Essay On Ophelia's Suicide In Hamlet

William Shakespeare created the story of Hamlet, set in the Renaissance in Elsinore, Denmark. While Shakespeare wrote the play, he constructed an ideal backstory making sure Denmark was a Protestant nation. During that time, the Protestant religion was strict, especially regarding suicide. If someone were to commit such a sin, he or she would not be able to have a funeral or a proper burial. The most important belief in the Protestant religion on suicide is, whoever decides to intentionally kill themselves would be sent to Hell. Throughout the play, tragedy is found far too often, thus bringing depression to the characters and with depression comes suicidal thoughts. Hamlet contemplated suicide but his religious beliefs stopped him. Most readers will argue Ophelia is the most tragic character in the play. She is shown to be completely obedient and relies on her father Polonius, brother Laertes and Hamlet. She will do anything for her father, a common reply from Ophelia to Polonius is, “I shall obey my Lord” (1.4.10). Being surrounded by insanity, no freedom, and verbally bullied by the people she loved, Ophelia needed a way out of her meaningless life. Ophelia's madness is a facade created only for a way out …show more content…
Shakespeare did very well displaying the sheer imperfection of Ophelia having no control over herself or her actions. In Act 1 scene 3, Laertes and Polonius continuously feed her lies about Hamlet throughout the play. They tell her that Hamlet is only using her and that she should leave him before he leaves her. Eventually, she succumbs to their lies and agrees to stop seeing Hamlet. The promise Ophelia makes to her father shows how she will do anything for him. Does Ophelia have any control over her feelings or choices in her life, and if she doesn’t, who will make the decisions for Ophelia when she is left