Activity 1.5

Thesis: Would Ophelia have gone mad, even if her father had not died? No Ophelia would not have gone mad. (it is impossible to find examples from the text for this thesis, it is simply a prediction therefore only explanations are given).

Reason #1: If changes are made in the past, this will drastically alter the future.
Explanation: Ophelia had gone mad from the result of both her father dying and her losing the love of her life: Hamlet. If changes are made in the past, this will drastically alter the future. If you go back to the scene were Hamlet was having a heated conversation with Gertrude, while Polonius stood hidden behind a curtain, since Polonius didn’t die (change in past) than this would mean that there would have been drastic changes in the future, ie: Hamlet not becoming a murderer.

Reason #2: Since Polonius did not die; Hamlet did not kill Polonius this meaning he would not have been shipped out to England. This in turn meaning that Ophelia would not have lost her lover, this being the only other factor that could have influenced her mental instability. Explanation: Since Polonius was not killed by Hamlet, Hamlet would not have to be shipped out to England. This meaning that Ophelia would not have lost the love of her life. This resulting in no changes in her life meaning that she would not have gone crazy.

Reason #3: Ophelia has not lost her father nor the love of her life, therefore she has no reason to become mentally ill simply out of the blue.
Explanation: Before losing her father and Hamlet, Ophelia was a very mentally stable person. Throughout the play there were no other factors that could have impacted Ophelia’s mental stability besides her losing her father and Hamlet. Since her father didn’t die and she didn’t lose Hamlet, she would have no reason to go crazy.Conclusion: If Polonius hadn’t died than Ophelia would have no reason to go crazy. Polonius not dying means that Hamlet would not become a murderer and get shipped out to England therefore Ophelia would not be losing her love and her life would simply go on. There are no other factors in Ophelia’s life that could have influenced her mental stability.

Reasons for believing otherwise: Hamlet would have still killed Claudius even though he didn’t kill Polonius and this might have affected Ophelia’s mental stability slightly. She may have simply looked at Hamlet in a different perspective, she would not completely go full blown crazy.