Hamlet as an accessory to Ophelia's suicideThe character of Ophelia played by William Shakespeare in Hamlet suffers a lot from the moment she learns of the death of her father Polonius, until his mysterious death. In Hamlet, Gertrude, Horatio and Claudius refer to her state and conclude that she is mad1[1]. While there is some truth in this statement, Shakespeare created Ophelia as an overly dramatic character, who somewhat exaggerates her emotions to give an impression of madness. While their impression of Ophelia can be supported, the evidence is not shown so much in her words as in her actions. Ophelia's songs seem like riddles and nonsense2[2], yet they are similar to Hamlet's speech patterns, revealing true truths and emotions, and sometimes sarcasm. However, Ophelia's whimsical and childlike behavior is very different from that of the prim and reserved Ophelia at the beginning of the play. However, this behavior is not consistent with the sad words in her pain-filled songs, nor is it consistent with a grieving woman, rather Ophelia's physical behavior is the clearest evidence that Ophelia may show signs of madness. Hamlet's act of convincing his madness to all who knew him influenced Ophelia to perform following Hamlet's example with her feigned madness, ultimately leading to the girl's suicide, thus implicating Hamlet in her death. In act four, scene five; Gertrude and Horatio discuss Ophelia's worsening condition directly before her entrance. They attribute the girls' decline to her concern for her recently deceased father. Ophelia shows signs of being overly sensitive and fickle, which concerns Horatio: "She despises mirrors with envy, says doubtful things / Which bring but... to the center of the card......Notes:1[1] Hamlet , (4.5.3,5-10).2[2] Hamlet, (4.5.7)3[3] Hamlet, (4.5.6-7).4[4] Neely, Carol Thomas, "Document in Madness" , University of Illinois, Shakespeare Criticism Yearbook 1991, Volume 19, pp 333-334.5[5] Hamlet, (4.5.21).6[6] Hamlet, (4.5.29-32)7[7]Hamlet, (2.2. 186)8[8] Turner, John, "Hamlet: The Court in Transition". University College of Swansea, Shakespearean Criticism, volume 16, Yearbook 1990, p. 4.5.47-54)11[11] Neely, p [12] Hamlet, (4.5.55).13[13] Neely, p. Hamlet, (4.5.176-186)16[16] Persoon, James. "Shakespeare's Hamlet: the meaning of the distribution of herbs and flowers of Ophelia, see 55, Wntr 1997, pp 70-71.17[17] Persoon, p 71.18[18]Hamlet, (2.2109)