ACT 4,5 OPHELIA'S MADNESS

Question 1

quotes to show how ophelia is empowered in her madness

Answer 1

she may strew/dangerous conjectures
rue, columbine,
pray you mark

Question 2

quotes about her relationship with hamlet

Answer 2

let in the maid that out a maid
/never departed

the violets that withered when my father died

gives the violets to hamlet

Question 3

what does claudius call ophelia

Answer 3

pretty ophelia

Question 4

how is ophelia structurally empowered in this scene

Answer 4

her songs are in regular metered which reflects a degree of logic

she is also more verbose and speaks in prose/song

Question 5

quote about polonius’ death

Answer 5

larded with sweet flowers/which bewept the grave that did not go

Question 6

analyse pray you mark

Answer 6

imperative shows how through madness ophelia becomes a lot more assertive which contrasts with her previous lack of authority.

Question 7

analyse she may strew/dangerous conjectures

Answer 7

ophelia in madness is viewed as a threat as she no longer cares about her reputation or her beauty - free from the standards of the patriarchal world

Question 8

analyse let in the maid that out a maid/ never departed more

Answer 8

she reveals her loss of honour and purity due to Hamlet and highlights the sense of betrayal she feels

Question 9

analyse pretty ophelia

Answer 9

claudius tries to make ophelia appea more naive and denounce her power by objectifying her

Question 10

analyse the violet that withered when my father died and the fact she gives them to Hamlet

Answer 10

this is symbolic of the betrayal she feels from Hamlet for killing her father and also the death of her and Hamlet’s relationship as the violets represent faithfulness

Question 11

analyse the rue

Answer 11

she gives the rue flowers to gertrude to symbolise her regret and remorse for her sins

Question 12

analyse the columbines

Answer 12

she gives the columbines which represent deception to claudius to reveal his corruption as the king

Question 13

critics for ophelia’s madness

Answer 13

through madness, Ophelia makes a forceful assertion of her being (charney)

Hamlet’s madness is associated with intellectual and imaginative genius but ophelia’s affliction is erotomania or love madness (showalter)

Question 14

which critic said through madness, ophelia makes a forceful assertion of her being

Answer 14

charney

Question 15

which critic said Hamlet’s madness is associated with intellectual and imaginative genius but Ophelia’s affliction is erotomania or love madness

Answer 15

showalter