Who is Ophelia - Assignment Example

She wanted to cover the disgrace that it would bring to her family for everyone to find out that her father a titled Lord was killed while eavesdropping! She told the court to tell a story of how her father came to protect and avenge her dignity. To-morrow is Saint Valentine’s day,All in the morning betime,And I a maid at your window,To be your Valentine.Then up he rose and donn’e his clo’esAnd dupp’d the chamber door,Let in the maid, that out a maidNever departed moreOphelia is a woman of substance in that she knew that she had to protect their name and honor.

When both male members of her family showed their concern over her relationship with Hamlet, she defends her love for Hamlet but follows the counsel of his father seeing the wisdom in his argument (Act I, Scene III). During her time, women were not allowed to have discourse with men. They merely followed. Ophelia’s discourse with Laertes and her father shows a woman who fights for the man he loves but it also shows a woman who can see reason and wisdom in her father’s arguments and that is why she obeyed him.

Who is Ophelia? She is a woman who knows how to love and fight for her love. She is reasonable and recognizes wisdom. She is a woman of strength and substance. She knows her duty. During those times Honor meant more than riches. In her need to protect her family’s honor, she drowned herself. She could not contain within herself the thought of her fathers’ death – he died avenging her dignity and honor-- that she killed herself. Tragic! It also aims to scorn men for looking at women as mere toys and possessions.

This is the Ophelia I know.