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Ophelia gone mad!

Ophelia is having a hard time dealing the death of her father, and she eventually ends up going mad, due to the fact that she cannot deal with it.   Unlike Hamlet, who has the opportunity to get revenge on the person who killed his father, Ophelia cannot( she obviously won't kill Hamlet).   Ophelia is now absolutely destroyed because of her father's death.   She says, "No, no, he is dead, Go to thy deathbed.  He never will come again.His beard was as white as snow." (4.5.163)  Ophelia realizes her father will no longer be with her," and she will not being able to go to her father when she has a problem like she did before. Ophelia feels like she cannot move on without her father alive  because she isn't strong.  I think that the reason why Ophelia goes insane is because her father was murdered. Her madness can also be caused by the fact that she does not think that Hamlet loves her as much as she  loves him, which makes her feel lonely. Earlier in the play, she realized that Hamlet's "love", was not actually love, but it was a spew of emotions because he was mad. "And I, of ladies most deject and wretched, that sucked the honey of his musicked vows" (3.1.156).  Ophelia fell for Hamlet's pretend love. But, not only does she have to face the fact that her dad is dead, she must also face the fact that Hamlet, the one she loves is the one who murdered him and doesn't even care, which would make anyone go crazy.  Ophelia now sees that she loves Hamlet but cannot put her trust into him, which is hard for her to do, especially without her father.

Ophelia's gone nuts

I also believe that the reason for Ophelia's insanity is a combination of her father's untimely death and Hamlet's betrayal. Throughout the play, Ophelia has been used and betrayed by the various people in her life and Hamlet was one of the few people she trusted, however after the murder of her father she no longer can rely on him. I think Hamlet would receive the violets since she says: "I would give you some violets, but they wither'd all when my father died" (4.5.3059-3061). She is basically referring to her father's death and that the fidelity represented by the violets was that of Hamlet, who she no longer trusted after the murder of her father. I also think that the rue would be for the queen because she says "There's rue for you and here's some for me, We may call it herb of grace on Sunday's" (4.5.3056-3057). Rue represents repentance and that is signified by church on sundays but also because the queen must repent for her sins. Rue also stands for adultery and since the relationship between Claudius and Gertrude is so odd some would call it adultery because she was so quick to marry him after the kings death. I would also give fennel to rosencrantz and guildenstern because it represents flattery and both are quick to flatter the king and queen.

Ophelia's Insanity

Ophelia is going mad because she sees what Hamlet is going through and does not know what to do without the previous Hamlet.  However, Hamlet is not actually mad but everyone sees him as mad.  Also, after hearing about Polonius' death, she does not have a fatherly figure in her life and no family as of right now.  Laeretes is on his way back from France.  With this lack of family to talk to about Polonius' death and other issues in her life, Ophelia is making herself insane.

Artificial Flowers

Bobby Darin wrote a song with the same name. Pretty great tune. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDK_R9JVQgc

The song has nothing to do with the topic... just the title.  It's about a girl's parents freezing to death.

Artificial Flowers is the perfect title though. While the flowers may be real to the little girl in the song, they're meaningless to everyone else. They're meaning is different however. Rosemary is more herb than flower, but it represents faithfulness and memory. Pansies, for thoughts. At this point they all seem to be concerning the mind. She then says "There's rue for you, and here's some for me; we/ may call it herb of grace o' Sundays. You <must> wear / your rue with a difference" (4.5. 205) At this point the flowers start to gain some meaning; the emotions associated with them are to be displayed. This is why Ophelia is giving them away - Hamlet's madness has caused her not to show or need her emotions anymore, and thus is giving them away.

Ophelia's Crazy!

Certainly Ophelia seems to be grieving over the loss of her father, but it seems she is actually trying to ignore the fact that he is gone. She says, “Pray let’s have no words of this...” (4.5. 51), in response to Claudius talking about the death of her father. I believe the real reason for Ophelia’s insanity is the fact that Hamlet rejected her. She states that “Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s Day” and she talks about her being “a maid” waiting “to be your Valentine”  (4.5.53). Here she seems as though she is trying to move on from the heartbreak of Hamlet, but struggles to cope with reality.

