How Does Ophelia Use Deception In Hamlet

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In Hamlet by Shakespeare, deception is commonly known to each of the characters except for two, Ophelia and Horatio. Shakespeare uses Ophelia and Horatio to represent purity and innocence while they live amidst the lying and deceit.

Throughout Hamlet, Ophelia is represented as a pure and obedient woman to the men in her life who all live a life of deceit. Ophelia’s father, Polonius, uses his authority over her to tell her what her emotions and thoughts should be towards the love of her life, Hamlet. Ophelia tells her father “I do not know, my Lord, what I should think” (1.3.104). In response to her feeling lost and helpless her father says “Marry I’ll teach you. Think yourself a baby/ That you have ta’en these tenders for true pay,/ Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly.” (1.3.105-107). Polonius is explaining to his daughter that she need not to lose her purity and dignity to a mad fool, even if she does love him. Polonius believes that Hamlet is just using his daughter for what she sees as affection, and is lying to Ophelia of his love for her. Ophelia is blind to all of the lying that is …show more content…

All this can I/ Truly deliver” (5.2.421-42) This is part of Horatio’s speech to the people explaining the tragedy of what has happened in the castle. Horatio is honest of the “unnatural acts” that have occurred and does not lie of what his own eyes have seen. Along with Ophelia, while his innocence and purity have remained intact, the lying and deceit put a toll on his well being and almost took his life.

Shakespeare used purity and innocence in Ophelia and Horatio to help them stand out from the norm of lying and deceit. Because they did not lie or deceive others’ their lives took on a different kind of turmoil that killed Ophelia and nearly took Horatio’s life. They were weaker than the others and felt empty and stripped in the

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