Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on The Character of Ophelia and the Function She Serves in William Shakespeare's "Hamlet". Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page paper which examines the characterization of Ophelia as the innocent victim who has become a pawn in games of madness and revenge in William Shakespeare's tragedy, Hamlet, specifically concentrating on Act II, Scene ii and Act III, Scene i.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: TG15_TGophel1.rtf
Buy This Term Paper »
Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
either inadvertently or on purpose, inhibits the hero in completing his act of revenge. Ophelia is an innocent young girl who is torn because she is deeply in love
with Hamlet, but also wishes to honor her fathers wishes not to see the prince who has become a "madman" after the murder of his father and his mothers hasty
remarriage to her brother-in-law, Claudius. In Act II, Scene ii, Ophelias father (and loyal confidant to Claudius), Polonius, becomes convinced that Hamlets madness was a result of her rejection
of him after reading one of his daughters love letters. Hamlets letter to his beloved Ophelia is symbolic of Ophelias role as the one untainted person in Hamlets increasingly
complicated existence, the one person who hasnt let him down. It read, "To the celestial, and my souls idol, the most beautified / Ophelia... Doubt thou the stars are
fire; / Doubt that the sun doth move; / Doubt truth to be a liar; / But never doubt I love. / O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these
numbers; I have not art to / reckon my groans; but that I love thee best, O most best, believe it" 2(II.ii.116-117, 123-129). What Polonius has interpreted as a
sign of madness was, in reality, a genuine declaration of affection. Ophelia is the only character with whom Hamlet can, at least temporarily, let down his guard. While her
innocence is captivating, it also allows her to be unwittingly manipulated by both her father and by Hamlet. Polonius and Claudius devise a plot, which they hope will reveal
the true origin of Hamlets madness. He would lay in wait for Hamlet to walk by, reading a book, as was his custom. Then, "At such a time
...