Sample Essay - Hamlet 3

 Prompt: Two Associated Characters

Shakespeare purposely relates Ophelia to her "boyfriend." Hamlet. Shakespeare

does this to show that those who listen to people in his/her positions who tell you to do

deplorable things are a bad influence. Hamlet goes crazy as he ponders on killing the

King when he listens to the ghost. Ophelia goes crazy as she listens to the evil King

Claudius and her father. By using a chain of events and different characters of royalty,

Shakespeare associates Ophelia and Hamlet to show the audience the consequences

of the following bad advice, (seeking) revenge, and (failing to control) emotions in one's

life.

Hamlet, at the beginning of the play is perplexed to hear the terrible news of his

father's death from King Hamlet's ghost. The ghost makes him swear that Hamlet will execute revenge on Claudius. Here, Hamlet, rather than acting on a clear head, acts on this command because he is almost traumatized by this complex situation. Similarly, Ophelia is told by Claudius, Polonius, and Gertrude to do something for the “kingdom of Denmark” and deny her love for Hamlet. Ophelia is asked to spy on Hamlet. Later, she is asked to speak to him and put on makeup to look sexy and appealing. This results in a bad situation. Hamlet, almost driven crazy by trying to kill Claudius, explodes at Ophelia. Now, the chain of events begin. Hamlet starts to go mad and Ophelia begins to lose her mind as she blames herself. At the same time, she developes a hatred towards Hamlet. Shakespeare associates these characters using Claudius, Polonius, and the ghost to show how people can become manipulated  if someone triggers their emotions. In this case, Hamlet’s emotions are triggered by the ghost’s orders and Ophelia’s emotions are triggered by Claudius and the death of Polonius.

            Those who pursue revenge will die. Although Ophelia does not kill someone with her revenge, there is a sense of revenge in her pathos. First, Hamlet desires revenge on the king. Second, Ophelia’s broken heart creates animosity and hatred towards Hamlet after Hamlet continues to sharpen Ophelia’s anger. Here, Shakespeare shows how following revenge leads to death. Hamlet pursues the King, hesitates, kills the King, and then dies. Because he listened to the ghost and followed his burning anger he was left dead without the throne. Similarly, Ophelia begins to pursue revenge in her heart after Hamlet kills Polonius and arfter Hamlet sleeps with her and leaves her in the dust. Ophelia listens to those in higher places and begins to go crazy as she is torn apart by the death of her father, the absence of Laertes, and Hamlet’s virulent arts.

            Shakespeare clearly shows to the audience that those who drink of the blood of pathos will drink the poison of life. A person must not follow his or her emotions solely. Hamlet begins to go crazy, commits murder, and dies as a result of thirsting on revenge. Ophelia gets spiritually and sexually attatched to Hamlet, looses her mind after a series of events, and is unable to control the over-waning death of her father. Hamlet and Ophelia both go mad because of their propensity to only follow the temptations of their material heart. By using the death of Polonius and the death of King Hamlet, Shakespeare shows how the overbearing emotions took control of Hamlet and Ophelia. Both characters fall to their weaknesses.

            In closing, Shakespeare purposefully associates Ophelia and Hamlet to show how listening to evil advice, a heart’s desire for revenge, and the pathos of one’s life will ultimately lead to bad consequences or death. Both characters are examples of the way people must not live their life. Following advice that comes from a sinner’s mouth will result in death. Both characters let the series of events control their desires, emotions, and thoughts. In the end, those that do this will not live the life God has intended for them.