When Ophelia enters with her basket of flowers I think that she would hand the Rosemary to Gertrude (symbolizing remembrance) because I think she would want her to remember her husband before he was murdered. This is something Hamlet would have wanted as well. This is shown in his speech when he says to Gertrude, “Look here upon this picture and on this…”(3.4.64). Hamlet is forcing his mother to remember his dead father. The Pansies would have been given to Claudius because I think Ophelia would want him to reflect (a.k.a think) about some of the actions he has made. For example, setting up someone to murderer Hamlet, marrying Gertrude, and killing his brother. I think the fennel and columbines should be kept for her. These represent adultery and Ophelia has certainly not represented the ideal woman. Earlier in the novel Hamlet proclaims, “Get thee to a nunnery” (3.1.131).

The rue flower (symbolizing repentance) would most likely be given to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. They proclaim their honor and respect for Hamlet by saying, “O, my lord, if my duty be too bold, my love is too unmannerly” (3.2. 378-379). They are showing that they will do anything that he pleads. They both have made sacrifices per Claudius’ orders, but they were Hamlet’s friends and never caused harm to anyone, therefore are simply seeking forgiveness. A daisy (representing unhappy love) will be given to the imaginary body of Hamlet. He is obviously not present in this scene, but if he were he would be given these because he is unhappy with Ophelia’s love towards him and even his mothers. The final flower, a violet (faithfulness) would go to Laertes because he has been the most trustworthy (not crazy) character we have seen so far.

When distributing the flowers it seems as though Ophelia would give them to the people based on their meaning. She might throw Claudius,’ hand Laertes his, toss Gertrude’s ect… I would arrange the scene with them also standing in a half circle around her to show that she is the center and that they are all focused on her. This idea is very similar the last judgment (in heaven).

 

Ophelia's Flower Giving

I think that the cause of Ophelia's insanity is the death of her father. Even Claudius, in discussing the cause of her behavior, says "O, this is the poison of deep grief. It springs/All from her father's death, and now behold!" (4.5.80-81). The fact that Polonius was killed by Hamlet, the man who Ophelia had loved, could only have made her grief even worse.

I think that Ophelia would have given the rosemary to Gertrude, symbolizing how quickly Gertrude forgot her old husband and married a new one. Gertrude would also get the violets because she was so unfaithful to the old king my marrying his brother just months after his death. Ophelia would give the pansies to Laertes, not because she is thinking of him, but rather because she continues to think of her father. Laertes has acted rather like a father figure to her, and has given her advice throughout the play. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern would receive the fennel, as they have been accepting the king's praise and flattering him. Hamlet tells Rosencrantz that he is a sponge "...that soaks up the King's countenance, his rewards, his authorities" (4.2.15-16). The rue, symbolizing repentance, would go to Claudius. Having killed the king, it would be important for him to repent. However, as we know, he does not repent, saying that "My words fly up, my thoughts remain below" (3.4.102). She gives some to herself as well because of her sorrow over the death of her own father. Ophelia would give the daisy, which represents dissembling, to Hamlet, because he is the one who has been deceiving people the most. 

