StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Hamlet's Describe Ophelia's Mad Scene - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
5 May, 2011. Hamlet: Act 4, Scene 5: Analysis: Ophelia went mad after the death of her father, Polonius. In the scene 4.5, Gertrude says she no longer want the services of Ophelia for she has gone mad…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER97.9% of users find it useful
Hamlets Describe Ophelias Mad Scene
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Hamlet's Describe Ophelia's Mad Scene"

5 May, Hamlet: Act 4, Scene 5: Analysis: Ophelia went mad after the death of her father, Polonius. In the scene 4.5, Gertrude says she no longer want the services of Ophelia for she has gone mad. It is after Horatio and the gentleman convince her that she allows Ophelia to talk to her. Ophelia shows up singing songs that depict her remembrance of her father. Claudius enters and gets upset because of the madness of Ophelia. The topic of Ophelia’s songs changes and now her lyrics depict maids whose masters seduce them.

Ophelia leaves and re-enters, this time singing of the way her father was buried. Her lyrics are quite meaningful and bring the weaknesses of Gertrude and Claudius to the limelight. Her madness is important for Claudius because he thinks it to be the reason for a change in Hamlet’s attitude. Laertes is provoked by the saddening songs of his sister. Her songs remind Laertes of his killed father. Therefore, his passion to take revenge of his father’s murder flares up because of ophelia’s songs.

Ophelia’s indication of the seduction of maids causes the audience to think as if Hamlet has had an affair with her on a physical level, though this mystery remains unresolved throughout the play. Gertrude is particularly disturbed by Ophelia’s song because inspired Laertes may harm Claudius taking him for the murderer of Polonius. Later, Ophelia offers different flowers to Claudius, Gertrude and Laertes. To Laertes, Ophelia presents Rosemary and Pansies. To Claudius, Ophelia hands over Daisies and Rues and she gives Columbines and Fennel to Gertrude.

In Shakespeare’s age, each of these flowers had standard meanings. Pansies and Rosemary were used to signify remembrance. Thus, by giving Laertes these flowers, Ophelia essentially makes Laertes remember his father and encourages him to take his revenge. Columbines and Fennels signified unfaithfulness and flattery respectively. Therefore, by giving these flowers to Gertrude, Ophelia meant to remind her of her infidelity. Daises were used in Shakespearean literature for seduction. Moved by Ophelia’s predictions, Laertes fully suspects the king and proceeds to hurt him.

Gertrude intervenes to save her husband. Claudius responds by assuring Laertes of his innocence. He offers Laertes to use any means to see if Claudius is the murderer of his father. Claudius says that if Laertes succeeds in finding him guilty of the crime, he would be made the King of Denmark instead. This is essentially to assure Laertes that Claudius is not the murderer, because the crown Claudius offers in compensation is too big a possession to risk. The scene contributes to the plot of the play by telling the story from Ophelia’s perspectives.

Ophelia is an important character of the novel, Hamlet. The scene tells all what Ophelia knows and the extent to which she knows the facts. Through her songs, Ophelia tends to suspect Claudius the murderer of her father as he had quickly buried Polonius. This seemed fishy. The flowers which Ophelia offered to Laertes, Claudius and Gertrude speak volumes about the knowledge and perceptions of Ophelia.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Hamlet's Describe Ophelia's Mad Scene Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/other/1420611-hamlet-s-describe-ophelia-s-mad-scene
(Hamlet's Describe Ophelia'S Mad Scene Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words)
https://studentshare.org/other/1420611-hamlet-s-describe-ophelia-s-mad-scene.
“Hamlet's Describe Ophelia'S Mad Scene Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/other/1420611-hamlet-s-describe-ophelia-s-mad-scene.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Hamlet's Describe Ophelia's Mad Scene

