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Hamlet Transformation Of Ophelia Essay

590 Words3 Pages

Hamlet, a play written by William Shakespeare, dives into the transformations and developments of many characters. One character that is easily seen in the play is the transformation of Ophelia. The character of Ophelia changes drastically throughout the play from an obedient lover to an insane woman that ultimately drowns herself. Ophelia’s transformation is one that is caused by uncertainty and a love for someone who pretends to not love her back. Ophelia’s doubts of Hamlet’s love are planted when she is conversing with her brother, Laertes, and her father, Polonius. The two men in her family do not trust Hamlet and do not want Ophelia to marry Hamlet. This conflict results in Polonius and Laertes telling Ophelia that Hamlet does not care about her, he is only …show more content…

Ophelia enters that castle and proceeds to sing songs and hand out flowers during a very serious time. Ophelia comes off as completely insane in this scene and this can be seen as she is handing her flowers out. Ophelia says:
There’s fennel for you, and columbines.
There’s rue for you, and here’s some for me; we
May call it herb of grace o’ Sundays. You must wear
Your rue with a difference. There’s a daisy. I would
Give you some violets, but they withered all when
My father died. They say he made a good end. (Shakespeare 217)
Madness as obviously taken hold of Ophelia’s mind. She has resorted to singing songs and handing flowers to the other characters in the play, this madness is caused by her father’s recent death and Hamlet’s denial of her. The transformation of Ophelia from obedient and loyal lover to a completely insane person is one that was caused by her gullibility. She thinks that Hamlet truly loves her but due to Hamlet’s possibly feigned madness, she is denied. This denial coupled with Polonius’ death drives Ophelia to insanity and ultimately

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