Ophelia's Madness

Ophelia's Madness

By: Lukas Williams

Act 4 Scene 7

At the end of Act 4, Gertrude bears the news that Ophelia had killed herself by falling off of a tree and drowning in the brook. Driven mad by her love for Hamlet and having no freedom in doing as she pleased, be that because of Hamlet and her father and brother, Ophelia had no alternative but to end her life. Gertrude said: "As one incapable of her own distress, or like a creature native and undued to the element." She could not handle her distress and killed herself as a result.

Act 4 Scene 5

After Gertrude is told that Ophelia has gone insane, she agrees to speak with her. Gertrude tries to talk to her, but Ophelia resorts to singing to her repeatedly. "He is dead and gone lady, He is dead and gone; At his head a grass-green turf, At his heels a stone." Claudius enters and she continues to sing.

Act 3 Scene 1

In the first scene that we see Hamlet and Ophelia on stage together, Hamlet gives his to be or not to be soliloquy. He is thinking about whether or not he should kill himself. Ophelia enters and Hamlet tells her, in a state of lunacy, that he does not love her anymore. Whether it is true or not does not matter as Ophelia thinks that Hamlet has gone mad, saying, "Oh help him you sweet heavens!" and "O heavenly powers restore him!" Hamlet tells Ophelia that she belongs in a nunnery and Ophelia says, "Oh woe is me, T'have seen what I have seen, see what I see." Ophelia begins to crazy as she doesn't understand why Hamlet doesn't love her anymore."

Levels of Madness:

5. Suicidal Depression

4. Insane

3. Starting to Lose It

2. Semi-Sane

1. Sane

Act 2 Scene 1

Ophelia talks to Polonius about how she is worried by Hamlet's mental state. Hamlet, looking disheveled, comes to Ophelia and grabs her by the arm: "He raised a sigh so piteous and profound as it did seem to shatter all his bulk, and end his being." Having followed Polonius' advice, Ophelia becomes angered by her father when he becomes confused as to why Hamlet would act this way: "But as you did command, I did repel his letters, and denied his access to me."

Act 1 Scene 3 (Continued)

Immediately after talking to Laertes and promising him to keep his advice about Hamlet a secret, Ophelia's father, Polonius, begins to question her and she tells him everything that Laertes had told her: "So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet." Polonius claims that Ophelia doesn't understand how she feels and she should act with caution. Ophelia tells Polonius "I do not know my lord what I should think." She is confused and is questioning herself. Polonius advises Ophelia to cut off Hamlet.

Act 1 Scene 3

Laertes, Ophelia's brother, warns her that it may not be such a good idea to get so close to Hamlet: "A violet in the youth of primy nature, forward not permanent, sweet not lasting. The perfume and suppliance of a minute, no more." Hamlet's love for Ophelia, through Laertes' eyes, is only semi-permanent and unreliable. Ophelia listens to her brother by saying: "I shall th'effect of this good lesson keep as watchman to my heart." She then tells him to follow his own advice. She is thinking clearly, taking consideration of what her brother has told her, but also thinking about what he should be doing in his own life in regards to what he has told her. "Do not as some ungracious pastors do, show me the steep and thorny way to heaven... and recks not his own rede."