Ophelia In Hamlet

Hamlet: “...I did love you once.”
Ophelia: “Indeed, my, lord, you made me believe so.”
Hamlet: “You should not have believed me...I loved you not.”
Ophelia: “I was the more deceived.”

For the most part, Ophelia is dependent on the male figures in her life. Although, we do see a flash of her potential self in the beginning of the play. This occurs when we learn that Ophelia has entertained Hamlet without supervision, neglecting her father’s (Polonius) and brother’s (Laertes) advice to not trust Hamlet or any man. Polonius warns Ophelia about Hamlet, telling her “When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul... Do not believe his vows; for they are brokers” because he is concerned about his daughter’s well-being and partly jealous by the fact that she has chosen to spend more time with Hamlet than her own father. As a result, Ophelia’s family tells her she is naïve and that her behaviour is unacceptable.

Hamlet then takes his torment out on Ophelia when he says, “Get thee to a nunnery, go, farewell. Or if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool; for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them”. Throughout the scene, the audience can sense Ophelia is feeling heartbroken and betrayed. While Ophelia is seen as weak, Shakespeare conveys Hamlet’s escalating anger, with the character exclaiming, “If thou dost marry, I 'll give thee this plague for thy dowry: be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny”. This quote interprets Hamlet’s irritated