Ophelia
By: Steve • Essay • 1,724 Words • May 14, 2010 • 998 Views
Ophelia
The King of Denmark has died and Queen Gertrude has been remarried the brother
of the former king, Claudius. Hamlet, the son of Queen Gertrude knows that his uncle
killed his father in cold blood to become king. Through out the play Hamlet tries to bring
light to what his uncle has done. He stages a play depicting how King Claudius killed the
former King of Denmark. But King Claudius stops the play before anyone can conclude
that this is how the former king has perished. Hamlet tortures his uncle mentally and
makes sure that he knows that Hamlet knows how his father died.
While in conference with his mother Hamlet kills the father of Ophelia, the woman
that he loves. This makes Ophelia go insane. When Ophelia's brother, Laertes, returns
from France he vows with King Claudius, that he will bring Hamlet to justice. While
Laertes and Hamlet are fighting King Claudius poisons a cup and tries to get Hamet to
drink from it. Queen Gertrude drinks of it instead and dies. Both Hamlet and Laertes are
mortally wounded, and all is revealed. King Claudius has poisoned his own wife while
trying to poison Hamlet. Hamlet, in turn, makes King Claudius drink of the cup that
killed Gertrude and Claudius dies. In the end Claudius, Gertrude, Laertes and Hamlet are
all dead.
This paper is about Ophelia's love, life and death based on William Shakespeare's
Hamlet. It is in the form of a diary.
1.3
Lord Hamlet has been sending me tokens of his love. Letters and small gifts more
than I can count. I am so excited! Well I was until I spoke with my brother Laertes. He
thinks that I should be cautious and not jump into anything yet. He says that Hamlet may
not cling to his love for me. Hamlet was born to privilege and with that comes obligations
that may leave me very lonely. Lord Hamlet will be responsible for the welfare of all of
Denmark one day. I would love to accept Hamlet's advances, but Laertes thinks that if I
were to lead with my heart then I am bound to be hurt. So I promised Laertes, before he
left for France, that I would be careful.
Father does not think that Hamlet is truly in love with me. I truly do not think that
Hamlet just wants to have sex; I know that Lord Hamlet loves me. Lord Hamlet Loves
Me! Father says that I should no longer accept anything from Hamlet, and that I should
not see him anymore. Oh how I long to be with him, but since my father does not think
that I should further my contact with Hamlet I will have to do just that. All contact with
my love will be severed.
2.1
Hamlet came to me while I was sewing as pale as a ghost. He was so worked up
about whatever he saw or was feeling that his knees were knocking. He was disheveled,
dirty and seemed to be very frightened. I do not know what to make of it. He grabbed my
wrist and with the other hand grasped his head as if it were hurting him. He said nothing
to me; he just sat with me and shook. Then he left me as quickly as he came. Father
thinks that Hamlet is sick with love for me! I did exactly as my father told me. I denied
his