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Ophelia is definitely very hurt by what Hamlet has said. Hamlet saying such a phrase only further pushes Ophelia's feeling that she was cheated by Hamlet, that the love they had together earlier was not real.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoOphelia's reaction is to Hamlet's behaviour as a whole, not just to the nunnery remark. This is one of the most complex scenes in drama, and there are many ways of approaching each of the characters, but I am going to give you my take on it. Claudius and Polonius have sent for Hamlet in order to get him to meet with and talk to Ophelia who has been placed strategically in his path. They hope he will reveal some of his inner secrets. (Polonius is convinced that this secret is that Hamlet is in love with Ophelia; Claudius is not so sure) Hamlet has guessed from the summons what Claudius is trying and so is aware that he is behind the tapestries. However, Hamlet does not know that Ophelia is aware of what Claudius is doing, nor that Polonius knows and has revealed to Claudius the nature of their relationship. He does not think that Ophelia is up to the mental and emotional strain of the intrigue at the Danish court, and wants her to get out of the way so she won't get hurt. Ophelia is of course aware that Claudius and Polonius are lurking in the curtains, but she believes that Hamlet is mad at her because, on her father's orders, she has given Hamlet the cold shoulder. She wants Hamlet to know she still loves him, but also wants to convince the eavesdroppers that she is still playing aloof. You see what I mean about complicated.
So the scene commences and Hamlet, trying to persuade Ophelia to get herself out of the court, advises her to go to a nunnery, which at first means a convent. We know this is what he means because he asks "Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?" and nuns unlike prostitutes do not breed sinners. But something happens around the line "Where is your father?" and Ophelia's answer, which is a lie and which Hamlet can tell is a lie, reveals to him that Ophelia is already involved and has agreed to help Claudius in his spying. After this the "nunnery" becomes a brothel, and Hamlet charges her with every form of insincerity and betrayal, often couched in sexual terms. His "get thee to a nunnery" becomes a disgusted dismissal. Ophelia is hurt by the fact that she is repudiated by Hamlet, terrified by his behaviour, and confused. She grasps at the simple answer: that he must be crazy to behave like this, as becomes apparent in her speech "O, what a noble mind is here o'erthrown!"
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoFriar Lawrence. And he means a real convent, unlike Hamlet when he tells Ophelia "get thee to a nunnery".
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Where does Hamlet tell ophelia to go?
Hamlet tells Ophelia to get to a nunnery. However, "nunnery" not only meant convent but was also slang for whorehouse. It's a matter of interpretation every time he says it which one he means, or whether he might mean both.
What recurring advice does Hamlet give to Ophelia?
Hamlet tells Ophelia to get to a nunnery. However, "nunnery" not only meant convent but was also slang for whorehouse. It's a matter of interpretation every time he says it which one he means, or whether he might mean both.
What is the nonery scene in hamlet?
I believe you are referring to the "Get thee to a nunnery!" Scene in Hamlet where he tells Ophelia to go to a nunnery rather than, "be a breeder of sinners," but it is also a play on words because a nunnery was a nickname for a brothel; so he was calling her a prostitute.
How was act you of Hamlet from first to last based on when they occur in the story?
Hamlet gives his "To be, or not to be" soliloquy. Hamlet tells Ophelia, "Get thee to a nunnery!" Hamlet decides not to kill Claudius while he prays. Hamlet kills Polonius.
What does Polonius suggest after Hamlet and Ophelia see one another in act two scene two?
In Act 3 scene 1 of Hamlet (the "nunnery" scene), Claudius and Polonius eavesdrop on the conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia. Well, it's sort of eavesdropping since Ophelia knows they are there and if Hamlet does not know at the beginning of the conversation, he figures it out pretty quickly.
Where does Hamlet tell ophelia to go?
Hamlet tells Ophelia to get to a nunnery. However, "nunnery" not only meant convent but was also slang for whorehouse. It's a matter of interpretation every time he says it which one he means, or whether he might mean both.
What recurring advice does Hamlet give to Ophelia?
Hamlet tells Ophelia to get to a nunnery. However, "nunnery" not only meant convent but was also slang for whorehouse. It's a matter of interpretation every time he says it which one he means, or whether he might mean both.
What is the nonery scene in hamlet?
I believe you are referring to the "Get thee to a nunnery!" Scene in Hamlet where he tells Ophelia to go to a nunnery rather than, "be a breeder of sinners," but it is also a play on words because a nunnery was a nickname for a brothel; so he was calling her a prostitute.
Which character in Hamlet is told Get thee to a nunnery?
Hamlet himself, while angry with Ophelia. This is probably actually refering to a brothel, as Hamlet no longer trusts Ophelia's honour
How was act you of Hamlet from first to last based on when they occur in the story?
Hamlet gives his "To be, or not to be" soliloquy. Hamlet tells Ophelia, "Get thee to a nunnery!" Hamlet decides not to kill Claudius while he prays. Hamlet kills Polonius.
What does Polonius suggest after Hamlet and Ophelia see one another in act two scene two?
In Act 3 scene 1 of Hamlet (the "nunnery" scene), Claudius and Polonius eavesdrop on the conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia. Well, it's sort of eavesdropping since Ophelia knows they are there and if Hamlet does not know at the beginning of the conversation, he figures it out pretty quickly.
Who says the following line get thee to a nunnery?
Hamlet says this to Ophelia. A nunnery was seen as a place where a woman would stay out of trouble and/or have the best chance of remaining faithful.
What news did Gertrude give to Laertes?
Ophelia tells her father polonius that her boyfriend Hamlet has gone insane.
What news does the queen bring to laertes?
She tells him that Ophelia has drowned.
Why did Hamlet tell ophelia to join a nunnery?
Nuns cannot marry so Hamlet wanted Ophelia to stay away from him and he did'nt want to be married to her. Another possibility was Ophelia could have been pregnant. During this time women who became pregnant went to nunneries when they started to show. They didnt want anyone to know they were pregnant.
What is the meaning of get thee into a nunnery?
The surface meaning is "Go be a nun so that you can't have any children. If you had children, they'd grow up to be evil, like everybody does." People often read other things into it, especially the idea that "nunnery" really means "brothel" and he's telling her she should become a prostitute because it's more honest; men wouldn't have to become hypocrites in order to court her.
Consider how Gertrude and Ophelia are characterized in Hamlet What does that make about the society in which they lived?
Gertrude and Ophelia as for many women of their society don't have authority in many situations. For some reason they long to have a man above them having power to rule at least over them. For example, Gertrude marries Claudius very soon after the death of her first husband even though she did love her first hussy. Ophelia is deeply in love with Hamlet and even after the fact that he willing tells her to go to the nunnery. Along with other horrible things to say to her.
