Juvenile Fiction
Bloomsbury USA Childrens
October 31, 2006
336
He is Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; she is simply Ophelia. If you think you know their story, think again. In this reimagining of Shakespeare's famous tragedy, it is Ophelia who takes center stage. A rowdy, motherless girl, she grows up at Elsinore Castle to become the queen's most trusted lady-in-waiting. Ambitious for knowledge and witty as well as beautiful, Ophelia learns the ways of power in a court where nothing is as it seems. When she catches the attention of the captivating, dark-haired Prince Hamlet, their love blossoms in secret. But bloody deeds soon turn Denmark into a place of madness, and Ophelia's happiness is shattered. Ultimately, she must choose between her love for Hamlet and her own life. In desperation, Ophelia devises a treacherous plan to escape from Elsinore forever . . . with one very dangerous secret. Lisa Klein's Ophelia tells the story of a young woman falling in love, searching for her place in the world, and finding the strength to survive. Sharp and literary, dark and romantic, this dramatic story holds readers in its grip until the final, heartrending scene.
My Review:
Alright, if you didn’t know already, I am a huge Shakespeare fan! I especially love the play Hamlet. I’ve read it multiple times, studied it time and time again in literature and Shakespeare classes, and I straight up own the four hour Kenneth Branagh version of Hamlet, which it the best version out there!
Ophelia has always be a fascinating character and so naturally this drew me in. She has always been a murky character, and we can’t really grasp what Shakespeare intended for her portrayal. But this is what we do know. She is torn between her brother and father and Hamlet. Her brother and father think it is unwise to be involved with Hamlet because she could never be his wife, he will use her, and sees her as a sexual object. But her heart is convinced that Hamlet loves her. During that time her father’s word governed her, but her sense of romantic love rules her as well.
But she proves that she can’t live in both worlds, and her choice seals her tragic fate. This dilemma forces her into complete and total madness. Her desperation drives her crazy and has no means to heal herself.
To me, Ophelia represents goodness and is unaware of the harsh realities of life. She spends her days flower gathering, which if you study the flowers she picked and talked about, it hints at her being pregnant. And I really feel for her, because she clings to the memory of Hamlet treating her with tenderness and respect. This is why she defends him and loves him to the very end, despite him being cruel. And the reason why she goes off the deep end is because of her frailty and innocence work against her and she cannot cope. But even when she goes insane, she still symbolizes virtue and goodness. Even her death was beautiful in a way!
Whew, I felt like I just gave a lecture. Ok, now getting to this version of Hamlet. I felt like this Ophelia was a pale shadow of the original. There wasn’t any spark to this story! Even Hamlet didn’t come alive! Some minor spoilers is that she survives….so mehhhhh not as great as the original.
This read was kinda lifeless, average, and flawed, so I wouldn’t recommend it. But the play Hamlet I will always advocate for! So if anything, read the play, not this dishwater crappy version.
Watch Out For: Kissing, brief sexual content, death, etc..
