Custom Essays: Ophelia as a Sexual Being -- GCSE English Literature Cou

Ophelia as a Sexual Being in Hamlet In Elaine Showalters essay, feminist condemnation allows Ophelia to upstage Hamlet and . . . brings to the foreground . . . the cultural links amidst femininity, and young-bearing(prenominal) sexuality (221). In most of his plays, William Shakespeare has many women in secondary roles, totally filling dead space or causing strife between men. During Shakespeares time, thoughts of women bordered on weak and deceitful count ons, leading to the idea of frail, besides conniving creatures. In Hamlet, the character Ophelia uses her sexual prowess as a source of power when dealing with the opposite sex. As she weaves her way by dint of the background of the play, she affects the men greatly to become a main management when critiquing the literary work. Interpretations of Ophelia vary based on the experts view of sexual importance. The becharm she has over Hamlets emotions and desires affects the outcome of their faltering relationship and Hamlet s sanity. Viewing Ophelia as a sexual being, bingle can surmise that she embodies the very essence of womanly sexuality. Kenneth Branaghs 1996 film version of Hamlet portrays Ophelia as a siren natural, beautiful, and the completed object of male desire. In Elaine Showalters essay and Kenneth Branaghs film, the representation of Ophelia gives strong tell regarding the sexuality Ophelia emanates and her effect on the men surrounding her despite her fivesome short scenes in the play. Ophelias overzealous sexuality, uncommon in those moral days, constitutes an image of madness and impropriety ending in her tragic death by her own hand. With the strong sexuality Ophelia radiates, even her brother Laertes cannot resist her charms. speech production with Ophelia, Laertes warns h... ...h her fire and passion. William Shakespeare produces this female character, which becomes the most important heroine in all of his literary works. As a symbol for women everywhere, Ophelia depicts t he importance of using the power one has to make a difference in ones own life. Works Cited Hamlet. Dir. Kenneth Barnagh. Perf. Kenneth Branagh, Kate Winslet, Brian Blessed, Richard Briars, Julie Christie, billy goat Crystal, Derek Jacobi, Michael Maloney. Castle Rock, 1996. Showalter, Elaine. Representing Ophelia Women, Madness, and the Responsibilities of Feminist Criticism. Hamlet. Ed. Susanne L. Wofford. Boston Bedford Books of St. Martins Press, 1994. 220-238. Wofford, Susanne L., ed. Case Studies in Contemporary Criticism, William Shakespeare The calamity of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Boston Bedford Books of St. Martins Press, 1994.