Initial reaction:
This play both Hamlet decides to let go of Ophilia and drop thier relationship, being able to do this and have no remorse for losing her, shows that Hamelt is able to turn off emotions as quickly as one is able to turn off a switch. It reminds me of myself when I need to get things done, I am able to quickly let go of my emotion.
Character Analysis:
Ophilia is Hamlet’s girlfriend, she thinks and say whatever everyone else tells her to do. Ophilia is one of the main characters in the story her fatal flaw in the play is that she does what every one tells her to do and to think that once her father dies, she loses sense of heself and begins to become mad like Hamlet. Ophilia does not fall under the description of a tragic hero because she does not have a goal in the play, her only use in the play is to bring about the sexist feelings Shakespeare has for woman.
Theme Analysis:
Through the use of characters Shakespeare portrays his feelings towards woman in that they all are unhonest through marriage and love. For instance, during the play, Hamlet talks to Ophilia about the “happiness” he feels for his mother moving on so quickly after her father’s death. In the prologue of the play Ophilia comments that the play is too short. Hamlets uses a curt response to her inquiry as he compares the shortness of the play to a woman's love.(3.2 139) Moreover, Hamlet uses the character Ophilia giving Hamlet the letter to express his feelings about woman and thier different faces they put on a deceit for their husbands and how marriages should be “I heard all about you woman and your woman cosmetics too. God gives you one face and you put on another....Whoever is already married ( except on person i know will stay married- all but one person.(3.1143-148.)
As well as in the play, the characters talk to one another about how the wife will never love another and during that time, Gertrude says that she doth protest too much for a woman who lost her husband making his character Gertrude say this reflects the way woman have no lost respect for marriage and thier husbands. ( 3.2 216)
I definitely don't agree completely with Shakespeare in his theme; I do agree that it was diffused throughout the play. It seems like in Hamlet, the women are meant to be seen as incestuous, adulterous and idiotic. However, when I look closer, most of the men are too. I think that Shakespeare did this on purpose to make the readers look past the first layer and into the infinite possible themes that are laid bare when scrutinized carefully. Shakespeare really was a little sexist towards females; in all of his plays the women are brought below men in a demeaning way. Though sometimes true, not always the case at all.
ReplyDeleteOh I totally did not see Ophelia with a fatal flaw, that's a nice thing to bring up. And I definitely see her as someone who brings out Hamlet's "true colors" and Shakespeare's true feelings about women as being fake and all that good stuff. Shakespeare definitely has a knack for making his characters so three dimensional.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Shakespeare brings a lot of taboo subjects with women in this play. Hamlet's character seems like somewhat of a misogynist. His view on women is not the best.
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