Custom Essays: Hamlet as an Accessory to Ophelias Suicide

Hamlet as an Accessory to Ophelia's Suicide  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   William Shakespeare's character of Ophelia in Hamlet, suffers greatly, from the time she learns of her father Polonius' death, until her own mysterious death.   In Hamlet, Gertrude, Horatio and Claudius refer to her state, and conclude that she is crazy1[1].   Though there is some truth to their claim, Shakespeare created Ophelia as an overly- dramatic character, who is somewhat exaggerating her emotions to give an impression of madness.   Although their impression of Ophelia can be supported, evidence is not shown as much in her words, as it is shown in her actions.   Ophelia's songs seem like riddles and nonsense2[2], yet they are similar to the patterns of speech by Hamlet, revealing truths and true emotions, and at times sarcasm.  Ã‚   However, Ophelia's whimsical, and child-like behavior is quite different than the prim, reserved Ophelia at the beginning of the play.   Still, this behavior is not consistent with the   sad words in her grief-lad en songs, nor is it consistent with a woman in grief rather Ophelia's physical behavior is the strongest evidence that Ophelia may exhibit signs of madness.   Hamlet's act to convince his insanity to all that knew him influenced Ophelia to perform following Hamlet's lead with   his feigned madness, eventually leading to the girl's suicide, thus implicating Hamlet in her death.    In act four, scene five; Gertrude and Horatio discuss Ophelia's worsening condition directly prior to her entrance.   They attribute the young girls' decline to her concern for her recently dead father.   Ophelia displays signs of being overly sensitive and volatile, which concerns Horatio: "Spurns enviously at straws, speaks things in doubt / That carry but... ...    Notes: 1[1] Hamlet, (4.5.3,5-10). 2[2] Hamlet, (4.5.7) 3[3] Hamlet, (4.5.6-7).   4[4] Neely, Carol Thomas, "Document in Madness", University of Illinois, Shakespeare Criticism Yearbook 1991, Volume 19, pp 333-334. 5[5] Hamlet, (4.5.21).   6[6] Hamlet, (4.5.29-32) 7[7]Hamlet, (2.2.186) 8[8] Turner, John, "Hamlet: The Court in Transition".   University College of Swansea, Shakespearean Criticism, Volume 16, Yearbook 1990, p. 253. 9[9] Neely, p. 333. 10[10] Hamlet, (4.5.47-54) 11[11] Neely, p. 333. 12[12] Hamlet, (4.5.55). 13[13] Neely, p. 333. 14[14] Hamlet, (4.5.159). 15[15] Hamlet, (4.5.176-186) 16[16] Persoon, James. "Shakespeare's Hamlet: the meaning of Ophelia's distribution of herbs and flowers." Explicator, v. 55, Wntr 1997, pp 70-71. 17[17] Persoon, p 71. 18[18]Hamlet, (2.2109)