When her father orders her to quit seeing Hamlet, she agrees —”I shall obey my Lord” (1.3. 145). Later, when Polonius uses her as bait to spy on Hamlet for King Claudius, she does exactly what she’s told (3.1). As long as she’s unmarried, she lives by her father’s rules.
What is Ophelia hiding?
Laertes then jumps into Ophelia’s grave excavation, asking for the burial to wait until he has held her in his arms one last time and proclaims how much he loved her. Hamlet, nearby, then challenges Laertes and claims that he loved Ophelia more than “forty thousand” brothers could.
What happens between Hamlet and Ophelia in the nunnery scene?
The Nunnery Scene He goes on to insult Ophelia and tells her to go to a nunnery. He tells her that this will be the best place for her and, by being a nun, Ophelia won’t have children and produce wicked men like his uncle.
What happens in Act 2 Scene 2 in Hamlet?
Summary: Act II, scene ii. Within the castle, Claudius and Gertrude welcome Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two of Hamlet’s friends from Wittenberg. He has therefore sent a request back to Claudius that Prince Fortinbras’s armies be allowed safe passage through Denmark on their way to attack the Poles.
Why is there so much spying in Hamlet?
Claudius is motivated to spy on Hamlet to ensure his safety and prevent Hamlet from seeking revenge. Hamlet and Horatio both spy on Claudius during the play to discern whether or not the Ghost was telling the truth about his involvement in King Hamlet’s death.
Who was spying on Ophelia and Hamlet?
Polonius
Claudius orders Gertrude to leave so that he and Polonius can spy on Hamlet, who has an imminent meeting with Ophelia. Ophelia enters, and the Queen, in a moment of maternal affection, tells Ophelia that she hopes that Hamlet and Ophelia will patch up their broken romance so that Hamlet can get on with his life.
Was Ophelia a virgin?
To her father and brother, Ophelia is the eternal virgin, the vessel of morality whose purpose is to be a dutiful wife and steadfast mother. To Hamlet, she is a sexual object, a corrupt and deceitful lover.
Why is Hamlet so rude to Ophelia?
Hamlet is cruel to Ophelia because he has transferred his anger at Gertrude’s marriage to Claudius onto Ophelia. In fact, Hamlet’s words suggest that he transfers his rage and disgust for his mother onto all women. He says to Ophelia, “God has given you one face and you make yourselves another.
Why does Hamlet act mad to Ophelia?
Hamlet’s most mad-seeming outburst, against Ophelia, may be explained by the fact that Claudius and Polonius are spying on the conversation: if Hamlet suspects that he’s being spied on, he may be acting more deranged than he really is for the benefit of his listeners.
