They did sleep together, and then Hamlet told Ophelia that she needed to go to a nunnery and that he would never marry a girl who slept around. The willow being aslant represents Ophelias descent into madness. Hamlet quickly sees through the scheme and begins to act the part of a madman in front of them. Because she shows love letters to Polonius, readers are aware that Hamlet wrote them to Ophelia. He tells Hamlet to stop grieving for his father's death, and to think of him as his father. Because of Ophelias all-consuming grief and loss of sanity, she allows herself to drown, Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay to muddy death.. Hamlet, returned from his journey, comes upon a gravedigger singing as he digs. After Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report their failure to find the cause of Hamlets madness, Polonius places Ophelia where he and Claudius may secretly observe a meeting between her and Hamlet. When Ophelias funeral procession arrives, Hamlet and Horatio are surprised to learn that she is being buried in an unmarked grave. Hamlet, who has returned safely to confront the king, agrees to a fencing match with Ophelias brother, Laertes, who secretly poisons his own rapier. In "Hamlet," the assumption most people make is that Ophelia commits suicide. without line numbers, as DOC (for MS Word, Apple Pages, Open Office, etc.) Renews March 10, 2023 Ophelia's closet scene is remarkable for acting as a discursive . Her father's death would have been traumatic, of course, but the fact that . Ophelia takes her collection of flowers with her when she dies, " When down her weedy trophies and herself fell in the weeping brook.". Ophelia's madness is driven by the loss of the male influences in her life. He and Laertes struggle, with Hamlet protesting his own love and grief for Ophelia. Claudius poured poison in his ear and made it look like he was stung by a snake. In the movie Ophelia doesnt disagree with her father but she also doesnt agree just to please him. After the Ghost exits, Hamlet urges Gertrude to abandon Claudiuss bed. People also inquire as to what army time, Nightcrawlers mother is a well-known blue shape-shifting mutant Mystique, according to X-Men fans. O earth! Her brother and father stifled her, and latter (along with the King) used her as a pawn to trap Hamlet. "- Bette Davis Throughout time society has used woman as a scapegoat for societal issues that have occurred. The third theory was a chariot crash. Discount, Discount Code Hamlet is winning the match when Gertrude drinks from the poisoned cup that Claudius has prepared for Hamlet. He doesnt know when hell return that Ophelia has gone insane as a result of Hamlets bizarre reactions and her fathers death. Gertrude refuses to see the girl, but Horatio points out that Ophelia's mental state may attract undue attention to herself and the crown. Analyze the mood swings of Hamlet throughout the play. Hamlet is portrayed as a gritty anti-hero with human flaws and qualities such as arrogance, apathy and paranoia, which are revealed in his hamartia and peripeteia. Find teaching resources and opportunities. This theory may be supported by her grief ove. for a group? She quickly addresses who is talking to her and immediately returns to her absentminded singing. Ophelias death was caused by her mental breakdown as a result of her fathers death. While Claudius drinks away the night, Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus are visited by the Ghost. for a customized plan. But the two main reasons why Hamlet is depressed are the death of his father and the remarriage of his mother to his uncle. Hamlets burial serves as an opportunity for him to express his powerful love for her, which is one of the few clear and honest expressions of his love in the play, as well as to set up a conflict between him and Laertes, which will culminate in his death. Gertrude cannot see the Ghost and pities Hamlets apparent madness. A funeral procession approaches. Laertes / l e r t i z / is a character in William Shakespeare's c. 1600 play Hamlet.Laertes is the son of Polonius and the brother of Ophelia.In the final scene, he mortally stabs Hamlet with a poison-tipped sword to avenge the deaths of his father and sister, for which he blamed Hamlet. He gives Laertes permission to return to France but denies Hamlets request to return to the university in Wittenberg. Our April festival celebrating 400 years of Shakespeare's First Folio, Our award-winning performances of Shakespeare, adaptations, and new works, Our early music ensemble Folger Consort and more, Our longstanding O.B. 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In the scuffle that follows, Hamlet forces an exchange of rapiers, and Hamlet wounds Laertes. In addition, he wanted to do this because Hamlet had a love relationship with his sister. Only Shakespeare knew for sure. He is overcome with sadness and surprise. 980 Words4 Pages. Fortinbras and his army cross Hamlets path on their way to Poland. Love is often an important part of a story; it builds up excitement and gets the plot going. While doing so, she slipped and fell into the brook. Driven by a guilty conscience, Claudius attempts to ascertain the cause of Hamlet's odd behaviour by hiring Hamlet's onetime friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on him. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Ben Kweller is a singer and one of the most talented . You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. without line numbers, as DOC (for MS Word, Apple Pages, Open Office, etc.) Mental illness, inner conflict, and determination for revenge are leading factors that results to Hamlet's downfall. When a teenage girl is called unspeakable terms by the one she admires and tenders(1.3.108), it can make a huge indent in the girls self love. In her madness, she wanders around the palace singing songs about death and flowers. Gertrude describes the events of Ophelias death as if she had witnessed (and heard!) Hamlet reacts in the same way that a boyfriend would. The placement of the priest's admonition supports the suicide pretty solidly. