Ophelias Weakness Essay -- essays research papers

In classic works of literature, all characters have certain flaws, and Shakespeares tragedies characters in particular have faults that ultimately lead to their ruination. In Hamlet, Ophelias flaws eventually kill her.In the beginning of the play, it is clear through her thoughts and actions that that Ophelia is an pliant person. But upon closer inspection, the audience can see that she is not except an obedient, but completely dependent and weak character. In fact, her needy genius is unmistakable from the beginning. OPH I do not know, my cleric, what I should think. POL Marry, I will teach you. Think yourself a baby (Act I, Scene III, lines 105-106) Her feral clashings with Hamlet, which go against her feelings for him, demonstrate her absolute obedience to her father. For example, from the start Ophelia told her father that she is ardent of Hamlet My lord, he hath importuned me with love / In honorable fashion. (Act I, Scene IV, lines 111-112) In relating this to Polonius, she implies that Hamlet is a decent and honorable man, and that she does have feelings for him. Ophelias subsequently actions sacrifice these personal feelings by order of her father, proving her total submission to his authority. Ophelia specifically agrees with her father not to see Hamlet again I shall obey, my lord (Act I, Scene IV, line 136) This shows that Polonius has complete control over his daughter, with her desire to interest her father as the direct cause. Ophelia has an innate desi...