Ophelia Role In Hamlet

In the play Hamlet, the character Ophelia appears to play multiple roles. Ophelia is represented as an obedient fragile character, who appears to be an emotional medium to the audience in the play. Ophelia is significant in for many other reasons as well, as she is used throughout the play as a sort of tool by both the characters as well as Shakespeare himself.

Ophelia doesn’t have much of an assertive voice throughout the play, but still here character still largely influences the play. Ophelia is used by Polonius to spy on Hamlet, and prove that he is mad. Ophelia never stands up for herself, and assumes the role of a typical woman during the time period. She does as she is expected to , obey. She never defends herself from Hamlet’s harsh remarks either. She shows no defiance from her fathers order, Ophelia just acts as she is expected to. Ophelia is especially significant in the scene where Hamlet insults her and all women. In this scene Hamlet seems to know that Polonius is watching, and using Ophelia to spy on him. So Hamlet uses Ophelia, much like Polonius. Hamlet talks to Ophelia in such a way in this scene that he seems to insinuate things. Hamlet is able to insinuate that Ophelia perhaps isn’t pure, and may be pregnant with Hamlet’s child. During this scene is also the first time it is suggested that Hamlet knows about the death of the king. Ophelia appeared flawless up to this point. But now Ophelia is essentially like a battleground for Hamlet and Polonius. They both utilize her to say what they want to one another, and prove what they want. Both use her to their advantage. Hamlet also uses Ophelia to get the word out that he mad, after seeing Ophelia and acting crazy. Ophelia serves a tool for both Polonius and Hamlet...

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...sting of her entire family, while Hamlet is really only trusting of his father, as he certainly does not trust Gertrude or Claudius. Ophelia and Hamlet are also different because of social standing, Hamlet is royalty while Ophelia is essentially a normal citizen of Denmark. As Hamlet and Ophelia’s situations are both extremely similar, it is not surprising that they also both share the same fate of death at the end of the play.

In Hamlet, Ophelia seems like a character who is unimportant and is just kind of there for plot context. Ophelia is much more, Ophelia is tool employed by Shakespeare and the characters in order to convey thoughts, ideas, and feelings to the audience, and one another. Ophelia is like the center of the story, she cant be left out, the plot forms around her. Ophelia definitely serves more purpose than the obedient and perfect girl gone wrong.