Monday, June 30, 2014

What do we learn from Gertrude's farewell to Ophelia (5.1.227-230)? Would Polonius have been surprised if he had heard this?

After Ophelia goes mad and the inner-turmoil begins,
Gertrude is saddened by what has happened to Ophelia.  Ophelia loved and respected her
father, Polonius.  Polonius was a good father to her but asked her not to trust or to be
involved with Prince Hamlet.  Ophelia was upset at first because it was obvious how much
she loved Prince Hamlet.  Polonius felt that Prince Hamlet couldn't be trusted and
forbid Ophelia to see or speak to Prince Hamlet.  Ophelia is hurt by this decision, and
decides to obey her father's wishes.  Ophelia is also asked by Laertes to stay away from
Prince Hamlet.  Opelia loves and respects her father and brother, so she decides to obey
both of their requests. 


At the same time, Prince Hamlet
learns that his uncle Claudius has killed his father. He sees his father's ghost appear
and wants revenge.  Prince Hamlet begins to feel uneasy about the Kingdom of Denmark and
about everyone in the kingdom. He begins to act differently and begins to figure out
what revenge will be had on the new King Claudius.  Prince Hamlet goes to attempt to
confide in Ophelia but he senses somethign isn't right with her.  Prince Hamlete doesn't
know that Ophelia is forbidden to speak to him and she's not acting herself either. 
Prince Hamlet senses this and also senses that they are not alone and treats her
disrepsectful and not with love.  Polonius sees this and goes to King Claudius and Queen
Gertrude with his observations.  The King and Queen are surprised but notice he has been
acting strange.  Queen Gertrude says that his strangeness is because of the death of his
father (her deceased husband) and because of her re-marriage in a quick time to King
Claudius (Prince Hamlet's uncle) and that all of these changes are causing him to be in
grief.  Polonius disagrees and asks for them to take a second
look. 


The King, Queen, and Polonius decide to have Ophelia
meet with Prince Hamlet.  They will be spying on their conservationa and meeting to see
if Prince Hamlet has gone mad like Polonius accusses him of.  They will be watching
Prince Hamlet's moves and actions.  Little do they know that Prince Hamlet is watching
everyone else's moves and actions because he doesn't know who he can trust
anymore. 


Prince Hamlet and Ophelia run into each other and
Ophelia is kind and warm to him.  Prince Hamlet senses that they are not alone and that
she is lying so acts out on her.  Prince Hamlet yells and curses at her leaving her
shocked.  King Claudius and Queen Gertrude see this and believe that Prince Hamlet
indeed has gone mad and that Polonius is right.


Ophelia is
upset that Prince Hamlet spoke to her like this and Prince Hamlet was proving his point
to the rest. Prince Hamlet is in love with Ophelia but he never gets a chance to tell
her until he sees her funeral.


Queen Gertrude saw herself
in young Ophelia and wanted her to be Queen oneday.  Queen Gertrude wanted Ophelia and
Prince Hamlet to share the love of oneanother and
Denmark.


Polonius would be surprised to know that Queen
Gertrude went along with spying on Prince Hamlet and putting Ophelia in a difficult
situation.  Queen Gertrude should have stuck up for her son and for Ophelia because she
knew their love was real, instead she was misguided and lead by her new and evil
husband, King Claudius. 

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