Comparing Ophelia In Hamlet 'And King Lear'

How are Ophelia from Hamlet and Cordelia from King Lear similar in their actions and the way they develop the story? Throughout both plays, the main characters (King Lear and Hamlet) progress because of the these women. Whether it is reference to the growth of Hamlet’s insanity or King Lear’s guilt and acceptance, these women pushed their respected plots to their climax.
I have discussed Ophelia in a previous paper but I focused more on her weakness rather than her power over the plot. Ophelia is the epitome of beauty, purity, and innocence. Due to these attributes that she helps develop the story and is also used a moral control in the play. Though Ophelia’s virginity was often questioned, she nevertheless had “unpolluted flesh” and because of her true purity “violets spring” around her when she is buried (Shakespeare, 5:1). It is due to her mutual love for Hamlet that he eventually goes mad. Her sharp contrast with his crude character makes the pair seem awkward but there are many examples of their love for one another.
When her purity is called into question she starts to ignore Hamlet. This leads to Hamlet being cruel and rude to her throughout the rest of the play. Because of his insults, innuendos, and generally
Through all the hell that her father put her through Cordelia still loves him and is willing to look past the insanity and rashness her father displays throughout the book. She goes as far as to help her father “repair those violent harms that her two sisters, have in thy reverence made” (Shakespeare, 4:7). Cordelia posses traits that would be desirable in anyone but because her positive traits pointed out the negative in others she was banished. She is the reason for the story, if Cordelia had never spoken her mind the two sisters would have had to deal with her and the French in splitting of England. Because of Cordelia, Lear comes to many epiphanies and progresses as