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Please wait while we process your payment. In the midst of her inner turmoil, her depression worsens as she learns that Hamlet, the man she loves departs to England. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern return to tell Hamlet that Claudius is furious and that Gertrude wishes to see Hamlet at once in her sitting room. Hamlet carries partial culpability for her death, as . Learn about the building renovation and start planning your visit. Ophelia enters singing about death and betrayal. In act 1, scene 3 of Hamlet, what is Polonius's advice to Laertes? Claudius orders Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to take Hamlet to England. What else? eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. / / God a mercy on his soul. He was so infatuated with making sure his children do not mess up his agenda, that he totally threw their needs as humans to the side. At the top of Act Three Polonius forces Ophelia to return Hamlets letters and renounce his affections. Dorian has been the concerned topic on the internet as Ben has announced the death of the 16-year-old Dorian. While it is evident that Ophelia is grieving over the death of her father, Polonius, as Horatio says of her "She speaks much of her father, says she hears / There's tricks in the . One symbol is the weeping willow. Polonius echoes her cry, and Hamlet, thinking Polonius to be Claudius, stabs him to death. Shakespeare probably meant to keep his readers wondering: Did she commit suicide? He and Laertes struggle, with Hamlet protesting his own love and grief for Ophelia. without line numbers, DOC (for MS Word, Apple Pages, Open Office, etc.) Hamlet refuses to tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern where he has put Poloniuss body. Unusually, Ophelia is described by Queen Gertrude as singing all the while she was in the water. Hamlets apparent rejection of her love and her fathers personal vindictive leads up to her simple-minded state, entering a world of madness. When an individual thinks about the concept of love, positive thoughts come to mind such as affection, romance, and passion. Saying that he is the spirit of Hamlets father, he demands that Hamlet avenge King Hamlets murder at the hands of Claudius. Ophelia's feelings turned around and she felt very disrespected by. If he fails, Claudius will give Hamlet a poisoned cup of wine. The Violet's in the play signify death which ties Ophelia to the theme of the play as well. Could Ophelia have broken it off while trying to hang on against the current? The cause of Ophelia's suicide was mainly from Hamlet's madness. In Poloniuss chambers, Laertes says good-bye to his sister, Ophelia, and tells her not to trust Hamlets promises of love. She has now gone mad, singings nonsense songs and giving people flowers that she has picked from the garden. them on her own. Gertrude cannot see the Ghost and pities Hamlets apparent madness. And, depending on your inte. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Hamlet is at first courteous to Ophelia, but suddenly he turns on her: he denies having loved her, asks where her father is, attacks womankind, and tells her she should enter a nunnery. Answer (1 of 9): Ophelia climbed a willow tree and the branch she was on broke, dropping her into a stream, where she drowned. In the middle of Hamlets attack, the Ghost returns to remind Hamlet that his real purpose is to avenge his fathers death. The cause of Ophelia's suicide was mainly from Hamlet's madness. However, this hasnt stopped literary scholars from advancing the concept of an incestuous relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude using Freuds concept of the Oedipus complex. sample response: At the beginning of the play, Ophelia is dutiful and polite; she does exactly what her family tells her to do. Learn about the building renovation and start planning your visit. Polonius persuades Claudius to take no action until Gertrude talks with Hamlet after the play, which is scheduled for that evening. This disorder, unlike many other psychological disorders, does not connote insanity, which many viewers are unconcerned about. When a woman gives her opinion she is a bitch. When Laertes breaks in on Claudius and Gertrude, Claudius asserts his innocence with regard to Poloniuss death. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! Hamlet hopes that when the players stage The Murder of Gonzago for the court, he can determine whether Claudius is guilty of King Hamlets death. When the councilor Polonius learns from his daughter, Ophelia, that Hamlet has visited her in an apparently distracted state, Polonius attributes the princes condition to lovesickness, and he sets a trap for Hamlet using Ophelia as bait.To confirm Claudiuss guilt, Hamlet arranges for a play that mimics the murder; Claudiuss reaction is that of a guilty man. Hamlet, returned from his journey, comes upon a gravedigger singing as he digs. Horatio is given a letter from Hamlet telling of the princes boarding of a pirate ship and his subsequent return to Denmark. Then after all this her father, Polinous, is murdered by Hamlet. How does Hamlets view of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern change? Ophelia starts to go mad dealing with the problem of choosing between her fathers wishes and her true. It was the death of Hamlet's father that becomes the focal point of the play. She is a young noblewoman of Denmark, the daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes and potential wife of Prince Hamlet, who, due to Hamlet's actions, ends up in a state of madness that ultimately leads to her drowning.. Gertrude reports Poloniuss death to Claudius, who sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find Hamlet and recover the body. What is the significance of the gravediggers? In Hamlet a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, the death of a character is an occurring event. