Ophelia

Question 1

“You speak like a green girl”

Answer 1

• Act 1 scene 3
• Highlights Polonius’ condescending and controlling attitude toward Ophelia
• It underscores the patriarchal power dynamics, suggesting Ophelia’s naivety and lack of agency, while also foreshadowing her eventual tragic fate
• Polonius’ dismissive tone reflects the societal norms that constrain Ophelia, contributing to her role as a character who is manipulated by the men around her

Question 2

“I will obey my lord.”

Answer 2

• Act 1 scene 3
• It reveals Ophelia’s passive and obedient nature, emphasising her lack of agency and the control exerted over her by the men in her life, particularly Polonius
• It reflects the patriarchal dynamics of the time, where women were expected to be submissive, and foreshadows Ophelia’s tragic fate
• This line is a key moment that highlights Ophelia’s role as a dutiful daughter, trapped within the expectations of society and family, ultimately contributing to the play’s themes of obedience, control, and the consequences of repression

Question 3

“I was the more deceived”

Answer 3

• Act 3 scene 1
• It reveals Ophelia’s deep sense of betrayal, disillusionment, and heartbreak. It encapsulates her vulnerability and loss of innocence, marking the beginning of her emotional unravelling
• The line highlights key themes of deception, manipulation, and gender dynamics, while foreshadowing Ophelia’s tragic fate
• This moment serves as a turning point in Ophelia’s character arc, as she realises the extent to which she has been used and abandoned by those around her, particularly Hamlet

Question 4

“I would offer you violets but they withered all when my father died.”

Answer 4

• Act 4 scene 5
• Encapsulates Ophelia’s grief, emotional breakdown, and sense of loss following her father’s death
• The violets serve as a powerful symbol of faithfulness, loyalty, and innocence, all of which have withered in Ophelia’s life as she succumbs to the weight of her father’s death, Hamlet’s rejection, and the broader forces of decay in the play
• The line foreshadows Ophelia’s tragic fate and reflects the broader themes of death, decay, and the fragility of life that permeate Hamlet

Question 5

“Before you tumbled me, you promised me to wed.”

Answer 5

• Act 4 Scene 5
• Ophelia’s madness results in her singing in riddles
• Free and liberated in her madness, liberated to speak the truth
• Contrasts to her previous controlled self
• Ophelia sings, speaks in riddles and distributes flowers that are symbolic of her emotional state
• in madness, Ophelia loses her faculties