Ophelia's Eulogy

If only someone, just one person, saw it coming they could have saved her. Gertrude especially wishing there was some way she could go back and save Ophelia.

We are here today to remember our good friend, daughter and sister, Ophelia. Poor Ophelia. A beloved young woman, loved scorned and pushed to the edge of no return.. Ophelia was a caring, respectable girl, who honored her father and brother, against her true feelings.  She was thoughtful of others. She was always singing with a smile big enough to brighten the saddest man’s day. But today we honor Ophelia, whose young life is no longer with us. She silenced herself for a reason unclear.

Maybe it was because of Hamlet's "madness" that pushed her to the edge. The man she gave all of herself too, suddenly loosing memory of the once love they shared.  Maybe it was a broken heart. Could it be her father, Polonius' death, who was mistakenly killed by Hamlet? No one will ever know.

When you think of a good Christian what is the first thing you think? ... Devotion, loyalty, obedience, respect, and love, all characteristics of beautiful Ophelia.  So the question is why shouldn't she get a proper Christian burial? Some think suicide is a sin that is an invitation to hell, others having empathy for all the sudden struggles of someone’s life.  Imagine drowning. Your lungs filling up with water until your last breaths are taken. Imagine how low you have to feel to contemplate taking another breath? Isn't that enough punishment in itself? Ophelia must have felt she was living in a hell on earth.

The question is, what is one to do when backed into a corner? Some cry and some go mad, others don't make it through. However, when backed into this corner, how does one think straight? They don’t.

A warm hearted Christian person would feel sorrow for one’s thoughts, taking her so far into despair. We feel horrible for Ophelia who will now never be a wife or see motherhood; two things she would have been great at.  We as people are genuinely hurt, and perhaps disrespected by the burial given to Ophelia, who deserved so much more.

Hamlets Decision

I personally feel as though Hamlet made a good decision for himself. His hesitation all goes down to his faith and religion.  I understand Hamlet's emotions towards Claudius because I would feel the same way. If he had killed Claudius, Claudius would have gone to heaven and Hamlet would have gone to hell. It must have been so frustrating for Hamlet because Claudius was confessing for his own good, not because he was genuinely sorry. It seemed to me like Claudius was confessing his guilt, but he didn't have much regret or remorse. As a matter of fact, he states in his confession,"Forgive me my foul murder'? That cannot be, since I am still possessed  Of those effects for which i did the murder, My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen." To me that is what made me think about who Claudius really is and how he really feels. He is not sorry. Claudius had to have premeditated this because really, who has a bottle of poison sitting in their house? Don't you think if Claudius really was remorseful he would confess to everyone and risk loosing his title? He says he is sorry but be is still married to his brothers wife, and he is still possessing all his brother's things and doing his brother's duties.


 Although Hamlet's feelings are valid, at the same time, he would not be leading my example. He wants to get back at Claudius for killing his father and taking the throne, but killing him isn't the best way to get back at him. The real way to get back at him is not to put him at rest, but rather flip his life upside down. Since everyone likes Claudius, he should expose the king for who he really is. The people didn't realize his guilt because they weren't looking for it.When they see what a horrible thing the King did, no body is going to want to associate with him. If he did it to his own brother, he will most definitely do it to anyone.

The Ghost Scene

In the first version, the Zeffirelli version, the ghost scene is an emotional moment between father and son. Hamlet looks at his father in disbelief and shock. The setting is extremely dark. You can hear the ghost's low creaky voice on top of the sound of the cold air. When Hamlet's father's ghost tells Hamlet what really happened, both father and son's eyes fill up with tears. The ghost does not appear to be angry, but rather sad and hurt. Hamlet seems irate at the fact that his uncle killed his father, and then proceeded to marry his mother. The scene ends with Hamlet looking down at Cludius, his uncle/step-father.


In the second version, the Branagh version, the ghost scene is ridiculously dramatic. There is background music that is upbeat and fast paced. Hamlet is in the dark, foggy woods and can hear the echoes of creepy, evil sounding whispers of his father's ghost. The ghost seems angry. He appears with evil, cat eyes. The scene is almost "scary". The thing I did like about this version was the flashbacks. The flashbacks are bright, because it was to times when his father was alive.  You get to actually see his death and the pain he was in, which makes the death more visible. Hamlet reaches out to his father, but he disappears. At the end, he is sad, on the floor crying.


The third version, the Almereyda version, is modern. There is no tenderness between the father and son. The setting is brighter than the other two versions. The ghost actually touches Hamlet which I looked at as symbolism, of the effect it had on Hamlet. At one point they circle around the room looking at eachother. I found this relevant to show how Hamlet probably felt, dazed, dizzy and confused.


I thought the "Remember Me" part to be such a meaningful part of the scene. I liked that the best in the Almereyda version. Overall, I liked the Zeffirelli version the best because it was the most realistic in terms of feelings. Hamlet was first in disbelief, then sad, then angry, which I can find relatable.  I didn't like that Hamlet could touch his father's ghost in the third version. the second version to me was just way to dramatic.