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Hamlet, now free to act, mistakenly kills Polonius, thinking he is Claudius. Claudius, on the other hand, was the one who guiding and instructing Polonious at first, so he is also to blame. Ophelia at this point felt very insecure about herself and she questioned her relationship with Hamlet. Polonius joins them, sends Laertes off, then echoes Laertess warnings to Ophelia, finally ordering her not to see Hamlet again. As things worsen up the manipulation plot developed and when Polonius died everything went down for Ophelia. But Ophelia has gone mad from learning about her father's death. Ophelia was just a muppet for Polonius, Hamlet, and Claudius that did not deserve to end in such a tragic manner. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. RALPH: Gertrude describes how her clothing spread out over the surface of the water, keeping her afloat for a moment, while she sang songs of praise, or perhaps hymns. Hamlet feels no guilt for Polonius' murder, and this is why karma hits him back. However, as the new king, Hamlet isn't sure how to get to him, so he decides to fake madness, but his plan backfires as Claudius doesn't trust him and makes sure he is always watched. Hamlet's madness came first from seeing the ghost of his father. eNotes Editorial, 16 Nov. 2018, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/explain-ophelia-s-death-in-hamlet-250775. To become a nun c. To obey her father d. To uphold her domestic . Polonius decides that Hamlet has been made insane by Ophelias refusing to see him. When Laertes in his grief leaps into her grave and curses Hamlet as the cause of Ophelias death, Hamlet comes forward. Summary and Analysis Act IV: Scene 5. In Hamlet, Ophelia's suicide and its effects on the plot . At Ophelias funeral, how does Hamlet act? 2. As Gertrude dies, Laertes, himself dying, discloses his and Claudiuss plot against Hamlet. 4-min read. Her brother and father stifled her, and latter (along with the King) used her as a pawn to trap Hamlet. Ophelias role in the play revolves around her relationships with three men. He gives Laertes permission to return to France but denies Hamlets request to return to the university in Wittenberg. Ophelias tragedy lies in the way she loses her innocence through no fault of her own. Ophelia accepted her death without any fight and made no attempt to protect her own life. Claudius asks where Hamlet has gone and Gertrude says that he has taken the body away. Discover Shakespeares stories and the world that shaped them. with line numbers, TEISimple XML (annotated with MorphAdorner for part-of-speech analysis), as TEISimple XML (annotated with MorphAdorner for part-of-speech analysis). Hamlet's views on love could be ruined because of his mother's relationship with his father and how she got over him so quickly and married his uncle Claudius.Hamlet is also protecting Ophelia from getting hurt with his plans of revenge or protecting her from his uncle knowing he would use her as a way of hurting him. By killing Polonius, he causes Ophelia to go mad and that is eventually the reason for her demise. However, Hamlet is heir to the throne of Denmark and is promised to another woman, Ophelia's rival Polonius's daughter, Polonius. After Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report their failure to find the cause of Hamlets madness, Polonius places Ophelia where he and Claudius may secretly observe a meeting between her and Hamlet. Her father never her gave that to her during his lifetime. What is the importance of the gravedigger scene in the story of Hamlet? From her very first scene, men tell Ophelia what to do. a. Ophelias relationships with these men restrict her agency and eventually lead to her death. Ophelias death represents a life spent passively tolerating Hamlets manipulations and restrictions, while also struggling to maintain her dignity. Hamlet agrees to the contest, despite his misgivings. Saying that he is the spirit of Hamlets father, he demands that Hamlet avenge King Hamlets murder at the hands of Claudius. His hurry in doing things also leads him to damnation just like Hamlet. Continue to start your free trial. Ophelia's tragedy lies in the way she . How do these ideas relate to theme? You can view our. 1) She is heart-broken over Hamlet. After Ophelia died, he expresses his love for her again to Laertes, Gertrude, and Claudius, saying, I loved Ophelia.. Laertes agrees to kill Hamlet with a poisoned rapier in a fencing match. Hamlet is challenged by Laertes in a duel when he learns of the death of Ophelia. Latest answer posted May 02, 2021 at 5:45:55 PM. Her flowers could be a symbol of her virtue, which is repeatedly mentioned through the play. 20% As a result, Hamlet rejects Ophelia and she goes mad. What does King Claudius tell Hamlet? "Explain Ophelia's death in Hamlet." The cause of this treatment has not been Ophelia's self, but rather her absence: "No, my good lord, but as you did command, / I did repel his letters and denied / His access to me" (II.i.108- 10). The reappearance of the mad Ophelia is devastating to Laertes. Ace your assignments with our guide to Hamlet! Laertes then wounds Hamlet with the poisoned rapier. From award-winning theater and music, to poetry and exhibitions, experience the power of the arts with us. Let us know your assignment type and we'll make sure to get you exactly the kind of answer you need. Hamlet had no faith in Polonius, and he knew right away that he needed to hide his love for Ophelia and act insane to protect her. Although Gertrude phrases it to make it seem an accident, Ophelia's appearance of madness and fatalistic attitude directly before the event, suggest that it was in fact suicide.