Volu m e II - Purdue University Calumet

Ophelia’s mad scene, in Act Four, Scene Five, shows the favor she has for Polonius over Hamlet.
Her costume in this scene is a drastic change from the other outfits she has worn. As the lights gradually
come on, the audience finds Gertrude sitting on a shroud. While she sits and thinks, Ophelia begins
stomping her feet outside of the entrance on the audience left. A woman runs in and tells Gertrude that
Ophelia wants to see her. Wishing to remain ignorant of the happenings in the castle, Gertrude tries to
keep Ophelia out. However, Ophelia pushes her way in to visit the queen. In her mad state, Ophelia has
put on her father’s shirt and suit jacket. This displays the close relationship Noble has given her and
Polonius. Most other directors costume Ophelia in Hamlet’s clothing when she is mad, showing that she is
more distraught over Hamlet’s behavior than Polonius’ death. Instead, this play portrays the opposite. She
still wears her boots but they are dirty and untied. Ophelia’s knees are scratched up and her hair is
unkempt. When she walks in, she carries with her the box of mementos from her bedroom. Inside, a doll
has been added to represent her father. Claudius enters and Ophelia hugs him. She proceeds to speak
toward the side of his face, rather than look at him as a normal person would. Ophelia drags Claudius over
to the piano where she forces him to sit and play with her. After banging on the keys, she kisses Claudius
on the cheek and leans on him. The way she acts toward Claudius at this point is meant to show her
separation from reality. Ophelia treats Claudius as if he were her father. On the piano bench, where
Polonius once sat, Ophelia now wants the king to join her. This is something she would only do if she were
unable to grasp what was happening. As Claudius stands, Ophelia jumps up on him and wraps her legs
around his waist. Noble gives her hymns to sing that make little sense, but the words are clearly
recognizable. This is different from other directors who often have Ophelia sing songs with
indistinguishable words. Continuing to sing, Ophelia dances around the floor and finally falls to the ground
weeping. She then walks out and says, “Good night, sweet ladies” (Hamlet 4.5.71). In doing so, she
manages to kiss the men on stage and hit the women. Not long after, a man tries to warn Claudius about
Laertes, but he quickly rushes in anyway, wanting revenge for his father’s murder. Gertrude holds him
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