Hamlet The Cause of Ophelias Insanity
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Shakespeare, through his intricate uses of symbolism and dramatic
irony, arranges a brilliantly detailed account of how Hamlet's mental
upheaval served as the driving force of Ophelia's swelling insanity and
imminent suicide. He floods the early acts with an impending sense of
confusion within Ophelia, for her feelings toward hamlet greatly contrast
those of her brother and father. Ophelia begins to willingly take heed of
her family's advice as the prince finds himself removed from a lucid
pattern of thought. However, because her feelings for him are genuine, this
serves only to exalt her mental strain. In the height of Hamlet's
incoherent rage, he provides Ophelia with the ultimate medium for her
ensuing madness. The murder of Polonius is the greatest among many factors
that were contributed by Hamlet to the somber fate of Ophelia.
A prelude, composed of warnings from Polonius and Laertes, is
tactfully set up by Shakespeare during Ophelia's initial appearances in the
play, aiding in the preparation for her subsequent mental deterioration.
Pol.
What is between you? Give me up the truth...