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Examine Shakespeare’s presentation of Ophelia and how a modern audience might respond to her
Member rating: No Rating | Words: 2300 | Submitted: Mon Nov 19 2007
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Examine Shakespeare's presentation of Ophelia and how a modern audience might respond to her. "Ophelia's main function in the play is to illuminate a particular facet of Hamlet's decline." This was noted by Angela Pitt. We can see that throughout Hamlet, this is very true. Ophelia is presented as a character of secondary importance, not only to the plot, but also to other characters. This can be seen by her relationship with her father, Polonius, and her brother, Laertes, and also with Hamlet. Nowadays, a modern reader may find the world she lives in oppressive to women, and this is alien to a post-feminist society. However, to a Shakespearean audience this would be normal. Women were almost second-class citizens, and had no real rights of their own. Even though Queen Elizabeth I was in charge of England, this did not fit in with the conventions of the time. It is...
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