Free Essay

Ophelia

In: English and Literature

Submitted By malika1514
Words 1182
Pages 5
Sometime in our lives we have to make momentous decisions. We either have made a propitious selection or regret our decisions. The poem, "The Road Not Taken" written by Robert Frost is how a road chosen by a traveler had an impact in his life. Through his poem, Frost have shown that the decisions we make should be chosen carefully because not only will it affect our choices in the future, but there is no going back.Throughout the poem, Frost has addressed the idea of making decisions in a melancholic manner. The first stanza revealed the situation: the speaker came across a fork in a road and has to decide which road to take, "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood," (1). The line, "And sorry I could not travel both," (2) apprises that he wants to take both roads, however, since it is not possible he decides to make a choice— the other road. "Oh, I marked the first for another day!" (13). His dream of taking the other road someday is crushed by reality. "Yet knowing how way leads on to way/I doubted if I should ever come back," (14-15). This reveals that the decision he had made has already affected the decisions in the future as well. We do not know if the speaker will regret his decision, however, he does tell us that he will be "telling this with a sigh," (16). The sigh can be the cause of happiness or grief by taking the "less traveled by road," (19). However, rather good or bad, it already "made all the difference," (20), therefore, he will have to accept his decision.In addition, we should be able to take risks with our decisions. The speaker chose the less traveled road, "Because it was grassy and wanted wear," (8). His use of personification embellish the idea of taking risk with decisions. Grass cannot want wear; however, the use of personification has revealed that this road has not been taken by most people. We should make choices if it looks like "the better claim," (7) to us. By taking the less traveled road, it illustrated the speaker's individualism. The last line of the third stanza has contradicted his whole theory about the two roads being different as he says, "Had worn them really about the same," (10). This is ironic because the first four lines was about how the other road was different from the first. This reveals that there wouldn't have been much difference in the two roads, but still in the future, it would make the difference. "Somewhere ages and ages hence:/Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,/I took the one less traveled by,/And that has made all the difference," (17-20). "The Road Not Taken" is one of my favorite poems of all times because it emphasizes the importance of decisions. I am who I am today through thousands of decisions I made in the past. Sure, it unlocked new paths for me, but some opportunity doors will be eternally closed. I have regretted the choices I have made, but I have learned that nothing can be done about the past so I learned to accept it.

In a person's life people many decisions have to be made. Such as, choosing to spend time hanging out with friends or to spend time studying for exams. The decisions we make are based on our priorities. The person who chooses to hang out with friend values their friendship over their education, meanwhile, the person who chooses to study for their exams values their education. A person's decision makes one life differ from others. In the poem, "The Road Not Taken" Robert Frost uses a metaphor, imaginary, and the structure of the poem to tell the reader that the road he or she chooses might be the right or wrong one, but it will make all the difference in their lives.Frost uses the metaphor to show that the choice impacts his life. In the beginning of the poem "two roads diverge in a yellow wood" (1). The poet has to choose between two diverging roads, and they have to decide which road they will take to reach his destination. At the end of the poem, the speaker says "and that has made all the difference" (20). This quote is implying that the road chosen, which is the turning point that made his life different from all the rest.The imaginary in the poem illustrates how important the decision he or she makes impacts their life. We have hard times deciding what we should choose to reach the road we want to go on. We often question ourselves is this the right or wrong road were taking such as when Robert Frost writes "two roads diverged in a yellow wood and sorry I could not travels both" (1-2). Since the road in the wood is yellow we can picture this as autumn. When leaves change color and life starts to die. The passage makes the reader see that the decision the poet is making is a difficult one. As the poem continues it says "green and wanted wear" (8). With the green we can picture the poet is saying that there is life. Comparing the yellow, to the green there's a big difference. The yellow being the difficult time, while the green being a simple and more laid back time. Therefore the imagery in the poem shows how the decision impacts his or her life.Finally, the structure of the poems four stanzas shows how the choice the poet makes impacts his life. In the first stanza the poet is explaining to the reader the situation of choosing which road to take. The second stanza, the speaker chooses the road that is less traveled, but then realizes that they were "really about the same" (10). In the third stanza the poet continues to describe the road he has taken, and how he would like to come back travel the other road and the feels sorry he couldn't travel both (6-10). As the poet travels down his road time has passed by. The poet explains how the road he took "has made all the difference in his life" (16-20). All in all, the poems four stanzas show the decision that the poet makes impacts his life. In "The Road Not Taken" Robert Frost enables the reader to see the choice that he has made that impacts his life. The metaphor, the descriptive imagery, and the poem's structure shows that the road the poet has chosen made all the difference in his life. A person's decision often affects their life. A good decision will lead them on a good road. While a bad decision will lead us down a bad road. We may not know if our decision maybe the right or bad one at the moment, but we will see the outcome in the end. Things happen in your life based on how you decide things not how others decide things.

