The Deception Of Ophelia In William Shakespeare's Hamlet

In 1558, Queen Elizabeth at twenty-five years old, a survivor of scandal and danger and considered illegitimate by most Europeans, claimed the throne of England. Although judgement ensued, Elizabeth had a successful reign--one so great, it is regarded as the golden age of English history. Unsurprisingly, such skepticism of the female’s prominence in society has existed for not just decades but centuries into the past. As a result, the issue has permeated into not only through the years but through writings. One of the more prominent examples of such ideas is William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

The play tells the story of Hamlet, a lonely, cheated, and depressed young man. He looks at the world from his humanitarian vantage and believes that the people of Denmark are wretched--his mother most specifically. After his father’s death, Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, married Claudius, King Hamlet’s brother. Watching Gertrude go from one lover to the next, Hamlet is disgusted--but the disappointment does not stop with Gertrude. Rather, it continues with Ophelia, a

Before Hamlet says that he never loved her, Ophelia tells Polonius of how Hamlet “made many tenders/Of his affection to me” (1.3.108-109). Ignoring her insignificant thoughts, Polonius demands that she will “not believe his vows” and must distance herself from Hamlet (1.3.136). The thought of this saddens Ophelia, but the statements which Polonius and Hamlet later make about the relationship only exacerbates the situation and reaffirms the the existence of a patriarchy is Denmark. After threatening Ophelia for falling in love with Hamlet, Polonius uses her to marry him into royalty. Once again, Ophelia gives into the commands of her father, only to have Hamlet tear apart her heart in Act 3, Scene 1. Snapping at the innocent, gullible Ophelia, Hamlet