Is Hamlet Mad

Additionally, in Act Two, scene One, Ophelia describes Hamlet's appearance to be highly devilish, and she states ‘to speak of horror, he comes before me'.... Horatio claims in Act One, scene Four that the Ghost could deprive ‘Hamlet of sovereignty and reason.... ?? In Act Two, scene Two, Hamlet ponders over the idea of experiencing hallucinations, because of the ‘melancholy state' that he is in.... Hamlet vows at the beginning of the play in Act One scene Five that he would act ‘strange or odd” and to “put an antic disposition on”....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Hamlet by Shakespeare

hellip; According to the report death traces its way through the entire play from the opening scene dealing with a confrontation with a deceased man's ghost to the last scene, which leaves nearly all characters dead after a bloodbath.... In the gravedigger scene, in Act 5, Hamlet seems captivated by the reality of death.... This paper will examine how death permeates Hamlet from the opening scene to the end of the play.... s the essay stresses death permeates Hamlet from the opening scene when Hamlet's dead father appears to Hamlet and introduces the aspect of death and its consequences....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

The Seven Characteristics of Revenge Tragedy - Hamlet

This is seen in Act 1, scene 5.... Meanwhile, in Act 1, scene 2, Claudius made a speech to all regarding that he is mourning his brother's death.... In Act 1, scene 4, Horatio is on watch with the guards, and Hamlet.... In Act 1, scene 5, the ghost and Hamlet engage in a conversation....
13 Pages (3250 words) Essay

Bomb Makers Who Gets Blown Up Sky High by Their Own Weapons

Chiefly, in the scene depicting play within a play where ‘The Murder of Gonzago', Hamlets tricks and deceptions are reality.... For example, in Act 1, scene 5, Hamlet says that he would have to put an antic disposition on (Schulze 8-9).... At the end of it, he would deceive his people and those watching him that he is mad to achieve his goal.... Even more shocking is Getrude's and ophelia's action, which carries with them a plan to trick or deceive their counterpart in the play....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper

The Women of Hamlet

In scene two, her father known as Polonius, throws Ophelia into a conflict.... In this scene, she engages in a conflict that involves her father Polonius, and lover, Hamlet.... This scene presents Ophelia in a conflict that faced many women of the period.... When Ophelia went to Polonius with the news that Hamlet had confessed his love to her, Polonius manipulates Ophelia and deceived her to think that Hamlet is mad.... The paper describes Ophelia as a young mad woman....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Analysis of Scenes of Hamlet Play by William Shakespeare

scene 3 2.... scene 4 5.... Who does Hamlet meet in this scene?... scene 7 12.... She has gone mad.... He wants it to seem as if hamlet's trip to England is determined only after careful consideration because people like him.... hamlet's thinks that if Fortinbras can do what he's doing, Hamlet should be able to do what he needs to.... hamlet's ship was attacked by pirates, and Hamlet persuaded them to take him back to Denmark....
2 Pages (500 words) Assignment

A comparative analysis of Shakespeares Hamlet and Mel Gibsons Portrayal

n order to understand the scene rearrangement in the movie, one must first examine the original order of the play.... The final scene of Act I has Hamlet receiving instructions from his father's ghost while his friends support him while keeping their distance from the spirit.... Act III scene one involves the King and Polonius receiving the report from Hamlet's friends, then testing Hamlet's madness by using Ophelia to bait him.... The fourth scene is the only meeting between Hamlet and Fortinbras; the next shows Ophelia's descent into madness and Laertes's return....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

The Play Hamlet

In the gravedigger scene, in Act 5, Hamlet seems captivated by the reality of death.... In the scene at the graveyard, Hamlet's fascination with death emerges as he ponders over Yorick's skull, asking whether a piece of the head or dead earth has any personality or connection to a being.... The death of Polonius drives his daughter Ophelia mad, and she commits suicide by drowning herself.... hamlet's legendary musings regarding suicide, particularly in his speech "to be or not to be," continues to direct discussions regarding the value of life, as well as the mystery of death....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us