Abstract
This paper studies and identifies the real-life qualities imbued in the characters of Hamlet, Ophelia, and Gertrude, from the play "Hamlet". The paper presents examples of the characters' traits, qualities, and personal experiences that the audience can identify with and that have contributed to the appeal of "Hamlet" through the ages.

From the Paper
"Hamlet's procrastination begins early in the play as soon as the ghost visits him. Hamlet has good intentions as revealed when he says, "Haste me to know't that I with winds as swift . . . May sweep to my revenge" (I.v.29-31). Unfortunately, Hamlet's hesitation renders him unable to kill Claudius. Furthermore, he begins to doubt his father's ghost, which drives him to "test" Claudius with the play, Mousetrap. Even with confirmation that Claudius is guilty, Hamlet still cannot bring himself to kill him, using the fact that killing Claudius in a moment of prayer would send him directly to heaven. Instead, Hamlet says he would rather kill him in a vile condition, "When he is drunk asleep; or in his rage; Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed" (III.iii 89-90). Hamlet even procrastinates so much that the Ghost returns."

Tags:tragic, hero, procrastination, mousetrap, claudius, father, murder, king, love, brother

Abstract
This paper examines there the several distinct characteristics of misery and madness that abound in both Hamlet and Ophelia. It explains how their lunacy each stems from similar sources of grief, but the true evolution of their madness is methodically different due to their gender and their status in Elizabethan society.

From the Paper
"Throughout Hamlet, Ophelia appears in a mere five scenes and is only one of two females present in the play and therefore stands not to pose as a prominent member of the play. Ophelia's father, Polonius, whom is the chief advisor to the new King Claudius, and a highly respected man, demands that his daughter tell Hamlet that she can no longer be with him even though she desperately is in love with him."

Tags:claudius, madness, elizabethan, polonius

Abstract
This paper explores the concept of revenge and madness in Shakespeare's play, "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark", and looks at how these concepts are central to the play's theme of death. The paper explains how each of the main characters in the play, Hamlet, Ophelia and Laertes, respond to death and points out how these reactions and responses add depth to the characters and make them appear more real to the audience.

From the Paper
"Hamlet, Ophelia, and Laertes deal with the death of their fathers in very different ways. When we look at each character and how they choose to deal with death, we often discover insight into the characters themselves. Each character's reaction is also fueled by other aspects in the play that influence their reason and logic. For example, Hamlet's response to his father's death is fueled by his anger and hurt feelings toward Gertrude and Claudius for marrying so soon. Ophelia's response to her father's death is influenced by the fact that Hamlet has been hateful to her and that Hamlet killed Polonius. Laertes' response to Polonius' death is fueled by the fact that Hamlet killed him and is indirectly responsible for Ophelia's suicide."

Tags:avenge, outrage, bitter, angry, king, mother, melancholy, gertrude, claudius, faith

Abstract
This paper discusses the theme of madness in the major characters of the three tragedies 'Hamlet,' 'Macbeth,' and 'King Lear.' Hamlet and Ophelia are compared and contrasted, then Ophelia is compared to and contrasted against Lady Macbeth. The witches in 'Macbeth' are related to the theme of madness, then madness is explored in Lear and Edgar. Emphasis is given to speech patterns and the allusion to madness. The paper ends with an analysis of the necessity and reason for the madness of these characters and how they contribute to the tragedy as a whole.

From the Paper
"The theme of madness occurs repeatedly throughout the three tragedies Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear. Ophelia slips into madness after her father's death while Hamlet puts on an act of madness in Hamlet. Madness takes the form of visions in Macbeth, in both the spells and predictions of the weird sisters and of Lady Macbeth's nightmares. In King Lear, madness is shown through Edgar's mockery and disguise and through the natural descent of the king."

Tags:alienation, demon, demonic, despair, discover, discovery, edgar, edmund, heath, hysteria, lady, melancholy, ophelia, poor, posession, self, speech, theological, theology, tom, tragedies, tragedy, witch, witchcraft, witches, woman, women

Abstract
Hamlet's most famous soliloquy takes place within the first scene of Act III. The paper posits that this is the central point of the play and also sets the tone for the rest of the act. It is the first time within the play that Hamlet explores suicide and provides insight into his motivations (III.i.55-88). In this paper, the writer provides an analysis of the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia in Act III. It first explores the events that lead up to one of their most important conversations. Next, It focuses on the passage within Act III Scene i, within lines 90-160 and also how this passage relates to the play as a whole.

From the Paper
"First, Act III opens with Hamlet's soliloquy in which he metaphorically obsesses with a personal dilemma that ponders within his mind. The scene opens with the line, "To be or not to be..." (III.i.55). Not only is this one of the most famous lines in English literature but this is the first time the audience is exposed to Hamlet's subconscious side. It causes the audience to sense that there is something mysterious about the words that speaks. Almost as if there is something hidden within his words that he never truly leave his mouth. The audience begins to get an impression that these things are going on within Hamlet's mind but he can not think about them directly. With this famous line, Hamlet may be questioning something along the lines of, "Should I kill myself or not." This could prove a connection to Ophelia seen later in the play when she is also believed to have suicidal thoughts. Starting in act 4, scene 5, line 42, Ophelia states: "Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be" (IV.v.43). It seems here that Ophelia begins to go mad herself."

Tags:ophelia, suicide

Abstract
In this paper, the theme of fate is analyzed in relation to Claudius and his repentance in Act III. By acknowledging a conscious divine inspiration of his deeds in murdering his brother, Claudius invariably is too prideful and arrogant to give back the throne to Hamlet. The paper shows that in this manner, he has gone too far in killing his brother, and does nothing to correct a situation that spirals out of control with the deaths of Hamlet and Ophelia.