Ophelia’s Flowers

         Ophelia apparent descent into insanity is a cause of Hamlets harsh betrayal as he is the murder of her father, and also having to deal with the death of her father. In addition I believe that Ophelia is driven into insanity because now she doesn't know who she can trust, and all she has left is Laertes. Hamlet has betrayed her and is now basically dead to her, and her father who she relied on so heavily is now gone. I think that she is now lost and alone and doesn't know what to do with herself.
         As Ophelia is passing out flowers I think that she gives fennels to Rosencrantz and Guilenstern because is symbolizes flattery and deceit and throughout the book they have been sucking up to the king and giving him lots of flattery as seen when they say, "We will ourselves provide./ Most holy and religious fear it is/ To keep those many many bodies safe/ That live and feed upon your Majesty." (3.3.8-11) they are telling the king that they will do whatever he says, all while deceiving and spying on Hamlet to be loyal to the king. I think that she gives a Violet which symbolizes faithfulness to Horatio because in the book so far he has been a faithful and loyal friend to Hamlet. I think she gives a daisy with represents dissembling or a pretender to Hamlet and the king because they have both concealed their true motives and have been pretending/ acting throughout the entire book. As she is handing out the daisy's she says, "There’s a daisy.  I would give you some violets,  but they withered all when my father died."(4.5.207-209) showing how Hamlet had once been faithful and she had trusted him until her killed her father. I think that she gives rosemary which represents Remembrance to the Queen because she has moved on so quickly from her first husband with his brother and she needs to remember her first husband. The Ghost even says to her and Hamlet, "Do not forget" (3.4.126). Lastly I believe that she gives a Violet which symbolizes Faithfulness to Laertes because he has been a good and faithful brother to her throughout the book always looking out for her best interests.

Parsa's Post: Polonius Acts 2-3

In the beginning of act 2 Polonius is speaking to Reynaldo about him going to Paris to see his son Laertes but asking before he goes to visit him to ask around about him, about his behaviors and the certain things he may be doing.

Polonius: “You shall do marvelous wisely, good Reynaldo, Before you visit him, to make inquire of his behavior.” (2.1.3-5)

Reynaldo: “My lord, I did intend it.” (2.1.6)

Polonius: “Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir, Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris, and how, and who, what means, and where they keep what company at what expense; and finding by this encompassment and drift of question that they do know my son, come you more nearer than your particular demands will touch it.” (2.1.7-14)

In this act Polonius is trying to use Reynaldo to find out if his son has been up to no good. He is asking Reynaldo to ask around and see what Laeters’s behavior is like in Paris and what kind of a reputation he has.

            Polonius: “At “closes in the consequence.” Ay, marry. He closes thus: “I know the gentleman. I saw him yesterday”—or “t' other day,” Or then, or then, with such or such—“and, as you say, There was he gaming, there o'ertook in’s rouse, there falling out at tennis,” or, perchance, “I saw him enter such a house of sale”—Videlicet a brothel, or so forth. See you now, your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth. And thus do we of wisdom and of reach, with windlasses and with assays of bias, by indirections find directions out. So by my former lecture and advice shall you my son. You have me, have you not?” (2.1.61-75)

Polonius is essentially spying on his son to see if he is really focused on studying his music and not out being wild and making his father and him look bad. This is showing that Polonius is worried and cautious about his son.


In act 3 during the play that they are all watching be performed Claudius gets up and it is noticed.

            Ophelia: “The king rises”

            Hamlet: “What, frighted with false fire?”

            Gertude: “How fares my lord?”

            Polonius: “Give o’er the play”

            Claudius: “Give me some light, away!”

            Polonius: “Lights, lights, lights!” (3.2.291-295)

Polonius is acting good towards Claudius ordering around people with demands that will benefit Claudius and to what Claudius wishes. Yelling to give on the lights when he asks and also yelling to stop the play due to Claudius’s discomfort.

I think Morgan Freeman would fit the role of Polonius pretty well. I think this because they both are old but still powerful/ important and have a big impact on things that they do. They are both cautious sounding and seem to be speaking intelligently when they speak and both seem to get a lot of acknowledgement and a feel of importance whenever they are talking to someone.

Act 3: Hamlet

1.      1. (3.1.1-10)

Introduction: This particular passage is the opener for act three. The King (Claudius), Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern are discussing Hamlet’s odd behavior.

Cladius

And can you by no drift of conference

Get from him why he puts on this confusion,

Grating so harshly all his days of quiet

With turbulent and dangerous lunacy?

Rosencrantz

He does confess he feels himself distracted.

But from what cause he will by no means speak.

Guildenstern

Nor do we find him forward to be sounded.

But with a crafty madness keeps aloof

When we would bring him on to some confession

Of his true state.

Analysis: In this passage, Claudius is asking Rosencrantz and Guildenstern if they know the reason for Hamlet’s odd behavior. Rosencrantz states that Hamlet has admitted to his odd behavior, but has not told them the reason why. Guildenstern tells them that he tends to dance around their questions when they try to get him to talk about how he feels. This passage describes Hamlet as a very sly character and someone who isn’t always open for talking about his feelings.

