she no longer feels remorse for her actions. Miller states that “ Ophelia cleanses her soul through her confession of the Valentine Song” (82). In way Ophelia was trying to confess her intimacy with Hamlet, and clear her conscience. Miller gives a good reason for Ophelia’s actions saying “Ophelia could have confessed to her father her intimacy with Hamlet, and her father then might have consented to their marriage” (83). She is so distraught at this time that she is looking for a way to ease her mind and body. The Valentine Song cleans her soul, and perhaps she believed the brook would cleanse her body. Ophelia’s suicide was just the last action for her to take in order to totally secure peace of mind. Misery breeds madness, and madness leads to inevitable death. Not just death in the physical manner, but death in a psychological matter. Hamlet and Ophelia were both miserable with the circumstances of their lives, so in turn their actions toward each other led to their unavoidable madness. Many people believe that Hamlet’s character is too noble for his fate. Thomas Hanmer believes that “The whole conduct of Hamlet’s madness is, in my opinion too ludicrous for his character” (78). Perhaps this is true, but from the actions taken and the words spoken, I believe that Hamlet’s madness is real. Hamlet is always viewed as a tragedy because of the fall from nobility of Hamlet himself, but the real tragedy lies with the fact that Hamlet and Ophelia’s own poor relationship eventually leads to their demise. ...
