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, between her and Hamlet, to the play. Although because of her age it is doubtful as to whether there was any romance between her and Hamlet. However, it is clear that they have or did have feelings for each other.
“But never doubt I love.”
The chance of a romantic link between Ophelia and Hamlet adds more depth to the tragedy. It gives reason to the King and Polonius of Hamlet’s madness, even though Hamlet’s madness has deeper roots.
It is clear however, that Ophelia does have strong feelings for Hamlet, whether these feelings are for romance or not she deeply cares for him. This is proven through her agreeing to talk to Hamlet. She believes that she is helping him. This alone proves that she cares for Hamlet. As to whether she loves Hamlet is debatable, and this gives proof to her young, sweet natured character. I believe that Ophelia was incapable of loving Hamlet as she is so young. Although she cared for him deeply, this was just a strong bond developed between them. Ophelia is incapable of loving Hamlet because she does not fully understand the concept of love and this roves her naivety. Although it can be argued that she is just playing with Hamlets emotions, as suggested by Madariaga that “…Ophelia was not weak. She knew how to keep her counsel.” This notion is incompatible with Ophelia’s actions in the play. It is obvious that she does not know how to deal with Hamlet as she is counselled by Polonius.
“I do not know, my lord, what I should think.”
If her innocence were to be doubted. Then there should be evidence here that she would know what to do and how to treat Hamlet to take her advantage. However she does not, she follows her fathers advice and obeys him. Proving her naivety.
It is clear also, that Hamlet’s romantic intentions towards Ophelia that occur in the play, and not previous to it, are simply to ensure he has convinced the court of Denmark that he is mad. Proof of this further is at Ophelia’s funeral. Here, Laertes and Hamlet exchange words over their love for Ophelia. While I believe that Laertes words are genuine as Ophelia is his sister, Hamlet’s words serve no purpose but an attempt to out do Laertes in their rivalry.
“I lov’d Ophelia: forty thousand brothers
Could not, with all their quantity of love
Make my sum up.”
This attempt to out do Laertes by using the death of Ophelia allows Shakespeare to add to the controversy of whether love was shared between Ophelia and Hamlet.
The addition of this romance to the plot allowed Shakespeare to add a further level of controversy to Hamlet and Ophelia’s madness. Although with Hamlet there is more proof of his madness, it adds another element to why she fell into madness. Was it for the death of her father at the hands of Hamlet, or Hamlet’s foul treatment and rejecting any notion of his love for her it is unclear.
The meeting of Hamlet and Ophelia in Ophelia’s room proves more she is young and innocent by the fact she was so shocked to see him.
“Mad for thy love?
My Lord, I do not know,
But truly I do fear it.”
Her fear of Hamlet entering her room half undressed looking mad suggests that she was shocked by the event. This shows her innocence for is she was as Salvador De Madariaga believed, “…the young beauty who ascended the throne by way of the King’s bedroom.” Then her reaction would be less fearful and she would have been less shocked.
Ophelia serves a large function by symbolising the corruption that is occurring in the court of Denmark. Her demise into madness shows the rot and deception that is spreading throughout the land.
“The sanity and health of this whole state.”
Ophelia’s tragic downfall in the play allowed Shakespeare to show the corruption and evil doings that were occurring in the play. By her representing the whole state, Shakespeare could show the effects of the corruption of the King on Denmark itself. And this gives the play a greater depth. The audience can see the repercussions of King Claudius murdering Old Hamlet on the entire country, not just within the court. The plotting, scheming and deception that is ripe in Elsinor Castle leads to Ophelia’s madness and eventual death.
Ophelia’s representation of Denmark also shows her innocence. As the corruption has ruined Ophelia’s life, so does it ruin Denmark.
Ophelia’s fall into madness, as mentioned above, adds further to the tragedy in the play. Her death is very tragic as Shakespeare allowed a sweet and innocent character to fall from her innocence into turmoil and eventually suicide. As the audience sees her fall gradually throughout the play, it adds a feeling of deep loss and sadness to the play even before the main tragedy occurs.
Ophelia’s death also serves as a function by adding a depth of mystery as a real reason for why Ophelia went mad. As said in the article ‘On Hamlet’ “There is no particular reason for Ophelia to go mad.”
Although there is evidence of events that have had a detrimental effect to Ophelia, such as the death of Polonius, and Hamlets denial of love for her, Ophelia’s madness comes almost as a shock.
In the play, King Claudius believes that the reason for her madness is because of the death of her father.
“O, this is the poison of deep grief; it springs
All from her father’s death.”
Polonius death would have deeply shocked and upset Ophelia. And this shows her youth. As she has such a strong bond between parent and child, the loss of her father would have pained her greatly. Her isolation from other people also gives reason for her madness. With her father dead, and her brother Laertes abroad Ophelia has no family or friends around. This isolation in a young person would have had a detrimental effect on her mind.
This gives proof of her young innocence. For if she was designed to be an older character, she would have coped better with her fathers death and would be able to cope better being on her own. But as Shakespeare proved by her madness, she is meant to be young and she is meant to be innocent and naïve.
In conclusion, Ophelia’s many functions of romance, adding tragedy, her metaphorical representation of Denmark and her use by Polonius and King Claudius to spy on Hamlet all reflect on her sweet nature and naivety. Her sweet natured and naivety is destroyed by her downfall into madness. For if Ophelia was meant to be deceitful and underhand then surely these events would not have led to her death? It is clear that the deception in the Court of Denmark led to her madness and death. This would not have been the case if she was herself deceptive and a “fast girl”.
As such, her sweetness, naivety and young nature is established, with her downfall adding greatly to the tragedy that is Hamlet.