Hamlets Relationship with Ophelia - Essay Example

?Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia Today William Shakespeare’s Hamlet stands as one of the foremost works of Western literature. The text’s exploration of meaning, existence, and death have as profound implications for 17th century Europe as they do for the contemporary human condition. Shakespeare’s development of life-like characters and their interactions are complex and multi-dimensional. Within this area of understanding, one of the text’s most prominent relationships is that between Prince Hamlet and Ophelia. This essay examines Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia. Throughout the play it’s clear that Hamlet and Ophelia’s relationship is highly problematic. In large part Ophelia’s role in regards to Hamlet is as a reflection that demonstrates his mental instability. It’s been noted that, “Ophelia we witness Hamlet's evolution, or de-evolution into a man convinced that all women are whores” (Mabillard). Of the major overriding notions is the understanding that Hamlet and Ophelia constitute individuals of different social statuses and as a result their relationship is problematic. Indeed, Ophelia’s brother Laertes as well as her father Polonius indicates to Ophelia that she should not take Hamlet’s advances seriously as their relationship is impossible. In taking her family’s advice, it can be argued that Ophelia directly contributes to Hamlet’s insanity. After Ophelia decides to stay away from Hamlet, she indicates that he approaches her, “As if he had been loosed out of hell” (Act II, scene i). While such an interaction could easily be attributable to general madness, Shakespeare presents Hamlet’s despondency as slightly romantic. Ultimately, it’s clear that while their relationship is conflicted, Hamlet has strong feelings for Ophelia. While at times Hamlet’s interactions with Ophelia appear motivated out of sincerity, in other instances it appears that Hamlet is disinterested or even feigning madness. Perhaps the most loaded interaction the two have occurs in Act III directly after Hamlet’s ‘to be or not to be’ monologue. As Ophelia attempts to return Hamlet’s letters he falls into a complex state of madness and anger. It’s difficult to determine the extent that Hamlet’s words are rational or irrational. When Hamlet’s actions do appear to make rational sense, it is only in anger and rage. For instance, it’s been noted that in this interaction Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia is tinged with misogyny (Bamber). Hamlet states, “God hath given you one face, and you make yourselves another” (III.i.). Another rational consideration is that Hamlet’s actions are a means of shielding himself from the pain he experiences in being having his love spurned. One considers that Hamlet tells Ophelia to go to a nunnery, a statement that contains within in it a hint of jealousy. One theory contends that, “what seems to enrage Hamlet in the 'nunnery' interlude is that Ophelia has put her sense of love and duty for another man above her sense of love and duty for him” (Burnett, pg. 168). In these regards, Hamlet is angered that Ophelia has taken the advice of Laertes and Polonius over his own love. This is a complex occurrence when considered in the context of the play, as Hamlet’s mother has also sought the love of Claudius over his own. Ultimately, it seems that while Hamlet is in-part feigning madness, his confusion and anger are motivated by very real and strong feelings. As the text advances Hamlet and Ophelia’s relationship is further complicated. While early in the play it was clear that in-part Hamlet’s confusion and madness could be attributed to his complicated relations with Ophelia, later in the play it becomes Hamlet that has largely driven Ophelia to insanity. While the fact that they both exhibit signs of insanity is a significant unifying factor, it seems apparent that while Ophelia’s insanity is entirely genuine, Hamlet’s is at least in-part feigned. Consider Ophelia when she states, “Before you tumbled me,/ You promised me to wed” (Act IV, scene v). This is a complex statement as it both demonstrates Ophelia’s insanity and seems to indicate that she was strongly impacted by having sexual relations with Hamlet and then never marrying him. Hamlet’s also prominently contributes to Ophelia insanity through the murder of Polonius. The collection of these elements drives Ophelia to suicide. Another of the overarching considerations in Hamlet and Ophelia’s relationship is the extent he felt true love for her. In these regards, there are a variety of conflicting perspectives. One theorist notes that, “I do think, with submission, that the love of Hamlet for Ophelia is deep, is real, and is precisely the kind of love which such a man as Hamlet would feel for such a woman” (Murphy, pg. 161). As evidenced earlier, Hamlet has demonstrated strong emotions for Ophelia. In large degree it also appears evident that Ophelia’s actions have a profound impact on Hamlet’s demeanor. One powerful insight into Hamlet’s thoughts occurs in the graveyard scene when he encounters Ophelia’s corpse. Laertes jumps into the grave and is followed by Hamlet who states, “forty thousand brothers / Could not, with all their quantity of love, / make up my sum” (Act V, scene i). This is a highly powerful statement for a variety of reasons. In these regards, Hamlet for the first time has professed sincere and direct love for Ophelia. Hamlet’s willingness to directly engage in conflict with Laertes in this scene also provides credence to earlier perspectives on Hamlet’s anger at Ophelia for taking Laertes advice over Hamlet’s love. The scene is highly powerful and perhaps one of the more underrated scenes in the text as a great variety of narrative and psychological elements meet and clash, including Hamlet’s love, the nature of death, and ultimately meaning and purpose. Hamlet’s overriding anger and misogyny lead some to question whether it was Ophelia who truly affected or the murder of his father by Claudius. One theorist notes that, “I do not forget what he says at her grave: But I weigh his actions against his words, and find them here of little worth” (Faucit, pg. 19). Within this context of understanding Hamlet is presented largely as an entirely selfish being who uses Ophelia simply as a receptacle for his rage and anger with his mother and society. In large part such a critical interpretation seems to rely on a stringent feminist interpretation of the text. While it’s accurate that Hamlet exhibits many misogynistic qualities, it is not far-fetched to suggest that his anger and misogyny are not an intrinsic aspect of his personality, but instead motivated by the tremendous hardship he has recently experienced. In these regards, one must consider that Hamlet and Ophelia clearly had history before the text began and that Hamlet’s mental state is directly responsive to Ophelia’s rejections of him. Ultimately, it’s clear that Hamlet held very strong feelings for Ophelia, if not deep and profound love. In conclusion, this text has examined the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In this context of understanding a variety of perspective have been considered. These perspectives include the overriding problematic nature of Hamlet and Ophelia’s relationship, complicated by their differing social statuses. Their relationship is further complicated as Ophelia’s rejections of Hamlet place him in an angry and violent tailspin. As the text advances, Ophelia falls into insanity as a direct and indirect result of Hamlet’s actions and eventually commits suicide. The pervading question is the extent that Hamlet holds true and genuine love for Ophelia. Ultimately, this essay has argued that while Hamlet demonstrates anger and misogyny it is motivated out of passionate feelings for Ophelia. References Bamber, Linda, Comic Women, Tragic Men, Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford, 1982. p.71. Burnett, Mark, ed. New Essays on Hamlet. New York: AMS Press, 1994. Faucit Martin, Shakespeare's Female Characters, Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh, 1888. p.19. Mabillard, Amanda. Ophelia. Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2000. http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/hamlet/opheliacharacter.html >. Murphy, Jameson, Shakespeare's Heroines: Characteristics of Women (1889), AMS Press, New York, 1967. p. 161. Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet. New York: Templeton Press. 2010 Read More