius and Laertes. When discussing Ophelias character, her madness is almost always at the nubble of controversy. Some people belie ve that Ophelias madness was caused by erotomania, which the Elizabethans referred to as female love-melancholy. Ophelia has also been interpreted as a young girl who felt too much and somehow allowed theses feelings to overcome her. It would be rather simple for such an action to drive a person to madness, just as Ophelia was driven mad. If this was thecause of her madness it suggests that it stemmed from some sort of frustrated erotic passion between herself and Hamlet. However, a more raise suggestion is that Ophelias madness was caused by the ending of her father or more importantly, the removal from all the male connections of the hierarchy.Ophelia was living in a patriarchal world where women were extremely dependant on men. Once all the men in Ophelias life were gone she could not dole out as she relied on them for advice and direction. If this is the case Ophelia then becomes the victim. This type of madness no doubt causes a different reaction by the audience toward the character. sooner of being just some lovesick girl who drove herself insane, Ophelia becomes the unobjectionable woman who loved her father so dearly that someone else has caused her sorrowfulness and driven her mad. However, when taking the perspective of a feminist we begin to chat the madwoman as a heroine, a powerful figure that rebels against both the family and loving order.At first glance Ophelia seems like a simple character. However, an in depth reading of her character proves otherwise. Although Ophelia can be argued as a woman who is weak, frail and ultimately driven to madness by the death of her father and her love for Hamlet, an understanding of feminism and historical context helps the audience to better understand Ophelias complicated character which can have multiple readings. However, as a poorly developed character we are able to make our own judgement and hypothesise the plot and thematic ideas. In essence, Ophelias character is just like a concur in which you choose your own ending. Her character is both limited and incomplete. Therefore, in order to gain an understanding of the plot and the thematic ideas of, Love and Loyalty, and Madness, we must create a complete perception of Ophelia. However, no matter what meter reading you choose, you will still come out in the end with a woman represented poorly.