Final answer:
Ophelia attempts to return Hamlet's gifts and letters in their interaction, which is a plan made by Polonius and Claudius to probe into Hamlet's odd behavior. Her character is a focus of various representations and analyses over time, from representing madness and unrequited love to being a symbol of protest against gender roles. Therefore , the correct answer options is c)
Step-by-step explanation:
In their interaction, Ophelia attempts to return Hamlet's remembrances and thus end their relationship. This act serves as a ploy designed by her father Polonius and King Claudius to uncover the reasons behind Hamlet's seemingly mad behavior.
Ophelia's gesture of returning his letters and gifts is orchestrated to find out why Hamlet is acting so crazed and unhappy, rather than an expression of her own will. Throughout Hamlet, Ophelia's character is often interpreted in various ways, from a victim of unrequited love and repressed desire to a symbol of feminine madness juxtaposed against Hamlet's intellectual melancholy.
The cultural and artistic representations of Ophelia have evolved, with the Romantics emphasizing her sexuality and madness differently than the Elizabethans. Feminist readings view her madness as a form of protest against gender stereotypes.
Present-day adaptations and critiques continue to reimagine her role and agency within the play, examining her through the lens of contemporary societal issues.