Essay on the Character of Ophelia in Hamlet :: Essays on Shakespeare Hamlet

The Character of Ophelia in Hamlet Ophelia is a beautiful and simple-minded woman, easily molded by the more powerful opinions and desires of others. The thoughts of her father and her brother influenced her the most. The bonk letters from Hamlet also swayed her opinions and confused her mind. Ophelia wasnt able to realize herself because of all the pressures exerted on her to be something shes not. That weakness of mind and will, which permitted her obedience to her father and thus finished her hope for Hamlets love, finally resulted in her insanity and death. When her father had challenged the honor of Hamlets intentions, Ophelia could only reply I do not know, my lord, what I should think (III, iii). Used to relying upon her fathers manner and brought up to be obedient, she can only accept her fathers belief, seconded by that of her brother, that Hamlets holy vows of love were simply designed for her seduction. She was to obey her fathers orders not to permit Hamlet to fo llow out her again. Her father also wanted to prove Hamlets madness to the king. He used Ophelia as bait so he and the king could listen to Hamlets words. Ophelia willingly obligate to her fathers desires. By not thinking for herself and only doing as her father wished, she ruined her chances of love with Hamlet. Hamlet put pressure on Ophelia by expecting her to surpass his mothers shortcomings and be an epitome of womankind. He searched her innocent face for some sign of loving truth that might restore his faith in her. He took her mute solicitude for a sign of her guilt and found her to be a false person, like his mother. In his letter to her, he addressed the letter to the most beautified Ophelia and he terminated the letter with I love thee best, O most best, believe it (II, ii). He used the word beautified to display a sincere tribute, and it is apparent he still loves her. His attempts to win her affection are not triumphant. Ophelia is still too much under the influence of her father to question his wisdom or authority, and she has no mind of her own to understand how much she has made her lover suffer. No matter how much it pained her to not see Hamlet, all she could see in his present behavior is the madness that terrified her.