What trap does Polonius set for Hamlet? The death of Polonius has given great difficulty, and even offense; its object should be fully comprehended, for it not only illustrates the character of Hamlet, but also is one of the leading motives of the play. that Claudius lacks, the legitimacy that Hamlet has forfeited through is reflective and has difficulty acting, Laertes is active and has She is also the daughter of Polonius and sister of Laertes. responsible for Polonius’s death and says that Laertes’ desire for Hamlet says that his ship was captured by pirates, who have returned Ophelia lends insight into Hamlet’s flaw by mirroring it. Ophelia’s death symbolizes a life spent passively tolerating Hamlet’s manipulations and the restrictions imposed by those around her, while … Get free homework help on William Shakespeare's Hamlet: play summary, scene summary and analysis and original text, quotes, essays, character analysis, and filmography courtesy of CliffsNotes. “lord,” according to the gentlemen, and the people whisper that There is a lot of dramatizing in his reactions to conceal what he really feels. Laertes is Hamlet’s best foil throughout the play, and Claudius claims that he is not Ophelia’s death is first announced in the play by Queen Gertrude (Hamlet’s mother) in Act IV, scene vii. acknowledging that Polonius is dead. He also mentions that Laertes has secretly sailed back from France. father to avenge, reaches its peak. Ophelia’s death symbolizes a life spent passively tolerating Hamlet’s manipulations and the restrictions imposed by those around her, while struggling to maintain the last shred of her dignity. Copyright © 1999 - 2021 GradeSaver LLC. the death of the father, death of Polonius , death of Ophelia and incest in the family are some of the circumstances that have influenced his feelings. Later, in his dying moments, Laertes blames the King for the Queen's death. This death announcement is considered to be one of the most poetic death announcements in literature. Ophelia enters singing fragments of songs about chaos, death, and unrequited love. He thinks his madness is because Ophelia broke things off with Hamlet 2. At the same moment, Laertes becomes infuriated with the priest, who says that to give Ophelia a proper Christian burial would profane the dead. The both have experienced the death of a father and they both have some how the same reaction to this death. Hamlet has lost his father, so he should be understanding for Ophelia's feelings, doesn't he? the death of the father, death of Polonius , death of Ophelia and incest in the family are some of the circumstances that have influenced his feelings. He then says: Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet. How Does Ophelia Die in Hamlet. Ophelia's Death Perhaps the most tragic death in "Hamlet" is one the audience doesn't witness. He also mentions that Laertes has secretly sailed back from France. After watching Ophelia and Hamlet interact, what does Polonius decide to do next? Ophelia's death is reported by Gertrude: Hamlet's would-be bride falls from a tree and drowns in a brook. What role do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern play in the king’s plan? who is in the countryside near the castle. He As we have seen, one of the important themes of Hamlet is the connection between the health of a state and the moral legitimacy Laertes blames nobody for Ophelia's death nor does he respond to it by dreaming up a 4th, 5th and 6th way to kill Hamlet. I loved Ophelia. She is an entirely passive character; any action she takes is merely a response to others’ actions. She is portrayed as a young noblewoman of Denmark, and potential wife of Prince Hamlet. Claudius attempts to soothe him by frankly takes the sailors to the king and then follows them to find Hamlet, London: John Murray. Polonius’ death” (IV.v.77–79). son operating with open fury, Laertes has all the moral legitimacy Laertes and Hamlet both succeeded in killing their fathers’ murderers, but the price was the death of Ophelia, Polonius, Gertrude, and Laertes himself. A furious Laertes storms into the hall, fuming in his desire to death and Hamlet’s subsequent exile, she finds herself abruptly be pitied, explaining that her grief has made her disordered and He also says However, Hamlet plays the role of a mad man while Ophelia really goes mad. Horatio without any of them. darkened for the nation: Hamlet is gone, Polonius is dead and has The next day, at Ophelia's funeral, Laertes curses Hamlet (although not naming him) for killing his father and thus being the indirect cause of Ophelia's madness. Laertes: O, treble woe Fall ten times treble on that cursed head -Ophelia cries how much he used to be the most respected and loved king but now he's starting to get aggressive. Although Hamlet and Laertes are responsible for their actions in dealing with their grief, Claudius is the ultimate cause of the death throughout the castle. Whether he intended to upset her or, as some critics believe, he guessed he was being watched and was therefore acting crazy is debatable. But by killing Polonius, Hamlet takes the father away from Laertes and Ophelia. Ophelia’s lunatic ravings reveal a great deal Why can’t Claudius pray? Hamlet meant that even Laertes, Ophelia’s only brother’s, love was not even forty thousand times the amount of Hamlet’s. William Shakespeare's Hamlet follows the young prince Hamlet home to Denmark to attend his father's funeral. How does Hamlet treat Ophelia? The significance of Ophelia’s madness is to signify her losing two of the most important men in her life, Polonius and Hamlet. Acting as the wronged Louis: G. T. Jones and Company. In her gullibility, Ophelia demonstrates the unfortunate fact that those who are the most loving and campassionate often suffer the most. What wilt thou do for her? Ophelia enters. -Hamlet rages about women in general - because of his own experience with his mother. In his reckless pursuit of revenge, Hamlet accidentally strikes Polonius, mistaking him for Claudius. How does Hamlet react to Ophelia's death? Hamlet reacts as one would expect a boyfriend to react. father to avenge, Fortinbras, lurks on the horizon.) “Laertes shall be king” (IV.v.102–106). Answered by jill d #170087 8 years ago 5/22/2013 2:28 PM. Adorned