2. (3.2.129-135)

Introduction: In this section, the play that Hamlet set up is just about to start, and here in particular he is interacting with his beloved Ophelia.

Ophelia

You are merry, my lord

Hamlet

Who, I?

Ophelia

Ay, my lord.

Hamlet

O God, your only jig-maker. What should a man do but be merry? For, look you, how cheerfully my mother looks, and my father died within these two hours.

Analysis: Despite Hamlet’s strange behavior noticed by many, this is the first time anyone has described him as being in a good mood. His good mood is due to the fact that he is with Ophelia, but his mood quickly turns around due to the reaction of his mother. Hamlet is very upset because his mother is so cheerful after what he feels to be only two hours after his father’s death. In reality it has been four months since his death, but Hamlet is still copping with that fact that he is gone and we can clearly see his overwhelming emotions in this scene.

3. (3.3.77-101)

Introduction: In this section Hamlet is given the opportunity to murder his father’s killer (Claudius), but decides not to.

Hamlet

Now might I do it pat. Now he is a-praying.

And now I’ll do ’t. And so he goes to heaven.

And so am I revenged.—That would be scanned.

A villain kills my father, and, for that,

I, his sole son, do this same villain send

To heaven.

Oh, this is hire and salary, not revenge.

He took my father grossly, full of bread,

With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May.

And how his audit stands who knows save heaven?

But in our circumstance and course of thought

'Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged

To take him in the purging of his soul

When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?

No.

Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent.

When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage,

Or in th' incestuous pleasure of his bed,

At game a-swearing, or about some act

That has no relish of salvation in ’t—

Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven,

And that his soul may be as damned and black

As hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays

This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.

Analysis: Hamlet has been given an opportunity to murder Claudius, but due to his crazed state he decides to wait and murdered him similar to how his father was murdered. Hamlet describes his heart as black as death and says his soul is stuck to sin. Here we can see Hamlet coping with his crazy behavior, and although he realized what he wants to do is wrong, he still decides to eventually murderer him when he is drunk and asleep.

4. (3.4.11-21)

Introduction: This scene opens the final scene in act three. Here we see Hamlet interacting with his mother, right before he unknowing murderers Polonius.

Hamlet

Now, mother, what’s the matter?

Queen

Hamlet, thou hast thy father offended.

Hamlet

Mother, you have my father much offended.

Queen

Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue.

Hamlet

Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue.

Queen

Why, how now, Hamlet?

Hamlet

What’s the matter now?

Queen

Have you forgot me?

Hamlet

  No, by the rood, not so.

You are the queen, your husband’s brother’s wife,

And—would it were not so!—you are my mother.

Analysis: Throughout this scene Hamlet’s emotions are all over the place. He is portrayed as being very compassionate towards his mother at the start of the scene, asking her what the matter was. As the scene progresses he becomes very offensive towards his mother, which is the first time we have ever seen him be rude to the queen. The queen feels as though Hamlet forgotten who she is, yet Hamlet explains that she is the queen, but he doesn’t like Claudius. The queen becomes offended by this statement and therefore Hamlet sacrifices their relationship. 

The actor that I believe would best portray Hamlet would be Cory Monteith. Hamlet is a man who can quickly change his mood, who has a complicated relationship, wants to be center of attention, and feels the need to seek revenge on Claudius for his father’s death. Cory Monteith stared on Glee, where he was portrayed as the talented, jock, and was always looking to be the center of attention. He has a complicated relationship with many girls on this show (Rachel, Quinn, Santana etc…). Hamlet has an odd relationship with his mother and a very weird romantic relationship with Ophelia. Cory also spoke in a very dramatic way, just like Hamlet.

Ya Boi Claudius

Act 1/Scene 2/ Lines 1-16
          A refresher; this is the speech that Claudius first gives after becoming the new king of Denmark, a position we come to find out he gained through regicide.

Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death
The memory be green, and that is us befitted
To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom
To be contracted in one brow of woe,
Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature                  5
That we with wisest sorrow think on him
Together with remembrance of ourselves,
Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen,
Th' imperial jointress to this warlike state,
Have we (as 'twere with a defeated joy,                         10
With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage,
In equal scale weighing delight and dole)
Taken to wife. Nore have we herein barred
Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone               15
With this affair along. For all, our thanks.

Analysis: This is a mouthful of paradoxical b.s., which, as the plot unfolds, becomes quite clear that Claudius isn't as royal nor as noble as he pretends to be. Although not in this specific moment, we find out it's b.s. because he does tend to break from this ordered stanza structure, especially when alone or nervous (like when watching the meeting between hamlet and Ophelia in Act 2. While his lack of consistent form is a recurring theme, his use of aforementioned paradoxes is more important. We've been over the sometime sister, now our queen line before, but not so much the "With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage". We know why it's a paradox because it means happiness at a funeral and sadness in marriage.... but this is an interesting line that sheds light on how he feels about the death of the former King (his doing). To get philosophical for a moment, if I may, perhaps he is feeling like singing a good dirge for his marriage to guilt, something which he will never escape until death do them apart - because he's a murderer!

                                                                                                                                                   

Next up: Claudius gets stealthy
Act 2/Scene 2/ Lines 9-17

So much from th' understanding of himself
I cannot dream of. I entreat you both                       10
That, being of so young days brought with him
And sith so neighbored to his youth and havior,
That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court
Some little time, so by your companies
To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather              15
So much as from occassion you may glean,
[Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus]
That, opened, lies within our remedy.

Analysis:
Claudius.... the devious, backstabbing, life poisoning, king killing... I think you get it. Well he can add spying to his resume of nefarious activities now! He, in all his splendid guilt, is becoming a little paranoid, and perhaps worried, that Hamlet is discovering the truth. To fix this he sends two men, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern(with classic Shakespeare names if I may add) to do his dirty work and spy on poor Hamlet.

                                                                                                                                                   

Failure!
The failure of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to see the obvious makes Claudius a little grumpy

Act 3/ Scene 1/Lines 1-4

And can you by no drift of conference
Get from him why he puts on this confusion,
Grating so harshly all his days of quiet
With turbulent and dangerous lunacy?

Analysis:
This is the same as the above analysis. OH WAIT I'M LYING, just like Claudius is for most of the play. I just wanted to throw that in there. This would be the same, except it has one little difference; that one little word: dangerous. Dangerous makes Claudius seem a little afraid, or at least more afraid than before, which is understandable seeing as how the son of the King he just killed is onto his plot. However, it shows while Claudius may not feel guilt, he definitely feels fear and demonstrates that even soulless creatures like him feel emotions sometimes... sometimes.

                                                                                                                                                   

Last but not least: Claudius' Guilt becomes even more noticeable!! Hip Hip Hooray!

Act 3/ Scene 2/ Lines 178-181 and Line 202
Concerning how Hamlet acts around Ophelia

Was not like madness. There's something in his soul
O' er which his melancholy sits on brood,
And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose                      180
Will be some danger; which for to prevent,
I have in quick determination


 Madness in great ones must not <unwatched> go.        202

Analysis:
 The deviousness of Claudius continues as he watches Hamlet use the absolute worst pick up line in history on Ophelia.. well maybe that's not what's happening but the point is Claudius is watching. In fact, by even being there without Hamlet knowing in the first place gives us a peak at Claudius' personality; he's still paranoid that Hamlet knows something he shouldn't, and uses deception to find out what. But it is this moment when Claudius truly realizes that all is not good in the neighborhood when he says ," was not like madness. There's something in his soul". He goes on to say in the rest of that stanza and the last line of the scene that Hamlet is to be watched carefully, so that Claudius can be positive that Hamlet doesn't stay schemin'.

                                                                                                                                                   

The actor I would choose to play King Claudius is none other than the wonderful O.J. Simpson, whom I choose because he is a mediocre person and actor, like Claudius, but isn't afraid to get his hands dirty when the time comes. He also played a king in an RC commercial one time in the 80's.

