As I was meandering around my husband's chamber today, I happened upon what seemed like an article or story of some sort. As I continued to read through it, I soon realized that it was based around the death of Ophelia, my son's one sided lover. When Peter Seng said of Ophelia, “divined the memories that may underlie it in Ophelia’s deranged mind" (Seng, 218), my assumptions were proven. I cannot begin to express the sorrow I feel for her fall to insanity. I know that my dear Hamlet will feel badly of himself once I show him this writing because he is part of the reason Ophelia went insane.
When Seng analyses that Ophelia's father (Polonius) and brother (Laertes) is where most the blame lies, I would say that I'd agree. While Hamlet was partly the reason she was bestowed on this tragic death, it was her family that discouraged and ultimately caused her to kill herself. Seng says, "no one is to be trusted or taken at face value" (Seng, 220), and this is precisely what Laertes tells his sister before he boards the ship to France. He tells Ophelia that my kin's love is, "Forward not permanent, sweet, not lasting..." (1.3.8). Then, soon after, Polonius approaches and says, "Do not believe his vows, for they are brokers Not of that dye which their investments show, But mere implorators of unholy suits...." (1.3.127-129). These kinds of words from family members closer to Ophelia more than anyone else were daggers to her heart. Without the approval of the head of her house, what was she to do but to obey and listen her father's order to, "...not....slander any moment leisure...to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet" (1.3.132-134).
Referring to Ophelia, it is said that, "The distraught girl could hardly turn to King Claudius, and the ‘beauteous Majesty of Denmark,’ Gertrude, has apparently, been avoiding her" (Seng, 218). I disagree with this point because I was merely giving her room to recover from her father's death. Besides, I only refused once. After the Gentleman and Horatio convinced me that, "'Twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds" (4.5.14-15), I allowed her to come in right away. Besides, if my foolish son had not been crazed and disarranged, he never would have mistook Polonius as Claudius. If he had not stabbed or attempted to kill anyone, Ophelia would not be at this strange state of mind. As my brilliant Lord pointed out, "Conceit upon her father" (4.5.44). This just goes to show that the poor girl was immensely distraught from the loss of her father and that led to the tragic events that followed.
I disagree with you when you say that Ophelia is a "one sided lover". I believe Hamlet did in fact have true feelings for the girl. "As he in his particular act and place may give his saying deed," (1.3.25-26) shows that my Lord Hamlet was in fact chasing after young Ophelia. I do agree however with you that "Polonius and Laertes were more to blame" for the death of Ophelia. "I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died," (4.5.183-184). The death of her father and the absence of her brother obviously had more to do with Ophelia losing her mind at that point in time. She sings of her father's poor funeral service and the thought drives her to tears. Tis a shame what happened here.
ReplyDeleteHoratio
Ophelia was caught in an unfortunate situation in Hamlet. Normally Hamlet would have been a companion worth pursuing. In this situation though, with all of the mental and physical stress Hamlet would have led her down a dark path, as he did with himself. The stress that Hamlet experienced would have also worn no Ophelia. I was right when I told her that hamlet was a weekly fad and to not give him the time of day.
ReplyDeleteI agree ,my sunshine in this dark night, that you are right about Ophelia when Seng said “divined the memories that may underlie it in Ophelia’s deranged mind" (Seng, 218)I feel the same sorrow and more for her now that Polonius is dead...He was a great man! But I do disagree that you were simply giving her room to cope with her father's death when Seng said "The distraught girl could hardly turn to King Claudius, and the ‘beauteous Majesty of Denmark,’ Gertrude, has apparently, been avoiding her" (Seng, 218) It seemed to me that you just didn't want to deal with grief from losing someone to death as you lost someone already.
ReplyDelete~Claudius