A Character Analysis of Ophelia
...e after the request from her father. Ophelia’s actions show that Polonius has complete control over his daughter because she sacrifices her personal feelings to please him. Ophelia’s desire to please her father is the direct cause of her obedience. Thereafter, upon having agreed not to see Hamlet, Ophelia allows herself to be used as a puppet in order for the King and Polonius to spy on Hamlet. Ophelia’s obedience goes deeper than her trying to please to father and shows what a weak character she is. Ophelia’s thoughts and actions show what a weak character she is. For instance, when Hamlet harasses her and tells her to go to a nunnery where she can no longer harm anyone, she does not defend herself but, after he is gone, she pities herself: “O woe is me t’ have seen what I have seen / see what I see....” Ophelia is portrayed as a character who can throw away her love because of her father and brother. The conversation informs the audience that Ophelia has obeyed her father’s orders and broken off her relationship with Hamlet. During Act One Scene Three, we are presented with the growing attraction between the young Hamlet, and Polonius’ daughter, Ophelia. However, we learn of this attraction solely through the blunt advice that both Polonius and Ophelia’s brother give heavily. Unfortunately for Ophelia, this advice portrays the young Prince in a negative manner, and possibly deters her from him altogether. Laertes, her brother, advises Ophelia to treat Hamlet’s love as a trifling of his favor and a fashion and a toy. He says that Hamlet’s affections are “sweet, not lasting.” It is unequivocally clear that Ophelia’s brother believes Hamlet is only physically attracted to her, and that any relationship could not seriously last. Laertes points out that Perhaps Hamlet loves Ophelia now, but his will is not his own and he himself is subject to his birth. He reminds Ophelia that Hamlet is a Prince, and that he may be forced to choose a wife who has royal blood, regardless of whom he might actually love. Therefore Ophelia could not become Hamlet’s wife. Ophelia may still have strong feelings for Hamlet, yet she has made the irreversible decision of suppressing them for her father’s sake. Effectively, Ophelia has been told to stay away from the young, reputable Hamlet, and she has chosen her family over her heart. As a consequence, this change of events may cause a variety of tragic grievances as the play continues to develop, and as Hamlet and Ophelia’s relationship continues to diminish. Although many people lose their lives as a result of their own self-centered wrong-doing, there are others whose deaths are a result of manipulation from other main characters in the tragic play. This is the case of Ophelia. The real tragedy of Hamlet is not that of Hamlet or his family but of Polonius’ family because their deaths were not the consequence of sin...