See, it doesn't fit! Clearly it's too small.

Ophelia Act 3

1: (3.1.99-112)

In this passage Hamlet had just ended his “To be or not to be” speech and he notices Ophelia.

OPHELIA: Good my lord,

How does your Honor for thin many a day?

HAMLET: I humble thank you, well.

OPHELIA: My lord, I have remembrances of yours

That I have longed long to redeliver. I pray you now receive them.

HAMLET: No, not I. I never gave you aught.

OPHELIA: No honored lord, you know right well you did,

And with them words of so sweet breath composed

As made the things more rich. The perfume

Lost,

Take these again, for to the noble mind

Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.

There, my lord.

Analysis: In this passage Ophelia has just run into Hamlet and seems almost uncomfortable. She to just trying to be polite and make conversation with Hamlet. She just seems unsure about their relationship and how to act around him. At this point Ophelia has transformed into a nervous and sure person. At this point the way that Shakespeare is developing Ophelia's character is unsure about Hamlet and her feelings for him.  

2: (3.1.154-175)

This passage occurs at the end of Ophelia and Hamlets first conversation, and Hamlet says, 

OPHELIA: O, what a noble mind is here o’erthrown!

The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s, eye, tongue, sword,

Th’ expectancy and rose of the fair state,

The glass of fashion and the mold of form,

Th’ observed of all observers, quite, quite down!

And I, of ladies most deject and wretched,

That sucked the honey of his musicked vows,

Now see that noble and most sovereign reason,

Like sweet bells jangled, out of the time and harsh;

That unmatched form and stature of blown youth

Blasted with ecstasy. O, woe is me

T’ have seen what I have seen, see what I see!

Analysis: In this passage, Hamlet says to Ophelia that she gives into her temptations too easily and that she is ignorant about men. His solution is that she should be sent to a nunnery where she would be free from all temptations then he leaves her alone. When she is left alone is when she opens up and shows her anger and sadness. Here we get to see Ophelia's character development in a different way now that she is alone, and Shakespeare shows us her true emotions. 

3: (3.2.119-128)

This occurs between Hamlet and Ophelia but the King, the Queen, Polonius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and other lords attendants. 

HAMLET: Lady, shall I lie in your lap?

OPHELIA: No, my lord.

HAMLET: I mean, my head upon your lap?

OPHELIA: Ay, my lord.

HAMLET: Do you think I meant country matters?

OPHELIA: I think nothing, my lord.

HAMLET: That’s a fair thought to lie between maids’

Legs.

OPHELIA: What is, my lord?

HAMLET: Nothing.

Analysis: This is another strange moment between Ophelia and Hamlet, where Ophelia is still unsure about their relationship. Ophelia is restrained from being herself and seems uncomfortable in the situation. Ophelia has begun to act more natural however her character has not developed much past, being unsure about Hamlet and her feelings for him.  

4: (3.2.157-169)

This passage occurs right after the play has begun and Hamlet and Ophelia are talking to each other and  say, 

OPHELIA: What means this, my lord?

HAMLET: Marry, this is miching mallecho. It means

mischief.

OPHELIA: Belike this show imports the argument of the

Play.

HAMLET: We shall know by this fellow. The players

Cannot keep counsel; they’ll tell all.

OPHELIA: Will he tell us what this show meant?

HAMLET: Ay, or any show that you will show him. Be

Not you ashamed to show, he’ll not shame to tell you

What it means.

OPHELIA: You are naught, you are naught. I’ll mark the

Play.

Analysis: In this passage with Ophelia and Hamlet Ophelia seems much less restrained. She feels comfortable with asking him questions and initiating a conversation. She doesn’t seem as held back and nervous. Here is where we see Ophelia's character develop the most. She appears to be more confident as her interactions with Hamlet become more common.

I think that Scarlett Johansson would be a good character to play Ophelia because she has played lovestruck characters. Scarlett Johansson is how I have pictured Ophelia to look like because of the descriptions that Shakespeare has given.