Similar Documents

Free Essay

J. Conrad - Colonialism

...Edmund speaks of his feelings as he walked home in the fog. 7. "I was set free! I dissolved in the sea, became white sails and flying spray, became beauty and rhythm, became moonlight and the ship and the high dim-starred sky." Act 4 Edmund tells his father about the ecstasy of some of his experiences at sea. 8. "For a second you see-and seeing the secret are the secret. For a second there is meaning." Act 4 Edmund talks about the meaning of his peak experiences at sea. 9. "Happy roads is bunk. Weary roads is right. Get you nowhere fast. That's where I've got-nowhere. Where everyone lands in the end, even if more of the suckers won't admit it." Act 4 Jamie finally confesses the truth about his own life. 10. "The Mad Scene. Enter Ophelia!" Act 4 Jamie's sardonic remark when his mother enters the room, apparently unaware of her...

Words: 356 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Ophelia

...Ophelia strikes a powerful image in the feminist imagination. In Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet, Ophelia tries to be an obedient daughter to her over-bearing father, a loyal sister to her protective brother, an affectionate sweetheart to her mad Prince and a dutiful courtier to her scheming King. Her world is dominated by the men she tries hard to please—to be what they need her to be with little thought for what she wants or who she is. The result of her adherence to everything patriarchy tells her to be is abandonment by her dear brother, betrayal of her regal lover who rejects her then murders her beloved father, and ultimately madness and suicide at the bottom of pretty river after singing some sweet folk songs. Her father Polonius echoes these warnings, finally forcing Ophelia to swear she will not see Hamlet any longer. “These blazes, daughter,” says Polonius, “Giving more light than heat extinct in both, you must not take for fire.” What an eloquent way of expressing life with a Time Lord: all flash and fireworks but over far too soon. What a prophetic way of expressing Martha’s feelings as she takes the blaze of her admiration for fire, though the Doctor gives her more light than heat. Despite the opposition of her family Martha, like Ophelia, does her best to do right by all the people in her life. Also like Ophelia, the effort of meeting these demands tears her apart. Nowhere is this more evident than in The Last of the Time Lords, but we see her strain earlier...

Words: 484 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Poor Ophelia

...Poor Ophelia! Shakespeare’s Ophelia was a benevolent and innocent young girl, who dutifully obeyed her father, Polonius. Ophelia did as she is told, even if in her heart she felt strongly against what she was being asked to do. It was obvious that she was behaving like well mannered, aristocratic, young ladies of the time were expected to behave. Obedience and compliance were desirable traits, and Ophelia assumed that and here love and devotion to Hamlet would secure a happily ever after. But, unfortunately, her exceptional obedience would be her downfall. Ophelia is found betraying her one true love, Hamlet, by merely obeying her father, Polonius, and king Claudius, who believe that Hamlet has gone mad. Polonius seemed to bear a grudge against Hamlet, which should have been a signal to Ophelia that something was amiss. But being the good daughter, she did as she was told when Polonius instructed Ophelia not to ever speak to Hamlet again. When Hamlet comes running into her room looking like he has just seen a ghost, which in fact he has, and she does not say a word to him. She just looks at him like he is crazy and watches him go out the door without saying a word. Hamlet feels betrayed by his love for her and lack of response to his distress. She obeyed her father and did not speak to him, even when he looked like he had gone through something very terrible. Ophelia agreed to Polonius’s schemes to spy on Hamlet, even when it went against her feelings for Hamlet. The...

Words: 673 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Ophelia In Hamlet

...female roles than what meets the eye. Ophelia is one of the characters that had an impact on the action of the story. Even though Shakespeare's intention for Hamlet was not meant to be a woman-based play, the female roles are more significant than what the readers believe. Through closer investigation, the true purpose of these females such as Ophelia unfolds, and it becomes evident that these women were more significant to driving the action of the play, than they were at first glance. In Hamlet, the role of Ophelia is presented as a very submissive, but gentle, loyal, proper and loving young woman. Ophelia is meant to be...

