Madness springs from the inability to be independent, creative and expressive. In the play, "Hamlet", By William Shakespeare, women are viewed as fragile and helpless creatures who do not know what is good or bad for them. In this case, Ophelia, one of the minor characters, is constantly mistreated and burdened with conflict as she finds herself victimized by the patriarchal society, that she live in.. She goes from sane to utterly insane in a matter of months due to the abuse and manipulation done by the people around her. She becomes a victim of her boyfriend, Hamlet, bitterness and hatred toward women and an innocent pawn for her fathers sneaky scheme 's, which leads to her downfall. But, also much of the fault of her death came from the
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Her loyalty and commitment towards her father 's orders, led to her insanity. Firstly, her constant obedience and dependency on men to control her life made her into mistreated and scorned woman. Ophelia says, "I do not know , my lord, what I should think." (I.iii.104) and "I shall obey, my lord" (I.iii.136), indicating how she has no control over her body, mind or relationships. She does not think for herself and relies on her father 's opinion as a way to live her life. Secondly, Ophelia was untrue to herself and allowed people to control her mind, into doing what they want. She never had to power to stick up for herself and the life that she wanted. Ophelia says, " 'Tis in my memory lock 'd/ And you yourself shall keep the key of it" (I.iii.85-86), showing how she gave a key of her mind to her brother, which puts doubts in her mind about Hamlet. She later acts on these wishes, which turns her into a deranged person. Lastly, all of Ophelia 's decisions in her life led to the biggest one which was to commit suicide. She felt that her whole world was crashing down and she has already undergone too much physical and emotional trauma to continue living. She allowed the men in her life to control her, which she could not take any longer. Gertrude says, "Her clothes spread wide,/And mermaid-like a while they bore her up,/ Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes,/ As one incapable of her own distress" (IV.vii.177-180), indicating when Ophelia fell to the brook, she did not try to save herself and that it seemed that she was unaware of the danger she was in. This quote is also seen as a metaphor for the way Ophelia lived her life. The "clothes" could be the men in her life and their controlling behavior and by the end of it, they bore her up. Overall, Ophelia 's fragile and innocent character lead to her
Her loyalty and commitment towards her father 's orders, led to her insanity. Firstly, her constant obedience and dependency on men to control her life made her into mistreated and scorned woman. Ophelia says, "I do not know , my lord, what I should think." (I.iii.104) and "I shall obey, my lord" (I.iii.136), indicating how she has no control over her body, mind or relationships. She does not think for herself and relies on her father 's opinion as a way to live her life. Secondly, Ophelia was untrue to herself and allowed people to control her mind, into doing what they want. She never had to power to stick up for herself and the life that she wanted. Ophelia says, " 'Tis in my memory lock 'd/ And you yourself shall keep the key of it" (I.iii.85-86), showing how she gave a key of her mind to her brother, which puts doubts in her mind about Hamlet. She later acts on these wishes, which turns her into a deranged person. Lastly, all of Ophelia 's decisions in her life led to the biggest one which was to commit suicide. She felt that her whole world was crashing down and she has already undergone too much physical and emotional trauma to continue living. She allowed the men in her life to control her, which she could not take any longer. Gertrude says, "Her clothes spread wide,/And mermaid-like a while they bore her up,/ Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes,/ As one incapable of her own distress" (IV.vii.177-180), indicating when Ophelia fell to the brook, she did not try to save herself and that it seemed that she was unaware of the danger she was in. This quote is also seen as a metaphor for the way Ophelia lived her life. The "clothes" could be the men in her life and their controlling behavior and by the end of it, they bore her up. Overall, Ophelia 's fragile and innocent character lead to her