Essay Sample on the Character of Ophelia in Hamlet

Regarded as one of literature’s best contributors, Shakespeare wrote intricate plays intended for a rich and noble audience; his plays were written in sophisticated language, leaving modern readers often confused and lost on a surface level. His plays almost always included plot with a plethora of irony and conflict, leaving the audience to question and assume the true feelings and intentions of characters. One of Shakespeare’s most regarded plays, The Tragedy of Hamlet, revolves about Prince Hamlet dealing with atrocious conflict, in which his uncle, Claudius, kills King Hamlet (Hamlet’s father), and overtakes his thrown. Hamlet is informed of the news through a ghost, who is portrayed to be his recently passed father. From the ghost’s words, Hamlet sets out to avenge his father and, in the process, Hamlet is introduced to characters who allow him to both progress, but also regress. A character, vital to the story’s plot and motion, Ophelia, allows Hamlet to express his feelings but also creates a scenario that eventually leads to his death. While at first Hamlet was able to depict his deceiving attitude with Ophelia, it eventually leads to more conflict with the death of Polonius, Ophelia’s father, and her suicide; therefore, a complete plot, with conflict and resolution, isn’t possible without the Ophelia’s presence.

Shakespeare’s intended role of Ophelia was to let her express Hamlet’s deceitful attitude through love. While it is unsure of how Hamlet truly feels about Ophelia (due to his deception), Hamlet portrays himself in deep love with Ophelia through letters. Regardless, in the letters, Hamlet states, “I am ill at theses numbers. I have not / art to reckon my groans, but that I love thee / best, O most best, believe it,” (Shakespeare 2.2.120-122). In the letter, Hamlet expresses his agony for his void of Ophelia’s love, and discusses he has relapsed over her. However, Shakespeare intended for Hamlet’s affliction to be more directed at his father’s death rather than Ophelia; not only does this allow for Hamlet to hide his true cause of affliction to be his father’s death and to use it for Ophelia but also create an external conflict for Hamlet with Polonius. Before these letters can reach Ophelia, Polonius intercepts them, and fulfills King Claudius’s request in getting an inkling on the cause of Hamlet’s distress (Claudius needs a scapegoat for King Hamlet’s death in order to limit attention to his murder). Polonius and Claudius create a plan in order to get Ophelia and Hamlet where they can talk freely while they eavesdrop. This conversation exposes many of Hamlet’s feelings and progresses the plot immensely. A critical point of the conversation goes, 

Hamlet. Ay, truly, for the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a

bawd than the force of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness. This was sometime a 

paradox, but now the time gives it proof. I did love you once.

Ophelia. Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so.

Hamlet. You should not have believed me, for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we 

shall relish of it. I loved you not.

Ophelia. I was the more deceived. (Shakespeare 3.1.112-121).

Hamlet claims in the beginning of the excerpt that Ophelia’s beauty should be proportionate to her honesty, which then he states she will abuse one with the other. Ironically, Hamlet proceeds to tell Ophelia that he never loved her, contradicting what he stated in the letters. This section not only allows Hamlet to contradict himself to portray his insanity but also create more external conflict with Ophelia and the eavesdropping Polonius. Overall, the presence of Ophelia helps Hamlet significantly prior to his murder, as he is able to use display his deception well through fake love and emotion.  

Ophelia’s presence does not only express Hamlet’s internal conflict and create more conflict with her, but also introduces external conflict with Polonius. Polonius’s interjection between Hamlet and Ophelia begins Hamlet’s external conflict with Polonius, and Hamlet does not hesitate to insult Polonius. In their first interaction following Polonius’s discovery, Hamlet states, “. . . You are a fishmonger,” (Shakespeare 2.2.175). Here, Hamlet is stating Polonius is willing to block Ophelia from Hamlet in exchange for Claudius’s approval. Additionally mentioned in the conversation, Polonius is quoted, “How say you by that? Still harping on / my daughter,” (Shakespeare 2.2.188-189). While this conversation holds basic external conflict, it allows Shakespeare to portray and create the conflict, further advancing the plot and making Hamlet’s plan for revenge eventually more difficult. Further on, Claudius assigns Polonius to eavesdrop on Hamlet. Continuing to feel indeterminate with Hamlet’s disposition, even following his conversation with Ophelia in Act 3 Scene 1, Polonius constructs another scenario to try to force Hamlet to express his feelings, this time with his mother, Queen Gertrude. However, during the interaction between Hamlet and his mother, Hamlet hears a voice behind a curtain, and with the assumption of the unknown character being his Claudius, stabs and kills Polonius. Ophelia’s presence in the story creates Hamlet’s external conflict with Polonius, eventually leading to all of their deaths including Laertes, the brother of Ophelia.

Ophelia’s presence in the play is vital to the story’s plot, Hamlet’s conflict, and is the main catalyst for merely any and all conflict. Without Ophelia, Hamlet more than likely faces no conflict, and there is no story or plot to advance or create. Ophelia’s presence is truly responsible for her death and the death of Polonius, Laertes, and Hamlet, due to Hamlet using her to express his deceitful behavior. While Ophelia is never connotated as a character with negative implications or intentions, her appearance creates situations for Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes, and even herself with eventually lead to all of their deaths. Unfortunately for her, her presence creates an unforeseen domino effect for Hamlet and her family. Without her presence, it is tough to say Hamlet, Polonius, and Laertes all still would have died.