Hamlet And Ophelia’s Weaknesses Essay Example

than obedience, something such as her character. Ophelias obedience

goes deeper than her trying to please to father and shows what a weak character

she is. Ophelias thoughts and actions show what a weak character she is. For

instance, when Hamlet harasses her and tells her to go to a nunnery where she

can no longer harm anyone, she does not defend herself but, after he is gone,

she pities herself: "O woe is me t have seen what I have seen / see what I

see..." (3.1 174-175). Ophelia is not a strong enough person to defend

herself, even when Hamlet is mocking everything that she is. Ophelias "woe

is me" pity comes from the fact that she barely is reprimanded because she

always tries to please others. Furthermore, when Polonius dies, Ophelia loses

her primary guidance and, instead of attempting to go on with her own life, she

calls on her brother for help in resolving her problems: "My brother shall

know of it / and so I thank you for your good counsel..." (4.5 75-76). Ophelia

suffers and basically collapses once her father dies because he has always been

there to instruct her, and now she is left to her own guidance. Ophelia is not

strong enough to survive by herself, and upon her self-recognition of this fact,

she calls for her brothers help and guidance. Poloniuss controlling manner

is unreplaceable and Ophelia soon realizes this: "I would give you some

violets / but they withered all when my father died..." (4.5 207-208). Violets

are a known symbol of faithfulness, this is why Ophelia says that the violets

are gone, because she feels betrayed that her father has left her. Poloniouss

overbearing influence on Ophelia stunted her emotional growth by only allowing

her to

think and feel what she was told to. Ophelias obedience and weakness

as a character can be traced to her complete dependence on other people.

Ophelias actions can be explained by the fact that she was completely

dependent on other people. In fact, Ophelias dependence on others is evident

in the very beginning: "I do not know, my lord, what I should think. POL:

Marry, I will teach you. Think yourself a baby..." (1.3 113-114). This shows

how Ophelia depends on her father to determine what she should think and feel,

and how she should live her life. Ophelias complete dependence, or lack of

independence, is what leads to her demise. For this reason, when the Queen is

explaining her death, she says, "At which time / she chanted snatches of old

lauds / as one incapable of her own distress or like a creature / native and

endured unto that element..." (4.7 202-205). Ophelia is completely incapable

of helping herself, because she is a weak person and, because of her dependence

on others. Ironically, it was Ophelias dependence that led to her death.

Still, Ophelias dependence on others was not entirely her fault; it can be

justified by her father and brothers protection over her, which is shown when

Laertes curses Hamlet at her funeral saying, "O treble woe /fall ten times

*treble* on that cursed head / whose wicked deed thy most ingeniouse sense

deprived thee of ..." (5.1 258-260). Laertes proves how dominant he is by the

fact that he is willing to give up his own life to avenge his sisters

unfortunate death. It is understandable why Ophelia would not need to be a

strong person because she always had her father and brother there for her,

whether she needed them or not.

Ophelias complete dependence on others is,

sadly, what lead to her undoing. All characters have flaws, but Ophelias was

a fatal one. Ophelias fatal flaw was her complete dependence, which can also

be shown through her obedience and overall weakness as a character. It is a

shame that the dependence she could not help but have, ends up killing her.

Ophelias tragedy is a reminder of the importance of being an independent and

strong person and not placing fate into the hands of others.