In Ophelia’s life all advice comes from men, her brother’s advice to her in the first Act seems, at first glance to be condescending and belittling, making Hamlet’s apparent love for her seem false and childish. “A toy in my blood”- a passion without meaning or depth. This advice seems highly hypocritical, Ophelia makes Laertes aware of this -

“Do not as some ungracious pastors do,

Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven,

Whiles like a puffed and reckless libertine

Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads,

Ophelia has an insight into Laertes’ world and of his plans in Paris. He pushes her advice aside in a short and dismissive “Oh fear me not.” However, his advice could also be seen as an example of brotherly love. He could simply be protecting his sister and looking out for he

‘Hamlet’, to me seems timeless. Although there are many concepts that are difficult to grasp in today’s society, like Ophelia’s blind acceptance of Polonious’ wisdom in decision-making; and the absolute dread of the afterlife. In the secular twentieth century Britain such a fear dos not exist in such numbers, so Hamlet’s “To be, or not to be” may well be redundant. However, even today women are victimized as Ophelia was, and through her stress, pain and anguish we are able to relate to her. This brings Hamlet to life. It is not surprising that Almereyda’s version was easier for me to relate to than Zeffirelli’s. The modern setting and intricate differences all added to the enjoyment. Just one example of this is the close circuit television used to portray the spying theme that is continued throughout the play.

As he would draw it. Long stayed he so.”

“Ophelia is a woman as is Gertrude, so Hamlet is unable to trust her love to be eternal as Gertrude’s love proved otherwise.”

Some topics in this essay:
Court Elsinore, Hamlet Ophelia, Laertes Ophelia, Ophelia Ophelia, Polonious Claudius, Gertrude Shakespeare, Gertrude Hamlet, Ophelia Polonious’, Ophelia Laertes, Elizabethan Prince-, hamlet ophelia, ophelia victim, act scene, throughout play, scene ophelia, ophelia’s response, concern safety, twentieth century, blind acceptance, hamlet unable,