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| Character | Ophelia | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Female | |
| Age Range(s) | Young Adult (20-35) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Descriptive, Insecure, Afraid | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Renaissance | |
| Genre | Tragedy | |
| Description | Ophelia recounts her encounter with Hamlet | |
| Details | ACT 2 Scene 1 | |
Summary
The play is set in Denmark at the Castle Elsinore. King Hamlet has just died and his brother, Claudius, has replaced him and also married his dead brother's wife, Gertrude. Hamlet is still grieving over his father's death and is always very moody.
In the first scene of the play two watchmen, Bernardo and Marcellus, along with Hamlet's friend Horatio, witness the apparition of a ghost that they believe is the spirit of King Hamlet. The ghost doesn't say anything and disappears. They decide to bring Hamlet the next time, thinking that the ghost, if it's really Hamlet's father's spirit, will maybe address his son. That night the ghost appears again and speaks to Hamlet. He says that he is indeed his father's spirit and has come back to reveal the cause of his death, that is he was poisoned by his brother, King Claudius. He asks Hamlet to avenge his death. Hamlet starts planning the revenge and decides that part of his plan will be to pretend to be gone mad.
In ACT II, Scene 1 we find Polonius, the Lord Chamberlain of the court, who dispatches his servant Reynaldo to France to spy on his son's (Laertes) personal life. Then Polonius' daughter enters who tells her father about her strange encounter with Hamlet. Hamlet, she says, was very pale and was trembling, then he grabbed her and held her but said nothing to her. He just sighed and then let her go. The encounter frightened Ophelia. This makes Polonius think that Hamlet is mad because he is in love with his daughter.
In the first scene of the play two watchmen, Bernardo and Marcellus, along with Hamlet's friend Horatio, witness the apparition of a ghost that they believe is the spirit of King Hamlet. The ghost doesn't say anything and disappears. They decide to bring Hamlet the next time, thinking that the ghost, if it's really Hamlet's father's spirit, will maybe address his son. That night the ghost appears again and speaks to Hamlet. He says that he is indeed his father's spirit and has come back to reveal the cause of his death, that is he was poisoned by his brother, King Claudius. He asks Hamlet to avenge his death. Hamlet starts planning the revenge and decides that part of his plan will be to pretend to be gone mad.
In ACT II, Scene 1 we find Polonius, the Lord Chamberlain of the court, who dispatches his servant Reynaldo to France to spy on his son's (Laertes) personal life. Then Polonius' daughter enters who tells her father about her strange encounter with Hamlet. Hamlet, she says, was very pale and was trembling, then he grabbed her and held her but said nothing to her. He just sighed and then let her go. The encounter frightened Ophelia. This makes Polonius think that Hamlet is mad because he is in love with his daughter.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
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| OPHELIA O, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted! [LORD POLONIUS With what, i' the name of God?] OPHELIA My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced; No hat upon his head; his stockings foul'd, Ungarter'd, and down-gyved to his ancle; Pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each other; And with a look so piteous in purport As if he had been loosed out of hell To speak of horrors,--he comes before me. [LORD POLONIUS Mad for thy love?] OPHELIA My lord, I do not know; But truly, I do fear it. [LORD POLONIUS What said he?] OPHELIA He took me by the wrist and held me hard; Then goes he to the length of all his arm; And, with his other hand thus o'er his brow, He falls to such perusal of my face As he would draw it. Long stay'd he so; At last, a little shaking of mine arm And thrice his head thus waving up and down, He raised a sigh so piteous and profound As it did seem to shatter all his bulk And end his being: that done, he lets me go: And, with his head over his shoulder turn'd, He seem'd to find his way without his eyes; For out o' doors he went without their helps, And, to the last, bended their light on me. |
