Ophelia
Ophelia is a tragic character in the play
Ophelia is a central female character in Hamlet by William Shakespeare because she is Hamlet’s lover (although not necessarily in a sexual sense). She is also the daughter of Polonius, the king’s counsellor, and Laertes’ sister.
At the beginning of the drama, Ophelia acts exceptionally docile and well-mannered. She is characterized by an almost childlike obedience toward her male relatives. Her self-confidence and her own judgment are so low that she relies only on the advice of others.
Consequently, Ophelia makes no attempt to fight for her love of Hamlet, but even allows herself to become involved in court intrigues against him. It is only when her father is violently murdered that she is no longer concerned with her social recognition. She starts behaving recklessly and isolates herself more and more from her environment. In the end, she does not even try to prevent her own death, which may be a suicide.
Ophelia bears no blame for the tragic events of the play and can be characterized as a victim, since Hamlet brusquely rejects her because of his own plans for revenge, and she is used by her own father in his intrigue.
