Ophelia

1. Ophelia Cynthia, Paniz, Matt, Josh, Erin

2. Quotation #1 – Act 1, Scene 3 Ophelia: “I shall the effect of this good lesson keep As warchman to my heart. But good my brother, Do not, as some ungracious pastors do, Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven Whilst, like a puff’d and reckless libertine, Himself the primrose path of dalliance trends And recks not his own rede.” 45 50

3. Explanation This quote shows us that although obedient, Ophelia is not ignorant. After Laertes tells her to keep her emotions under control and not to foolishly confuse Hamlet's horniness for affection. Ophelia obeys but does not leave it at that. She tells her brother to practice what he preaches, basically calling him a hypocrite. She says that if he's going to steer her towards doing good he shouldn't be sinning. Thus, it is evident that Ophelia is rational and cannot be as easily fooled by men as her brother and father think she can. 

4. Quotation #2 – Act 1, Scene 3 Ophelia: “I do not know my lord what I should think” Polonius: “Marry, I’ll teach you: think yourself a baby, That you have ta’en these tenders for true pay, Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly; Or – not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, Running it this – you’ll tender me a fool.” […] Ophelia: “I shall obey, my lord.” 104 105 136

5. Explanation • Laertes tries to convince Ophelia to stop seeing Hamlet before he leaves for Paris • Polonius agrees with him • Polonius even tells her to think of herself as a baby and to stop believing hamlet’s foolish words • Although she tries to argue in favour of Hamlet, telling her father that he loves her, she agrees to stop seeing him at the end • Ophelia does what she is told

6. Quotation #3 – Act 2, Scene 1 Ophelia: “No, my good lord; but as you did command I did repel his letters and denied His access to me.” 110

7. Explanation • Shows that she cannot think for herself • Controlled by the men in her family • Gives up stuff she wants because her over protective father says so

8. Quotation #4 – Act 3, Scene 1 Ophelia: “My honour’d lord, you know right well you did, And with them, words of so sweet breath composed As made the things more rich: Their perfume lost, Take these again; for to the noble mind. Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind. There, my lord.” 100

9. Explanation This quote is said by Ophelia when she tries to return some love tokens Hamlet gave her earlier. Even though Ophelia’s love for Hamlet is strong, she obeys her father when he tells her not to see Hamlet again or accept any letters that Hamlet writes. Her heart is pure, but when she does something dishonest, it is out of genuine fear. In this quote, Ophelia approaches Hamlet with a sassy attitude, as if she have no affections or never had affections for him. Instead this made her seem weak and unsophisticated in Hamlet’s mind, which later lead to him insulting her naive characteristics. To her family, Ophelia is the symbol of morality, whose purpose is to be a obedient wife and dutiful mother. To Hamlet, she is a sexual object, a corrupt and deceitful lover. Guided by a dishonest father, she has no way of deciphering the contradictory expectations.

10. Quotation #5 – Act 3, Scene 1 Ophelia: “The observed of all observers, quiet, quiet down! And I,of ladies most deject and wretched, That suck’d the honey of his music vows, Now see that noble and most sovereign reason Like sweet bells, jangled, out of tune and harsh; That unmatch’d form and feature of blown youth Blasted with ecstasy: Oh, woe is me, To have seen what I have seen, see what I see!” 155 160

11. Explanation • Ophelia is talking to herself after speaking with Hamlet • Planned confrontation by Polonius so that he could see how Hamlet acts towards Ophelia • Expresses her feelings towards Hamlets state of mind • Feels extremely unhappy that Hamlet is “crazy” • She says that she is the most miserable woman due to the change in Hamlet’s demeanour • Shows that she is emotional, weak and easily affected by other people