Act III Essay

                The role of parents is quite significant in the play Hamlet. From Gertrude to Claudius, Polonius to old Hamlet, parental figures prove to have a great importance in the play overall. Many times, these parents are the driving forces for their children’s actions. Hamlet, Ophelia, and Laertes, the only characters in the play with parents, all make decisions and dictate their actions with a great deal of thought towards their parental figures. The theme of family is easily seen throughout the play, and the relationship between child and parent appears to me to be a key component behind Hamlet.

                In my opinion, the parents in Hamlet are the driving forces behind their children. This can mostly be seen in the relationship of Hamlet, the main character, and his father. While the death of his father clearly crippled Hamlet, Hamlet decides to get revenge on his uncle Claudius upon seeing his father’s ghost. For his father, and only his father, Hamlet wants to get revenge. I believe that Hamlet would have done anything for his father, in life or death, because they had such a significant relationship. Also, I feel that actually seeing his father’s ghost drove Hamlet to exact revenge on Claudius. Furthermore, Hamlet’s love for his father led him to go to whatever measures.

                Through the father-daughter relationship of Polonius and Ophelia, we see the complete and utter obedience she has for her father. Not only does Ophelia end her relationship with Hamlet for her father, but she also lets him use her as a pawn in his games. Polonius has total control over his daughter, and his role as a parent is perhaps the most powerful role he holds in the play. However, without her father’s albeit harsh commands, I believe that Ophelia would have no idea what decisions to make and what actions to take. Ophelia needs her father, as his influence is essential to her.

                The roles of the other parents appear to me to be slightly different. Claudius, a parent to Hamlet by marriage, seems to have little role as a parent in throughout the play. Even when he is attempting to be a father-figure towards Hamlet, he is condescending and fake. Gertrude as well only slightly seems like a parent to Hamlet. She is hardly there for her son, and always seems to take Claudius’ side. Laertes and Polonius’ relationship is far more advanced. Polonius was an important figure in Laertes’ life, so his death, like old Hamlet’s death to Hamlet, led Laertes to go to whatever means necessary for revenge.

                Overall, parents in Hamlet have proven to be quite significant to the storyline. Without Hamlet’s love and need to avenge his father, there would not be a story. Ophelia’s obedience to her own father has added much to play. And while we have yet to finish Hamlet, I can already tell that Laertes’ love for his father will dictate how the play will end up. Therefore, parents have a role in this play that I believe is drastic. They push their children, the most significant characters, to make decisions. These decisions just happen to be what make up the play.

Act II: Hamlet's Letter to Ophelia

To My Dearest Ophelia,

My heart, my soul, my everything? Why dost thou ignore me? Dost thou not know how my love and passion burns for you? I must then ask thee, my dearest, why you have turned from thee. Ere, you were always there at thy demand, my dear. But now, my sweet Ophelia, you have gone! Thy father hath made you, my darling Ophelia, turn from me, thy Hamlet! How could such blasphemy have occurred!
Hark, Ophelia, hark. Hear my words. Thou are more lovely and desirable than any girl I have laid eyes on. Mark, I haved loved you more than anyone has every loved. Do not let thy father changed that. Do not let him take hence what is true and pure. For our love, Ophelia, is purer than a newborn child. You must know of that, my sweet.
I am now appearing mad, my Ophelia. Having thou taken from me has thus changed me. Everywhere, methinks I see thee. I hear thy voice when thou are nowhere to be found. Is that normal, my sweet? Is that why thou have left me, your Hamlet? For I cannot make sense of why thou has. Our love was my everything, and now it has been taken away. I do not know how much more pain I can handle.
I pray thee Ophelia, I beg. Please come back to me. I pray, I pray, I pray. How could thou leave me in such a time? How could thou reject our love, our pure love? And so I pray, Ophelia, that thou will come back to me? Marry thou could do so. We could run away together, thou and I, Ophelia. Where no pernicious man can hurt our love. Marry thou could do so, could you not, my love?

Yours Forever,
Hamlet