One of the more interesting questions in Hamlet is whether or not Hamlet and Ophelia are actually in love with one another. There's evidence to support either view, but if you look carefully at the interactions between the characters, the "truth" becomes apparent. Using evidence from the text in what the various characters say and do, defend one side or the other of this argument.

To be most successful in this assignment, you must:

i) Dig into the text and analyse the issues, while resisting the temptation to retell the story.

ii) Include quotations and citations in your blog entry to back up your opinions.

iii) Finally, you must take what your classmates have posted into consideration, and to comment on their blog entries within the body of your own blog entry. **Do NOT comment in the comment section below your colleague's blog entry -- it makes them too difficult to track for evaluation.


** Caveat: Relevant allusions to other, outside, texts or sources will get you gravy marks. Mmm! Breaton loves wonderous allusions!

Sunday, 26 October 2014

Hamlet and Ophelia Sittin' In a Tree...


            In the play "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare, we find two individuals who are in love, but don't show it like the conventional couple. Allow me to elaborate: Hamlet is acting as though he has lost his mind, and has written love letters to Ophelia, (only to have them returned) and has pretty much announced his love for her. The part in the play where Hamlet's love for her comes into question is the nunnery scene. This scene relies a lot on interpretation, but from my point of view, Hamlet is doing this for Ophelia's benefit. He tells her: "Get thee to a nunnery." (III.i.121) If you're interpreting this as a sign of love and worry, then you know that Hamlet intends for her to be kept within the sanctuary of a coven. He wants to keep her safe from any future mishappenings that may occur in the future. Hamlet also thinks that they are being listened too, so he could have used the above line to make it SOUND like he was calling her... something less than proper... when in reality he was watching out for her.

Another point where it's evident that Hamlet and Ophelia are in love is during the Mousetrap Play. They are in the audience, within earshot of everyone, yet they have the cover of the noise around them to freely flirt and exchange 'country-like' pleasantries. Hamlet flirts with Ophelia by saying: "That's a fair thought to lie between maid's legs." (III.ii.117) It is obvious that Hamlet's mind is in the gutter, but he says it in such an intellectual manner that he's obviously trying to impress her. Ophelia then states: "You are nought, you are nought." (III.ii.143) It can be seen that Ophelia is flirting back with Hamlet by referring to him as "naughty".  Near the end of their flirtacious conquest, she promptly responds with: "You're as good as a chorus." (III.ii.240) Possibly meaning that she thinks he's smooth with his words, and is very impressive in terms of his suave personality.

All in all, Hamlet and Ophelia are in love despite Hamlet's feigned state of mind. He truly wants to look out for her and cares very deeply for her.

COMMENT:
When reading Genna's blog, her first point was very interesting when she discusses the letter that Hamlet wrote to Ophelia that said: "Never doubt I love". Not only does he state that he loves her, but he's basically telling her that even though things are going to seem out of the ordinary in the near future, never doubt that my love for you is still there. I like this point and I would've never thought of it on my own!

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