The Sexual Cycle

The Sexual cycle, which was coined by William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson can be used to describe various different relationships found in past dramas. This cycle explains the four stages each relationship goes through. These stages, listed in order are: excitement phase, plateau phase, orgasm phase and then the resolution phase.

During the excitement phase the body gets aroused over simple things such as kissing, touching, or simply seeing the person at times. During this stage the individual prepares for the sexual intercourse which will occur in the plateau stage. The orgasm is the conclusion, or the peak, of the plateau phase. During this phase both sexes are at their happiest. Following this state there is the resolution phase, which allows the muscles to relax. On a chart, it is the point in which the graph decreases.

Ophelia's and Prince Hamlet's relationship seems to go through this sexual cycle. At first, the two began to desire one another, marking the excitement phase of the cycle. There seems to be a clear attraction between the two and they develop feelings towards one another. Simple things such as seeing each other makes them happy. Next comes the plateau phase, in which the two individuals begin to come closer to each other and develop trust amongst each other. The orgasm stage between the two was when Ophelia had lost her virginity to Hamlet. She believed that se had loved him and as a result gave him the most precious gift. By doing so she had condemned herself, for an unmarried non-virgin was seen as dirty and was ignored by society. The decline in their relationship was when Hamlet didn't come back to Ophelia after the orgasm phase. She thought that he had loved her, but by not coming back their relationship began to deteriorate and as a result, Ophelia chose to commit suicide.

Each relationship goes through this sexual cycle. In my opinion, everything between the excitement stage and the orgasm stage tends to be a "fake" relationship. During this period the couple tends to be constantly happy, tending to ignore any sort of problems that may be surfacing in their relationship. After that orgasm that they reach that is when their problems become an actual issue and they realize them, leading to the declension. If the couple manages to get through this stage, then the relationship begins to pick up again and goes through a steady period.