Ophelia's Role In Hamlet

Shakespeare had a history of writing stronger female characters that have proven to be pertinent and influential for women throughout history. Bianca in Taming of the Shrew, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, and even Juliet from the infamous Romeo and Juliet are all examples of strong female leads. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia is an exception to this trend. As a more subservient character, it seems as though Ophelia’s only role is to be a toy for Hamlet. Her own father, Polonius, even uses her for his own gain as a submissive to Claudius. [Thesis] When her character is first introduced, Ophelia plays a passive daughter and younger sister. She first listens to her brother Laertes warn her about the dangers of falling in love with a man