Ophelia Is Possibly One Of The Most Fascinating Characters In Shakespeare's Plays And Has Been The Cause Of Much Debate Amongst Students Of Hamlet, Despite Appearing In Only A Few Scenes. Explore Some Of The Interpretations Of Her Functions.

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“Ophelia Is Possibly One Of The Most Fascinating Characters In Shakespeare’s Plays And Has Been The Cause Of Much Debate Amongst Students Of Hamlet, Despite Appearing In Only A Few Scenes.

Explore Some Of The Interpretations Of Her Function Within The Play.”

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the character of Ophelia has many different functions and, as such, can be perceived in many ways. She is not a prominent character like that of Hamlet or King Claudius, but she does serve an important part of the tragedy.

        The obvious, and most controversial perception of Ophelia is to whether she is a sweet natured, young, naïve character or rather the opposite:

        “Ophelia is in fact a flirt: a fast girl such as at Elizabeth’s court was the rule…”

        From an extensive study of the play and particularly of Ophelia, I have concluded that although Shakespeare’s work should be interpreted on a personal level, I believe that Ophelia was the former, rather than the latter.

        Firstly, it must be remembered that Shakespeare designed Ophelia to be young; in her late teens.

        “Ophelia is plainly quite young and inexperienced.”

The notion of such a young character possessing the qualities to show no candour or be a “fast girl” is absurd and should be discarded immediately. If there was any doubt to Ophelia’s’ youth then the above could be queried, but it is quite clear this is not the case.

        Evidence of Ophelia’s sweet, naïve nature can be seen by her loyalty to her father even though she is being used by him to selfishly gain a higher status in the King’s Court. Polonius and King Claudius plan to use Ophelia, and this is one of her functions. Through this function it shows her naivety.

        “At such a time I’ll loose my daughter to him.”

Here, Polonius is using Ophelia to the King’s wishes concerning Hamlet and his madness. Ophelia agrees to help her father. Showing loyalty to her father as such that is seen in the young, proof further that she is young and naïve, with her loyalty being to Polonius rather than Hamlet.

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Also, Ophelia thinks she is helping Hamlet. Salvador De Madariaga argues that she allows herself to be used and was not candid with Hamlet.

        “She allowed herself to be used as a decoy to enable her father and the King to overhear the conversation…”

        Ophelia cannot see her being used by her father for his own personal gain and the King’s investigations into Hamlets madness. This alone proves that she is very naïve and young and is unable to understand the complexity of the ill doings of King Claudius and Polonius.

         Another function of Ophelia is adding romance, ...

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