Words: 1305 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Reviving Ophelia

...The book, Reviving Ophelia, is about the hardships girls go through when they are growing up and trudging through puberty. As the author Mary Pipher states it, adolescent girls tend to lose their “true selves” in order to fit in and comply with the standards that society sets for women. Pipher, a practicing therapist, uses her own case studies to show how pressures put on girls forces them to react in often damaging ways. In most case studies she tells the audience how she helped these girls heal and regain control of their lives. It seems that her primary goal is to warn people of what certain effects can have on girls and what not to do. The one thing that Pipher tends to overlook is what parents can do right to raise healthy children. Pipher named this book after a character named Ophelia. “The story of Ophelia, from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, shows the destructive forces that affect young women. As a girl, Ophelia is happy and free, but with adolescence she loses herself. When she falls in love with Hamlet, she lives only for his approval. She has no inner direction; rather she struggles to meet the demands of Hamlet and her father. Her value is determined utterly by their approval. Ophelia is torn apart by her efforts to please. When Hamlet spurns her because she is an obedient daughter, she goes mad with grief. Dressed in elegant clothes that weigh her down, she drowns in a stream filled with flowers” (20). Pipher wants to Revive Ophelia. She wants to save her...

Words: 1717 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Ophelia Character Analysis

...Ophelia: A Daughter or a Yes Man? Ophelia is a beautiful and simple-minded girl who was Hamlet’s significant other. Ophelia the epitome of a flat character allows throughout her life the commands of Polonius and Laertes to shape her actions. Ophelia was incapable to neither live nor think for herself because of all the pressure from the men of her life to be something she was not. The weakness of her brain and will, which allowed her submission to the men in her life, consequently pulverized her expectation for Hamlet's affection and at last brought about her madness and demise. Ophelia’s father Polonius plays the most influential role on Ophelia’s actions, throughout the play we see Ophelia do whatever is asked of her. This is first seen in Act I when Laertes shares his words of wisdom to his sister Ophelia and Polonius shows up. The last thing she told Laertes when he said “Farewell Ophelia, and remember well What I have said you” was “Tis in my memory locked, And you yourself shall keep the key of it.” Yet as soon as Polonius asks what he told her Ophelia instantly responds “Something about Hamlet.” Some things should not be shared, if siblings are speaking keep it between siblings but, when it comes to confidentiality if Polonius asks Ophelia is telling it all on demand. It’s apparently clear Ophelia loves Polonius and holds respect for him but it’s also clear Polonius has full control her brain; referring to Act I when Polonius questions Hamlet’s true love for Ophelia...

Words: 1035 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Hamlet Ophelia Quotes

...Quote 1: “I shall the 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.” In Polonius’s chambers, Ophelia’s brother Laertes warns her to be wary of Hamlet’s urges and tricks when he is off to college. While she begins by telling Laertes that she will listen to his advice, she does so only to fulfill the submissive, powerless role that women were supposed to act out. Ophelia then quickly speaks her true opinion, by comparing her brother to a pastor that shows people the difficult way to heaven. His beliefs that...

Words: 764 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Ophelias Road to Madness

...The Mechanics of Music Taylor Ratliff AP English 12 Mrs.Paudel January 29th, 2013 The Mechanics of Music The volunteer project I chose to do was to help the choir teacher at Kenmore high school, Ms.Bellamy, with anything she needed. In my time volunteering I organized music, took extra time to learn new songs to perform at the concerts, make bell work for her classes, and perform at nursing homes and hospitals. I have been helping Ms.Bellamy with these things for 3 years, even though I haven’t been getting volunteer hours for it. I love to sing, read, and write music. That is why I like helping her with these tasks. Through my high school years I have learned a lot about music, but there is still so much that I do not know. In this paper, I will break down how a music producer goes about making beats, recording singers/rappers, and putting the finishing touches on upcoming songs. The Sound Engineer A sound engineer’s job is to make a beat for the song, set up the recording equipment, record the artist, and put the finishing touches on the song to make it sound the best it can. A sound engineer has to be proficient with different types of recording media, such as analog tape, digital multitrack recorders and workstations, and computer knowledge. There are four distinct steps to commercial production of a recording that a sound engineer is responsible for: recording, editing, mixing, and mastering. Recording is when the engineer physically records the artist rapping...

Words: 1008 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

The Film Reviving Ophelia

...My thought on this article at first were, “It’s so horrifically true, it’s scary.” Men have always tried to profit from marks of masculinity; “Viagra” and “Touch of Grey.” It is not far off to think that men would follow the same pattern of behaviors for a reproductive function. Therefore, women will fall victim to discrimination, not for having their cycle, but for not having cycles entirely. Men have always found new excuses for how they are superior to women; menstruation is no different. The film, Reviving Ophelia, seems to me that it stresses the commonly seen and not so easily noticed factors facing young women these days with self-image. I do agree with the factors of isolation playing key roles in today’s social development within...

Words: 293 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Madness Of Ophelia In Shakespeare's Hamlet

...As the theme of “madness” runs rapid through the play, Hamlet, many characters suffer from psychological disorders leading to their inevitable end. Ophelia, daughter of Polonius, is among the many characters that suffer from these psychological behaviors. Her mindless behavior was under scrutiny and eventually classified under two categories: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Delirium. These disorders were characterized through both the physical and mental stability of her. At the start of the play, Ophelia was considered to be rather normal. Her responses and actions were of those who would be considered healthy. As the play progressed, she began to slowly lose touch with reality until she finally went ‘mad’. Ophelia’s psychological degradation...

