30 Important Ophelia Quotes From Hamlet By William Shakespeare
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Ophelia is the feminine voice in 'Hamlet' whose death renders a tragic tone to the play.
William Shakespeare’s mastery in wielding words can be witnessed through his genius writings that were initially published in the first folio of 1623. Plays like ‘Macbeth’, 'Hamlet', ‘Othello’ and ‘Romeo And Juliet’ have run down through generations.
Shakespeare’s writings have been in the world of criticism through the ages. One of the leading critiques of Shakespeare's plays is Samuel Johnson.
Samuel Johnson has critically analyzed the nuances of the Elizabethan playwright in his ‘The Plays Of William Shakespeare’ (1765).
On the other hand, the editor, Nick de Somogyi, and the modernist publisher, Nick Hern Books have published the folio versions offering a parallel modern edition of several plays authored by William Shakespeare along with his contemporaries.
Shakespeare’s characters, especially women characters, are a separate entity on their own when characters like Lady Macbeth, Desdemona, Portia are taken into consideration.
In his play ‘Hamlet’ (1599-1601), Ophelia is the epitome of femininity, also a symbol of purity. The death of her beloved father Polonius, the idea of love injected by Hamlet, her father, and brother, Laertes took a heavy toll on her mind.
The purpose of her existence had continually been questioned through decisions often forced on her.
Perhaps this state of indecisiveness and confusion led her to contemplate and give shape to her own death. Check out some Ophelia quotes on love, Ophelia quotes about madness, Ophelia quotes about death, Ophelia Shakespeare quotes, Ophelia Quotes Hamlet, and her songs.
If you found these quotes insightful then also read through famous 'Hamlet' quotes and [Shakespeare quotes about death].
Ophelia Love Quotes
These Ophelia quotes penned down by William Shakespeare are all about his genius writings. Not only do they speak about Ophelia's love for Hamlet, father Polonius, and brother Laertes, it also tells about the pain and pathos associated with love.
Although she loves Hamlet unconditionally, her love remains unrequited as Hamlet fails to reciprocate his feelings to her, and leads, ultimately, to her death.
1. "I shall obey, my lord."
- Act I, Scene III, 'Hamlet'.
2. "And will he not come again?...No, no, he is dead;
Go to thy deathbed."
- Act IV, Scene V, 'Hamlet'.
3. "Polonius: Ay, fashion you may call it. Go to, go to!
Ophelia: And hath given countenance to his speech...
With almost all the holy vows of heaven."
- Act I, Scene III, 'Hamlet'.
4. "How should I your true-love know
From another one?
By his cockle bat and' staff
And his sandal shoon."
- Act IV, Scene V, 'Hamlet'.
5. "O heavenly powers, restore him!"
- Act III, Scene I, 'Hamlet'.
6. "I shall th' effect of this good lesson keep
As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother,
Do not as some ungracious pastors do,
Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven,
Whiles, like a puff'd and reckless libertine,
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads
And recks not his own rede."
- Act I, Scene III, 'Hamlet'.
7. "Larded all with sweet flowers;
Which bewept to the grave did not go
With true-love showers."
- Act IV, Scene V, 'Hamlet'.
8. "O, what a noble mind is here o'erthrown!"
- Act III, Scene I, 'Hamlet'.
9. "Laertes: This nothing's more than matter.
Ophelia: There's rosemary, that's for remembrance. Pray you, love,
remember. And there is pansies, that's for thoughts."
- Act IV, Scene V, 'Hamlet'.
10. "Hamlet: I humbly thank you; well, well, well.
Ophelia: My lord, I have remembrances of yours
That I have longed long to re-deliver.
I pray you, now receive them."
- Act III, Scene I, 'Hamlet'.
11. "Pray let's have no words of this; but when they ask, you what it means, say you this:
To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning bedtime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose and donn'd his clo'es
And dupp'd the chamber door,
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more."
- Act IV, Scene V, 'Hamlet'.
'Hamlet' Quotes About Ophelia
Like Hamlet, Ophelia's dilemma can be considered a major reason that triggered her to drown to death. Ophelia, being in an irrevocable state of confusion, developed fits of madness and ultimately, committed suicide. Read through these Ophelia quotes that project her personality.
12. “Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia, And therefore I forbid my tears.”
- Laertes, Act IV, Scene VII, 'Hamlet'.
13. "A document in madness! Thoughts and remembrance fitted."
- Laertes, Act IV, Scene V, 'Hamlet'.
14. "Laertes: Lay her i’ th’ earth,
And from her fair and unpolluted flesh
May violets spring! I tell thee, churlish priest,
A ministering angel shall my sister be
When thou liest howling.
Hamlet:...What, the fair Ophelia?"
- Act V, Scene I, 'Hamlet'.
15. "I was the more deceived."
- Ophelia, Act III, Scene I, 'Hamlet'.
16. "I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers
Could not, with all their quantity of love,
Make up my sum."
- Hamlet, Act V, Scene I, 'Hamlet'.
17. "Hamlet: I could interpret between you and your love, if I could see
the puppets dallying.
Ophelia: You are keen, my lord, you are keen."
- Act III, Scene II, 'Hamlet'.
18. "Laertes: Farewell, Ophelia, and remember well
What I have said to you.
Ophelia: 'Tis in my memory lock'd,
And you yourself shall keep the key of it."
- Act I, Scene III, 'Hamlet'.
19. "Let shame say what it will: when these are gone, The woman will be out. — Adieu, my lord! I have a speech of fire, that fain would blaze, But that this folly drowns it."
- Laertes, Act IV, Scene VII, 'Hamlet'.
20. "You should not have believ'd me; for virtue cannot so
inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it. I loved you
not."
- Hamlet, Act III, Scene I, 'Hamlet'.
Famous Hamlet And Ophelia Quotes
https://pixabay.com/photos/farmhouse-fachwerkhaus-house-167537/
(These quotes from 'Hamlet' impart important life lessons.)
Have a look at these famous lines from 'Hamlet' that speak of the relationship shared between Hamlet and Ophelia. They will give you a good idea of what the relationship between the eponymous Hamlet, and Ophelia, was like. These quotes will help you look at your own relationships in a different way!
21. "Good night, ladies. Good night, sweet ladies. Good night, good night."
- Ophelia, Act IV, Scene V, 'Hamlet'.
22. "What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and Heaven?"
- Hamlet, Act III, Scene I, 'Hamlet'.
23. "He is dead and gone, lady,
He is dead and gone;
At his head a grass-green turf,
At his heels a stone."
- Ophelia, Act IV, Scene V, 'Hamlet'.
24. "There's a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will."
- Hamlet, Act V, Scene II, 'Hamlet'.
25. "Be wary then; best safety lies in fear.
Youth to itself rebels, though none else near."
- Laertes, Act I, Scene III, 'Hamlet'.
26. "Could beauty, my lord, have better commerce than with honesty?"
- Ophelia, Act III, Scene I, 'Hamlet'.
27. "I hope all will be well. We must be patient; but I cannot."
- Ophelia, Act IV, Scene V, 'Hamlet'.
28. "From this time forth
My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!"
- Hamlet, Act IV, Scene IV, 'Hamlet'.
29. "The King rises."
- Ophelia, Act III, Scene II, 'Hamlet'.
30. "I shall the effect of this good lesson keep
As watchman to my heart."
- Ophelia, Act I, Scene III, 'Hamlet'.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Ophelia quotes then why not take a look at 'Hamlet' revenge quotes, or Shakespeare love quotes?
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.
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