But then Hamlet changes and while they are watching the play of the reconstruction of Hamlet’s fathers’ death, Hamlet begins to become quite disgusting and crude towards Ophelia ‘Do you think I meant country matters.’ Hamlet is referring to sex, which was not discussed then.
Polonius, Ophelia’s father could also be to blame for Ophelias demise, because of the advice he gave her. He told her that she should remember Hamlets choice of wife was very important because he was royalty. He also gave her some advice as of what to do about Hamlet; he suggested she should back away from Hamlet, as he would want her more. ‘Tender you more dearly’ Polonius is telling Ophelia she should not give her affections so freely. ‘Be some what scanter your maiden presence.’ Here her father has suggested she should spend less time with him. Polonius warns Ophelia that she should not believe Hamlet when he tells her of his love for her.
Ophelia thought Hamlet loved her deeply but after Hamlet being so horrid to her and her father’s advice it drove mad of not knowing what to do.
Laertes, Ophelia’s brother also advised her of what she should do with Hamlet. His advice could have been what finally tipped Ophelia into complete madness due to the fact that the advice he gave her was similar to the advice her father gave her.
Ophelia’s brother advised her to spend less time with Hamlet as it seemed she was obsessed by him, he also advised her that she shouldn’t sleep with Hamlet because he would lose respect for her and he also warned her like her father that Hamlets choice of wife would be very important. ‘Farewell Ophelia and remember well what I have said to you’ Laertes is saying good-bye to Ophelia and warning her to remember what he has said. ‘Tender yourself more dearly.’ He is saying to Ophelia not to give her affections away so freely.
I also believe the pressure of royalty played a part in Ophelia’s demise , because Hamlet was royalty it meant that the choice of wife for marriage was extremely important. Also that because her father was only a counsellor to the king meant that it was unlikely Ophelia would be a good choice of wife for Hamlet. ‘His greatness weighed his will is not his own for he himself is subject to his birth.’
The role of women in the 1600’s was extremely different than the role of women in the 21st century. Women in the 1600’s were supposed to obey their elders and were not allowed to tell their feeling towards somebody that they liked, because it was considered to be forward.
I believe that not just one person was to blame for Ophelia’s demise. I think Hamlet, Polonius, (Her father) Laerties (her brother) pressure of royalty and the role of women were all to blame for Ophelia committing suicide. Although I think Hamlet was the main reason why Ophelia committed suicide because of the way he treated her, how one minute he was all-nice to her and the next he was insulting her. But the main reason for Hamlets horridness was due to him being obsessed with his father’s death, his uncles role in his fathers death and his mothers incestuous relationship with his uncle. I don’t believe Ophelia’s brother and father played a huge part in her death because they both gave her some very good and worthwhile advice as of what to do with Hamlet.
I think that with Hamlets weird and immature in thoughtful behaviour and the way Ophelia probably knew deep down that their was little chance of there relationship developing into marriage was part of the reason Ophelia went mad and committed suicide.
I think Hamlet felt frightened of his feeling toward Ophelia because she wasn’t of the same class as him and he knew even if he did admit his feelings about her, there was little chance of him being allowed to marry her.
Although I do believe other factors did play a part in Ophelia’s demise. Ophelia’s Father and Brother both cared for her a lot and tried to encourage her to think about what she was going to do.
I believe Ophelia was completely confused to the state of not knowing what to do and the only option was to kill herself, which was what she did.