Words: 619 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Does Hamlet Love Ophelia

...Hamlet suddenly opened Ophelia’s door in shock and Ophelia glared at him absentmindedly. He grabbed her hand physically and observed her like there was a spider on her face. Ophelia examined him in confusion thinking about what is wrong with him. In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Hamlet shows Ophelia how much he loves her with a letter that he writes her. However, sometimes he does not show it at times. Although, when he finds out that Ophelia died, he shows everyone that he loves her with all his heart. Hamlet undeniably loves Ophelia because he cares, he is protective, and he made sure she was happy. Hamlet shows he loves Ophelia by reacting strongly after she dies. For example, when Hamlet finds out that Ophelia died, he screams to Laertes,”Will you cry? Fight? Stop eating? Cut yourself? Drink vinegar? Eat a crocodile? I’ll do all that,” (Shakespeare 297). Hamlet explains to Laertes that he will do anything to have her around one more time. He is devastated that Ophelia died. He just wishes to spend one more moment with her if she were alive. For example,...

Words: 659 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Comparing Insanity In Hamlet And Ophelia

...and insanity. Both Hamlet and Ophelia display characteristics of madness however Hamlet’s madness is associated with the environment he is in while Ophelia’s madness is linked to her biological makeup of being a woman. On Shakespearean stage, the portrayals of female insanity were often the same. Ophelia would enter the stage in a white dress with flowers in her long and untamed hair while singing and playing a flute. When speaking, her lines were made up of “extravagant metaphors, lyrical free associations and ‘explosive sexual imagery’.” These common portrayals of Ophelia on the Elizabethan stage hold multiple connotations about femininity and sexuality. Ophelia frequently embodies a role of contrast within her self and other characters...

Words: 302 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Gertrude And Ophelia In William Shakespeare's Hamlet

...Throughout William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, it is evident that women play a secondary role. Gertrude and Ophelia are characterised as weak and submissive, and are extremely obedient to the men in their lives. Both female characters play passive roles in a play but are important in displaying the theme of Hamlet’s misogyny; “Frailty, thy name is woman”. Gertrude from the beginning proves to be very wholly dependent on men. Her first husband, King Hamlet, was murdered and yet “within a month”, she was married to his brother Claudius. The relationship between Claudius and Gertrude seems to be for convenience rather than love. It is perceived as good for Denmark to have a politically skilled ruler and Claudius was undoubtedly fit for the role. Gertrude’s...

Words: 523 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Why Do I Love Ophelia

...I love” (2.2.119). Hamlet proclaims his feelings for Ophelia, assuring her that he will always love her. Hamlet gives Ophelia the mindstate that she should trust the love she receives. Love heavily impacts and drives Ophelia’s actions throughout the play, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare. Ophelia’s desires push her to be intimate with Hamlet and eventually drive her to madness resulting in her death. Ophelia’s loving and trusting nature compels her to obey her father. She trusts her father’s judgement, but also wants to trust Hamlet’s love for her. Ophelia has very strong feelings and has put a lot of trust in Hamlet so when her father asks “Do you believe his tenders” (1.3.45-112). Ophelia...

Words: 1054 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Difference of Insanity: Hamlet Verses Ophelia

...Kayla Romine Mr. Kaplan English 12 P.4 28 March 2012 The Difference of Insanity: Hamlet against Ophelia In the Renaissance, madness was the theme of William Shakespeare's writings. He attended grammar school, but nothing further. So for his writings to be written with intelligence, it was greatly admired by many. Shakespeare’s career was in the time of Elizabeth I, 1558-1603 and James I, 1566-1625. His writings were not his own original work. It has been said that he took the story, Hamlet, from Saxo Grammaticus and changed the way Hamlet was portrayed from his story into a more “mad” version of Hamlet that waits to get revenge and is not truly mad from the start. It is also said that Shakespeare stole a majority of his stories from other writers during his time, making them more well-known and changing the moral of the story. In the Renaissance, people looked at insanity as if it were a crime. It was looked down upon. People did not understand that it was something that occurred within the mind, so they thought if they sprayed people with water it would shock them out of their insanity. The Renaissance culture also gave an intellectual rendition to three specific kinds of madness: folly, demonic possession and melancholia. In that time, thoughts of madness were confused by religious beliefs and sometimes even mistaken for nonsense. The dictionary defines madness as “extreme anger, excitement, or foolishness” and in Hamlet, Hamlet is characterized as insane because he...

Words: 1294 - Pages: 6