In Dire Need
...ntal state of craze. And when in fact Laertes does arrive, it is already too late; Ophelia is too indulged in her abrupt condition. Laertes and Polonius were not the only men influencing Ophelia’s life. Ophelia’s need for Hamlet shows increasingly the more Hamlet abuses her. After Polonius tells Ophelia to call off their relationship, it is apparent that Ophelia’s emotions towards Hamlet grow in desperation, and she shows her factual feelings about Hamlet. After the verbal quarrel between these two characters, Ophelia opens up to the audience one Hamlet leaves the stage, confessing her feelings, “O, What a noble mind is here o’erethrown’… The glass of fasionand the mould for form, Th’observ’d of all observers, quite, quite down! And I, ladies deject and wretched… Now see that noble and most sovereign reason O woe is me T’have seen what I have seen, see what I see.”(III.i.152-165). Discouraged from their conversation, Ophelia directly acknowledges her feelings regarding Hamlet, showing concern about his mental state. This growing concern dwells inside Ophelia leading up to her tragic death. Unfortunately the desire for men to complete their well being is not the only downfall to Ophelia and Gertrude. These female characters are portrayed as women who are not independent thinkers. In the case of Claudius and Gertrude, Claudius carries out all of Gertrude’s thinking for her. From the very beginning when Claudius and Gertrude are talking to Hamlet up until Claudius tells Gertrude that “We will ship [Hamlet] hence… (IV.ii.30). Gertrude agrees with everything Claudius tells her and gives no thought to the subject. When Claudius tells Gertrude that they are going to send Hamlet to England. No where is there observation of Gertrude thinking about sending away her only son being a flawed idea. She never even gives the attention to consideration, nor do we even see her agree with Claudius. She simply accepts the matter at hand. Ophelia as well, obeys the men in her life. Ophelia complies with all her fathers’ commands even though, on the inside it kills her not to be with Hamlet. Ophelia puts her trust in her father by describing to him openly about Hamlet and her relationship with him. Polonius gives his opinion in the matter when he tells her “you speak like a green girl…Do you believe his tenders, as you call them?”(I.iii.101-103). Ophelia’s reply to Polonius’ question illustrates that she will do what he tells her to by replying to him “I do not know, my lord, what I should think.”(I.iii.104). Evidently Ophelia is waiting on Polonius to speak his mind in the situation, and with Polonius accepting her question, tells her what should be done. Polonius demands that she ends all relations with Hamlet, and with an obedient reply Ophelia tells her father that“[she] shall obey…” (I.iii.136). Not thinking about what is truly right for her or not, but just simply conforming to the demands, it is apparent that Ophelia submits to any males wishes for her, for also Ophelia does not stand up to the mind of Hamlet regarding their relationship. In the middle of their conversation in act three scene two Hamlet tells Ophelia that she should have not been so foolish to put any trust in him and that he never really loved her. Ophelia’s response once again is under minding her self belief. “I was the more deceived.” (III.i.120). Ophelia says that it was an error on her part to believe Hamlet. She gives in to Hamlet, not testing her own strength or even showing any strength. She bluntly agrees and moves on to the next topic that Hamlet desires to bring up. The women in this play not only submit to the men they encounter but also let the men use them as objects, allowing themselves to be treated inhumanly. Gertrude and Ophelia are seen as property to the men in their life. Gertrude is viewed by Claudius as an object. King Claudius is a greedy, self-centred, political thinking character in Shakespeare’s’ Hamlet. He used Gertrude to claim the status as ruler to the Danish thrown, and is well aware of his deed. In Claudius’ soliloquy seen in act three there is a undressing of how Claudius truly perceives things. He makes it clear that he cannot be forgiven “since [he is] still possed, Of those effects for which [he] did the murder−” (III.iii.53-54). Those reasons are told as “my crown, mine own ambition, and my queen.” (III.iii.55).The order of which he states the reasons for killing is brother is analysed as what degree of priority they mean to him. Firstly he states the crown. To get to the crow he must marry Gertrude, which over throws Hamlet, who would have been next successor in line to the thrown, and becomes king. He uses Gertrude to gain political status, Gertrude, the last object on his list of reasons. Like Gertrude, Ophelia’s father, Polonius uses Oph...