THY YOUNG FAIR OPHELIA Ashley Chu Benhaire Estrada Merchelle Alegado November 1 st 2012 AP Literature

ANALYSIS Ophelia is a dynamic character that begins as in innocent young girl to becoming an insane individual. She’s dependent on men to tell her how to behave. She is the daughter of Polonius, the sister of Laertes, as well as Hamlet’s love interest. Ophelia is caught between her obedience to her father and her “love” Hamlet which leads to her madness and death. She remains maidenly singing songs about flower and finally drowning in the river.

ANALYSIS QUOTATION “He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders Of his affection to me” –Ophelia “I shall obey, my lord” –Ophelia “Lareded all with sweet flowers; Which bewept to the grave did not go With true-love showers” –Ophelia singing

CHANGE IN OPHELIA -Act 1.3 Ophelia obeys Polonius and Laertes in not seeing Hamlet anymore. -Act 2.1 Hamlet showed up at Ophelia’s house acting crazy. -Act 2.3 Hamlet convinces that he doesn’t love Ophelia anymore. -Act 4.5 Ophelia starts to wonder and sing which portrays her insanity. -Act 4.7 The Queen announces that Ophelia have committed suicide.

CHARACTER Ophelia doesn’t have a dominant personality. She is extremely pure, child-like, and naïve. However, she is extremely obedient to her father and is easily taken away by Hamlet’s affection. HAMLET: I did love you once. OPHELIA: Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so. In Act 3.1 when Polonius shamelessly uses his daughter to “spy” on Hamlet, she has no clue on what’s going on which shows that she’s naïve, and when she meets Hamlet and he tells her that he does not love her anymore, she believed him.

INTERNAL CONFLICTS  The death of Polonius causes Ophelia to struggle between the realm of reality and madness.  Obedience versus Love  Hamlets affections towards Ophelia, puzzled her, is it real or fake.

EXTERNAL CONFLICTS  Polonius and Laertes warns Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet, which stops her from attaining the love that she seeks.  Hamlet who is bewilder to see women as treacherous, therefore causes trouble for Ophelia, even offending and teasing her. “ get thee to a nunnery” –Hamlet

HOW DOES OPHELIA AND HAMLET AFFECT EACH OTHER? Hamlet who is charmed by Ophelia’s beauty and innocence, he falls in love with her and which they share a passionate relationship. However, when Hamlet see’s the frailty of women, and sees that Ophelia is lying to him, Hamlet is in rage because this proofs his point of “frailty, thy name is women”, and treacherous. Ophelia is affected by Hamlet, in many ways, such as being hurt, teased, toyed, mocked, and lowering her self-esteem and the root of Ophelia going insane.

THE DEATH OF OPHELIA “There is a willow grows aslant a brook, That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream; There with fantastic garlands did she come Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples That liberal shepherds give a grosser name, But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them: There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke; When down her weedy trophies and herself

THE DEATH OF OPHELIA Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide; And, mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up: Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes; As one incapable of her own distress, Or like a creature native and indued Unto that element: but long it could not be Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay To muddy death.” –Queen Gertrude

WHAT HAPPENED TO OPHELIA IN ACT 5? In Act V. Ophelia is already dead. It was the day of her funeral procession. Her death brought attention to many people whether her death was suicidal or accidental.

ALTHOUGH OPHELIA IS DEAD, YOU CAN FOLLOW HER ON FACEBOOK!