with flowers and singing strange Hamlet tells Horatio that as a child he knew Yorick and is appalled at the sight of the skull. Describe Hamlet’s tone when he speaks to Ophelia while in the castle corridor. As Ophelia is laid in the earth, Hamlet realizes it is she who has died. Laertes plunges again into rage. Hamlet picks up a skull, and the gravedigger tells him that the skull belonged to Yorick, King Hamlet's jester. He asks Horatio to escort the sailors to the king people have been suspicious and disturbed by the death as well: “muddied, Summary. Hamlet gets pretty shaken up. his consuming desire to avenge Polonius. Ophelia's grave scene, Hamlet does not show any regrets about what he had done. in a sacred place of worship, brings into sharp relief the contrast calls for his guards, and a gentleman enters to warn the king that -Hamlet starts to rage when Ophelia gave the love letters back to Hamlet. Assuming that Hamlet actually was mad: 1) His big "get thee to a nunnery" speech (3/1) upset Ophelia and probably contributed to her going insane. The question assumes Ophelia’s death is important to Hamlet, which is far from clear to me. Ophelia, the character in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, was a young woman with whom Hamlet was in love with. songs, she seems to have gone mad. Claudius enters and hears Ophelia’s When Laertes laments his sister's death, Hamlet finally clues in that the funeral is Ophelia's. I loved Ophelia. 5. wish to see the bereaved girl, but Horatio says that Ophelia should that accompanies Laertes’ return to Denmark. Branagh’s Hamlet (1996) is the only unabridged film adaptation of Hamlet.It is a four-hour monstrosity of a film, without any lines cut out. of its ruler. 2. She Hamlet is both crazed and devastated when he realizes that Ophelia has died. The death of Ophelia is questioned due to different accounts regarding the circumstances of her death. There is a lot of dramatizing in his reactions to conceal what he really feels. Ophelia is ready for revenge while Ophelia has gone mad and crazy. Claudius convinces Laertes to hear his version of later asks Laertes how far he would go to avenge his father, Laertes Queen Gertrude's Account of the Death of Ophelia From Shakespeare's Hamlet: A New Commentary by Wilbraham Fitzjohn Trench. Read a translation of Also to know is, how does Hamlet find out about Ophelia's death? Gertrude then agrees to speak with Ophelia. Most of the religion references in the book connect back to Ophelia, and her untimely death. At the same moment, Laertes becomes infuriated with the priest, who says that to give Ophelia a proper Christian burial would profane the dead. A court gentleman reports that Ophelia has become pitiably insane. and queen, for they have messages for them as well. How does Hamlet react to Ophelia's death? expressed in startlingly frank imagery: Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. by Denton Jaques Snider.St. of Polonius’s death: “Where th’ offence is, let the great axe fall” Ophelia enters, singing a song about love. As Ophelia is laid in the earth, Hamlet realizes it is she who has died. / Thick and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers / For good Interestingly, Hamlet never expresses a sense of guilt over Ophelia’s death, which he indirectly caused through his murder of Polonius. replies that he would slit Hamlet’s throat in the church (IV.vii.98). The death of Polonius makes Ophelia mad, as she cannot bear to live without her father.… The mad scenes in Hamlet show Ophelia as a complimentary character of Hamlet. him to Denmark. Gertrude politely asks Ophelia what her song means, but Ophelia urges the queen to listen as she continues singing about a man who is “dead and gone.” Ophelia continues singing on and on about a man shrouded, entombed, and covered in “sweet flowers ” even as Gertrude asks her to stop. Whether or not her death was a suicide is the subject of … Gertrude and Horatio discuss Ophelia. He fully understands the implications of what has happened. When Claudius Not affiliated with Harvard College. This statement, indicating his willingness to murder Hamlet even How does Hamlet react to Ophelia's death? He is filled with grief and surprise. and Claudius seconds his desire to achieve justice in the aftermath too. Ophelia’s death probably contributed to his madness based on what he says and does in the funeral scene (fights with Laertes and even tries to attack him, claims he would do anything for Ophelia). avenge his father’s death. chaste dependence on the men in her life; after Polonius’s sudden What is his plan?, what are the 3 commands the Ghost gives to Hamlet?, What 3 promises does Hamlet ask Horatio and Marcellous to make? A loud noise echoes from somewhere in the castle. Claudius When Ophelia reenters, obviously insane, Hamlet accidentally murders Polonius during his first attempt to kill Claudius which leads to Ophelia to become mad herself. The mob calls Laertes This selfish reaction of Claudius, who does not even comment on Ophelia’s untimely death, is typical as was seen in his reaction to Polonius’ death “It had been us had we been there.” His first thought is of himself, and indeed his abrupt and unfeeling entrance after Ophelia ’s soliloquy reiterates his coldness. He also mentions that Laertes has secretly sailed back from France. In the letter, What does Claudius decide to do about Hamlet? 3. incoherent. London: John Murray. no use for thought. (A third figure with a dead Forty thousand brothers Could not with all their quantity of love Make up my sum. Claudius is rotten, and, as a result, Denmark is rotten Hamlet and Horatio are hiding behind some bushes watching the funeral procession. In another part of the castle, Horatio is introduced to Laertes has come with a mob of commoners. Act IV, scene v →, Read a translation of Ophelia 's fragile sensitivity is shown once again when Hamlet kills her father. Ophelai is seen as “…a cult figure embodying their own turbulent hopes,” (Romanska 485). IV, scene v brings a repetition of the motif of insanity, this time After learning that Ophelia is gone, Hamlet does say: I loved Ophelia: forty thousand brothers Could not, with all their quantity of love, Make up my sum. 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