Ophelia is one of the most conflicted characters in Hamlet where loyalty and betrayal are concerned. Her father, Polonius, uses her to spy on Hamlet, and, while she is loyal to her father, she does not want to betray Hamlet. Ophelia’s story is portrayed in varying ways in each adaptation of Hamlet.
In Shakespeare’s original play, Ophelia does not appear often, and when she does, she appears weak and submissive. The same can be said for the classical film adaptation. However, the actress’s portrayal of Ophelia helps the viewer to understand the emotional distress she is in because of her conflicting loyalties to Hamlet and Polonius. In this film, Ophelia is portrayed as having a stronger sense of loyalty to her father than Hamlet, showing that her devotion to her family was stronger than devotion to the man she loved. Polonius also seems to care more for Ophelia than in the original play and the modern adaptation.
The modern adaptation places Ophelia in a particular scene that she is not in in the original play. In this scene, Polonius explained to Claudius and Gertrude what he believed to be the source of Hamlet’s strange behavior: his deep love for Ophelia. Polonius decides he will use his daughter to spy on Hamlet without giving her any say in the matter. Placing Ophelia in this scene shows that although she is spoken about, she is not spoken to. This distant relationship with her father makes it seem as though she feels a stronger sense of loyalty to Hamlet. When Hamlet discovers that she has betrayed him by helping her father and Claudius, her heartbreak is obvious, but Polonius doesn’t seem to care much about how she feels.
With these perspectives in mind, consider this: If we must stay loyal to those we love, to whom do we owe our loyalty when both opposing parties in a conflict are made up of our loved ones?
That is a very interesting idea, Sydney, and I think that that decision would be a very hard one, but still possible to make. I think you should go with the loyalty that you value most. For example, IF your best friend wants you to go to a funeral with her, but on the same day, you have a wedding for a distant cousin to go to.. Which choice would you be more loyal to? The one that follows your morals and values. I would probably chose the funeral and just send my cousin a gift, because I feel like that choice is more important to my value system. OR, if you were caught between going to college or moving in with the one you love, I would choose college, cause my values and morals rely on my education. I just feel that people would chose the VALUES they are most loyal to, when stuck in that situation. (Sorry for the long rambling post)
ReplyDeleteI agree. Loyalty to anyone or anything should be based on your own values not pressure from one side to choose one thing over another.
DeleteI personally believe that there are two things more important than anything else, honesty and loyalty. At a minimum, you owe loyalty and honesty to those who are honest and loyal to you (unless of course you wish to lose their companionship). Beyond that, if you love/care about someone even if they are not always loyal, you are called to show the first steps of loyalty and honesty in the relationship. I believe both Hamlet and Ophelia wronged each other by not informing the other about the stresses that were forced to deal with.
ReplyDeleteIt would be difficult to choose between to conflicting sides when you feel a sense of loyalty to both sides. Personally, I believe that trust and loyalty are two very important qualities in any type of relationship. That is why I would put my trust and loyalty within the side that I know will treat me fairly and listen to my opinions. - Nathan Sparks
ReplyDeleteI am not sure at the moment what I would choose. I would have to be put in the situation and se what happened. There is no way everyone will end up happy. Being a people pleaser, I would probably try to find a compromise to make at least the majority of the people I love happy.
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate. Any decision is made so much harder when there's the possibility that someone you care about will be hurt by your choice.
DeleteIn a situation where there are two sides to the story, I try to compromise to avoid favoritism. However, in this situation, I don't see how that can happen, so I would choose to comply with whatever she believed to be more right or honest. In the different versions, it is hard to tell who she agrees with. She does what her father says but seems to want to tell Hamlet. Based on the modern version and the way she is treated and her apparent disapproval of the father's plan, I believe she wanted to be loyal to Hamlet, but if she told him their plan, he might fly off the handle (which he did when he found out anyway). However, if she didn't obey her father, he would be furious and who knows how he would act. It is just a bad situation to be in.
ReplyDeleteAs many others have said, I think the loyalty is all dependant on who is involved, what the situation is, and what is at stake. Like Jenny, I always try to compromise when there is a two-sided situation, but I believe that the overall choice is usally based on morals and what is more important to you at that time. In Hamlet, I think that Ophelia wanted to be loyal to Hamlet, but her father's opinion was more important to her at that time.
ReplyDeleteIn both adaptations I feel like Ophelia is stuck in the middle of something she should never have been a part of. She is manipulated by both parties, and never really makes a decision on her own (except to kill herself). I think in a situation like Ophelia's, you have to recognize that both sides don't deserve your loyalty, even if they are your father or you love them. That is easier said that done, though.
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