OPHELIA WHO IS SHE Ophelia is the daughter

OPHELIA

WHO IS SHE? Ophelia is the daughter of Polonius, the King’s advisor. She and Hamlet have been friends for a long time along with Horatio, as well as being in love with each other for a while too. Polonius and Laertes, her older brother, are her only family members.

KEY EPISODES Ophelia’s feelings towards her father are displayed when she overhears him talking to Reynaldo about her and runs to her room. There, Hamlet appears unexpectedly and begins to slowly move towards her. Ophelia becomes worried of her father, what will happen if he found out. Hamlet at Ophelia’s room

KEY EPISODES Ophelia goes insane after her father’s passing, which makes sense considering Laertes is in England Hamlet being the person who killed him. The first display of her insanity and it’s extremity is when she asks to talk to Gertrude one day unexpectedly. When talking, Ophelia begins to sing about her father’s death, and the effects it will have on others. Polonius’ stabbing death by Hamlet

QUOTES “Polonius made many demands. There were rules for everything. Be careful of boys. Don’t lend money. Don’t borrow money. Keep away from Hamlet. Dress modestly. Don’t speak out, stay in the background, don’t gossip. Don’t believe Hamlet when he flirts with you. ” – page 46, Hamlet by John Marsden “I (Gertrude) thought I would be weaving flowers for your (Ophelia) wedding to my son, not throwing them in your grave. ” – page 185, Hamlet by John Marsden Ophelia being ‘questioned’ by her father as she is with Hamlet

MARSDEN’S INFLUENCE ON THE READER’S VIEW Personally, Ophelia’s character is quite confusing to the reader. But this may have been executed purposely by John Marsden, to emphasize Ophelia’s eventual madness. She starts loving and beautiful, and is explained to be a major part of Hamlet’s life. But as the events unfold, she loses these traits and becomes confusing and uncontrollable. No one knows what is happening with her, and therefore aren’t able to even help her. Then comes her extremely sudden suicide following her character’s absence from the story line for a while. This may have been a way Marsden could have used Ophelia’s character to almost make the reader understand the other characters non-understanding of Ophelia during her insanity. To make the reader feel part of the story and better experience the events that occur during this time.

PORTRAYALS OF OPHELIA IN FILM In 1990, Hamlet was brought onto the big screen as it was created into a movie. Helena Bonham-Carter was a “…well cast” choice for Ophelia, as she is described as “a small and darkly beautiful actress who is effective at seeming to respond to visions within herself”, a major part of Ophelia’s character. http: //www. rogerebert. com/reviews/hamlet-1991 Helena Bonham Carter Hamlet was again adapted to film in 1996. In this instalment, Kate Winslet played the role of Ophelia, and was praised for her performance to convey Ophelia’s feelings and perspective as she is “…touchingly vulnerable…” with “her (Ophelia) world crumbling around her. ” http: //www. rogerebert. com/reviews/hamlet-1996 Kate Winslet