Ophelia In Hamlet Essay

In William Shakespeare's plays, the characters and plot are often categorized as complex and arduous to understand. Ophelia, a minor character in The Tragedy of Hamlet represents one of two women captured in the chaos if revenge. Though Ophelia and Gertrude were placed in the scenery where those they love were avenging their father's death, both handled it differently. Shakespeare's portrayal of Ophelia as an innocent, obedient and naïve child demonstrates the consequence of living under an oppressed society. Ophelia was force to hold back who she was as she play the role of a child.

Ophelia, one of the two women that are apparent throughout the play is the daughter of Polonius and love interest of Prince Hamlet. She represents the archetype of the innocent child as she is controlled by those around her. The role of Ophelia serves as a bridge that links the play together and acts as the "surveillance"1 to the lives of those around her as well. We are able to gain a better understand of the male characters through the actions of Ophelia.

From the beginning of the play, Ophelia have been controlled by her father and brother, which led to her indecisiveness and
Similarly, Gertrude's blindness gives her a child's personality as well. Both these women were taken advantage by the men they loved. A father and a husband. Neill puts it best when he wrote "How readily first Ophelia and then Gertrude allow themselves to become passive instruments of Polonius's and Claudius's spying upon the Prince." (Neill, 312) Although Ophelia was taken advantage of and she knew it, she did not put a stop to it. Her naïve mind did not allow her to go against the higher authority, and in return, she was placed in a position where she had to choose between two people that she loved, her father and