From the Paper
"The theme of fate plays a strong part in how Claudius must maintain the evil murder he has partaken against his brother, Hamlet's father. In this sense, it is the act of prayer that consciously allows Claudius to become conscious of what he has done. Before this act, he may have been unaware of his evil deeds, since he could have possibly envisioned the after effects of his actions. This provides the foundation for fate to predetermine the doom of this greedy individual, as he finally realizes his own guilt while he commits to prayer. When Claudius seeks a penance for his wrong doing in killing how own brother and King of Denmark, he invariably seeks a confession in a moment of reprieve."

Tags:hamlet, claudius, denmark

Abstract
This paper explains that, in Shakespeare's "Hamlet", Hamlet and Ophelia's relationship is a complex one, forming and developing as results of death, love, obedience and an Oedipus complex. The author points out that there are many similarities between Ophelia and Gertrude; Hamlet's love and sudden dependence on Ophelia may be an attempt to get closer to his mother as a result of the Oedipus complex. The paper concludes that, even in death, Ophelia has a large part in Hamlet's life because Hamlet's death was ultimately caused by Ophelia's death when the graveyard scene, in which Hamlet proclamation, "I loved Ophelia", leads to his fatal duel with Laertes.

From the Paper
""One fair daughter and no more,/The which he loved passing well," Hamlet sings at Polonius, mocking his supposed love for his daughter. Hamlet also calls him "Jephthah, judge of Israel." As told in Judges 11, Jephthah promises God that if he wins in battle he will sacrifice whatever comes out of the doors of his house when he returns. After he wins the battle, his only daughter hears of his victory and comes out to meet him. He keeps his promise to God. Hamlet's implication is that Polonius, like Jephthah, will sacrifice Ophelia for his own advantage."

Tags:oedipus-complex, mother, obedience, death, graveyard

Abstract
This paper examines how Lolita Files' modern tale "Child of God", uses elements of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" in a creative, entertaining and powerful way. In particular, the paper uses one element of both of these works, the Ophelia character, and offers insight about the comment each author is making about the human condition through the Ophelia character. The paper concludes that these two characters, although separated by generations and the mists of time, both are illustrative of the quest to realize one's destiny which, whether successful or not, is an essential part of the human experience.

Outline:
Introduction
Ophelia as Depicted in Hamlet
Ophelia in Child of God
The Two Ophelias in Comparison
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Hamlet is a complex combination of characters that are seemingly thrown into tragic circumstances without much preparation for what lies ahead. Of all of these characters, one of the most interesting, yet almost one dimensional, is Ophelia. She, in fact, contributes to the tragic elements of Hamlet through her own inability to overcome the obstacles that are thrown in her way, so instead of becoming a tragic heroine, she becomes simple a tragic figure, based on a few key facts from Shakespeare's work: Ophelia's youth contributes to her vulnerability, as well as the fact that her mother is dead, depriving her of the one elder who could give her the best advice to use as she grows into womanhood. Perhaps because of the absence of her mother, her father and brother take steps to shelter her from the outside world. Spending her time sewing and picking flowers, she lives in this sheltered world until the death of her father drives her to insanity and loose living, bringing everything that she had to a crashing halt."

Tags:heroine, identity

Abstract
This paper explains that, in William Shakespeare's "Hamlet",
Ophelia, sister of Laertes and the daughter of the king's councilor Polonius, is often seen as weak and pathetic because of her obedience to her father and of how easily she loses her mind when he dies. The way that Hamlet unknowingly destroys her in his plot to seek revenge on Claudius is described by the author. The paper concludes that without this character, who is easily manipulated by the people around her, the play would be completely different.

From the Paper
"When Ophelia appears again after the "nunnery scene", it is act III scene ii and Hamlet has set up "The Mousetrap" play. During the play Hamlet sets next to Ophelia and responds to her attempts at conversation with angry and sexually suggestive remarks. After this conversation with Hamlet, I believe that Ophelia has absolutely no idea what is going on with him and has pretty much given up hope on them being together. Following this incident, the next time we see Ophelia is after Hamlet has killed her father and he has
been sent away to England."

Tags:love, crazy, songs, spiral downwards, puppet

Abstract
The paper reveals that the theme of madness is one of the most important motifs of Shakespeare's play "Hamlet". The paper discusses Ophelia's madness, in particular, and explains that it is caused by multiple reasons. The paper also discusses how, because Ophelia is significantly the purest and most innocent character of the play, Shakespeare represents the state of madness of the court of Denmark through her. The paper therefore shows that Ophelia is an extremely important character, despite her apparent secondary role.

From the Paper
"The figure of Ophelia and the relationship that builds between her and Hamlet are extremely significant elements for the overall meaning of Shakespeare's masterpiece. It has to be noted, first of all, that madness is one of the most important motifs of the play. As it is obvious from Shakespeare's other works, madness is correlated paradoxically with wisdom, rather than nonsense. Thus, King Lear for instance, becomes wise only when he becomes mad. The same applies to Shakespeare's fools and clowns, who, while speaking nonsense, actually reveal the truth. In Hamlet, madness is transferred in a curious way from Hamlet, who only feigns it, to Ophelia, who actually goes insane. Moreover, Hamlet's feigned madness is his answer to the general corruptness of the court, and his only way to cope with the moral and philosophical choices he has to make. "

Tags:insanity, defilement, purity, transparent, tragedy