Ophelia in Shakespeare´s Hamlet

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Overall Meaning and Significance of the scene:
Ophelia was driven mad by the death of her father Polonius and how Hamlet betrayed her love with his own wave of madness which was just an act. In her madness, Ophelia talks about her father and his death and about the “Tricks in the world” (terrible things that happen to people). Ophelia’s madness was also the extent of her being used by her father so he could spy on Hamlet to see if he was truly crazy and then by Hamlet when he claimed he no longer loved her and that he didn’t send her any letters (remembrances). Ophelia’s speech and her fragments of songs are unsensible. Her song was about her father’s death “He is gone, He is gone” (4.5.220), and a maiden who is tricked into losing her virginity with a false promise of love and the possibility of marriage. “To be your valentine, then up he rose and donned his clothes and duped the chamber door” (4.5.56-58)
Characterization:
Helena Bonham who played as Ophelia in the Zeffirelli version seemed crazy and amped up the act as a mad person. She a played wonderful Ophelia her hair was really wild, crazed and the makeup used made he face look like it was sunken in to create a “sick” outlook. Kate Winslet had a soft tethered look about her that would just make someone sad and feel sorry for her. Branagh vs. Zeffirell version of “Ophelia’s Madness” seemed bright, giving the audience a possible happy ending due to the lighting and how long the director took to get to the point of no return. So a person who’s supposedly mad should be calm in a situation deemed as mad is not better then Helen coming at the Queen Gertrude played by Glen close who was absolutely petrified when Helen said “Where is the beauteous Majesty of Denmark?” (4.5.26...

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...aptured the better version of “Ophelia’s madness” because of the lighting effects when Helena was being hysterical the screen usually darker while Branagh’s version was always bright (seemingly white throughout the whole movie). Having a darker and gloomier feel got me to believe that she was really insane and not just someone we should feel sorry for. Ophelia’s madness is expressed physically again when Carter hands out flowers to the members of the court. Zeffirelli chooses to have Ophelia distribute real flowers. Carter’s Ophelia has a madness that is real and tangible shocking reaction to a truth she cannot entirely handle. Kate Winslets madness is more of someone else’s doing and no one can escape (blaming everyone and if Hamlet was there then maybe she would gave him all the flowers instead of passing them around) when Winslet hands out her imaginary bouquet.

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