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Ophelia In Shakespeare's Hamlet

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Ophelia In Shakespeare's Hamlet
Ophelia is a woman. Obvious as that is, her gender is her most distinguishing feature since it lays the foundation for her fate. Being a woman in a society dominated by men leaves Ophelia with no choice except to obey the male figures in her life. From the beginning Ophelia is instructed on how she should be and should not be as a lady. Laertes and then Polonius lecture Ophelia on Hamlet, writing off her feelings and assertions of their love as naivety. Ophelia attempts to stand up for her love with both members of her family, but once Polonius demands she stay away from Hamlet all she can muster is a meek “I shall obey, my lord” (I, iv). Ophelia’s decision “to obey her father compromises her future,” yet if she does not obey she risks insulting
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