Hamlet #5

                During Act 3, Scene 2 of Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Hamlet invites Claudius and his mother to a play. The play is a reenactment of what Hamlet believes to have happened around the time of his father’s death. When a character named Lucianus enters the play, Hamlet says, “This one is Lucianus, nephew to the king” (III.ii.268). Ophelia replies to Hamlet’s extensive knowledge of the play by saying, “You are as good as a chorus, my lord” (III.ii.269). Ophelia appears to suspect that Hamlet set up the play to be a direct comparison between the recent events of Claudius and Gertrude.  She has seen the recent change in Hamlet’s behavior, and Ophelia knows that Hamlet is bothered by the recent marriage between his mother and uncle. The combined madness in Hamlet’s behavior and Polonius’s warnings about Hamlet cause Ophelia to distance herself from Hamlet. Ophelia knows Hamlet invited Claudius and Gertrude to the play out of poor intentions. Everyone is trying to figure out what has caused the recent change in Hamlet, and Ophelia is the character who appears to know the most about Hamlet’s behavior; however, no one is asking Ophelia her opinion on Hamlet. Thus, Claudius may be able to learn what is wrong with Hamlet if the king realizes he must ask Ophelia about the change in behavior.