Ophelia- character with depth or simply a simple?

[Ashley]

Many writings about Ophelia describe her as simply a symbol. I feel that there is more depth to her character, and that she serves an important role in Hamlet. What do you think?

[Katie]

I don't think that I would reduce any of Shakespeare's characters to simply a symbol. He had a knack for creating personality and life in even his minor characters (not that Ophelia is at all minor) and it's hard to say that someone like that is "simply" a symbol. What critical writings are you looking at? Especially many older ones were more than a little sexist and tended to overlook the importance and impact of female characters (and writers) in literature. There are many great critical analyses of the play that give greater consideration to Ophelia. She has been a favorite topic for feminist writers for years. Most of them, even if they dislike her, see her as more than simply a symbol.

[Jacquita]

Ophelia was presented as fragile and childish. Maybe she already had some mental health issues prior to Hamlet's behavior.

[Ludovica]

I think Ophelia is considered a two-dimensional character just because it's been compared to the other women Shakespeare created; Juliet, Desdemona, Portia and others are portrait as strong and independent women, more "contemporary" women if you want, and that's in my opinion why Ophelia is somehow underestimated

[Teresa]

Ophelia's character may be weak, frail, and dependent, but the implications of those traits is of a complex nature. Ophelia defines herself through men, and when she is chastised rebuked, and rejected by the men in her life, she looses her sense of self and eventually her sanity. She no longer has any self-worth as a result of rejection, and passively commits suicide. "Incapable of her own distress".

[[deleted user]]

Ashley wrote: "Many writings about Ophelia describe her as simply a symbol. I feel that there is more depth to her character, and that she serves an important role in Hamlet. What do you think?"

I have to agree with you. I think Ophelia also had more depth then people think she did. Ophelia going insane and her actions before she went insane are definetly relavent to the story. I do blame Hamlet for her death though I think If he had been more understanding of the pressure from her father things would have turned out different! does anyone agree or disagree?

[[deleted user]]

Teresa wrote: "Ophelia's character may be weak, frail, and dependent, but the implications of those traits is of a complex nature. Ophelia defines herself through men, and when she is chastised rebuked, and rejec..."

I completely agree with you,however I dont like that she is so weak as to depend so much on Hamlets view of her

[Valerie]

The tragic character of Ophelia. It seems Hamlet drove her to insanity. There might have been a lot more to the relationship that we did not see. I think she symbolized innocence and youth lost with age and responsibility.

[Rebekah]

And it's not just Hamlet's fault. Ophelia makes wrong choices just like the rest of the characters. Her frailty with Hamlet is similar to her frailty with her father. Innocence is not a bad thing, but naivete is. Even the innocent can know the difference between bad and good, and I'm sure Ophelia knows what she's doing. Also, respecting and honoring her father is good, but she takes it to a wrong level. Doing something wrong for someone you love and respect is still wrong.
But yes, I agree with your comments, and I don't think she's as weak, boring, or passive as she's been made out to be :) This is Shakespeare after all.

[Sarah]

Ludovica Chiarini wrote: "I think Ophelia is considered a two-dimensional character just because it's been compared to the other women Shakespeare created; Juliet, Desdemona, Portia and others are portrait as strong and ind..."

Juliet, a strong female character? Maybe not she is just as naive as Ophelia, if not more so.

[Sarah]

I don't think that Ophelia is just a weak character. She is not the most three dimensional character but there are instances in the play where she is very intelligence. Specifically, after Hamlet tells her get tee to a nunnery, her speech is very telling about her character.

[Ashley]

I think that Ophelia killing herself through drowning is a symbol of cleansing herself from the social roles and abuse that she had taken for so long. What do you think about Ophelia's death?

[Vance]

I see Ophelia as a Dido character: emotional needs doomed to suffer in the dutiful struggles of king and crown. Her madness and destruction points to the madness and destructiveness of the power struggle itself. It also lays the ground for Hamlet's eventual epiphany regarding the futility of vengeance.

"Twas Aeneas' tale to Dido and thereabout of it..."

[Jason]

Depth. Ophelia seems to be the only major character who isn't willingly hiding something or trying to be someone she's not. Instead, she is forced to trap Hamlet, to report everything he does/says to her father, basically to do things that are otherwise out of character for her. Some of the best actresses have portrayed Ophelia as conflicted over her love for/loyalty to her father and her love for/loyalty to Hamlet. This struggle alone deepens her character beyond the simple.