Ophelia's Role In Hamlet

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The two female characters in the play are the main factor for the actions taken by many other characters. Both Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, and Ophelia, Hamlet's love, affected many of the decisions and actions taken by Hamlet. His mother marrying his Uncle immediately after the king dies creates hostility which directly affects the outcomes in the play. Ophelia being forced to stay away from Hamlet causes many issues to arise throughout the play.
Gertrude loves Hamlet, but her shallow and weak character flaws lose Hamlet’s respect. Gertrude values status and affection more than morals and respect. She is extremely dependent upon the men in her life. At times it seems that her grace and charm are her only characteristics, and her reliance upon …show more content…
She is portrayed as a beautiful and innocent young woman and is Hamlet’s love interest. She looks to her father and brother for guidance while looking to Hamlet for love and affection. Her father and brother deny the love that she so desperately seeks from Hamlet When Ophelia sees a difference in Hamlet’s character she turns to her father for advice and, after being ordered to stay away from Hamlet and his apparent fake love towards her, reluctantly agrees to spy on Hamlet. Ophelia is very dependent upon the men in her life, each male character plays a key role in her madness and death. Laertes, her brother, leaves her to live his own life in France. Hamlet abandons her as a lover and becomes very cold towards her. “Get thee to a nunnery, go. Farewell. Or, if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them.” (3.1.135) The death of her father pushes her over the edge, all the men in her life have left her alone and she cannot handle that. She drowns, it is implied that she committed suicide. Her death creates many issues in the play, her brother, Laertes returns to Denmark and is out for blood. He wants get revenge on Hamlet for killing their father and blames him for the death of Ophelia as well.
Gertrude and Ophelia were the two main characters who cause the development of the play. Their tragic deaths can be blamed on their gender inequality as both characters are portrayed as being weak. Gertrude marrying Hamlet’s uncle was the main contributing factor to the direction which the play takes. This motivated Hamlet to kill Claudius, which creates many other issues throughout the play. Hamlet truly loved Ophelia, his actions taken throughout the play resulted in him deeply hurting her. The role which the two women play causes a system if cause and
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