What Is The Submissive Nature Of Ophelia

Karen is a submissive, timid young woman who prefers to avoid confrontation, instead, she accepts everything that turns up in her life. Growing up, Karen’s parents never had a stable relationship and as a result, Karen has never known what a healthy relationship looks like. In addition, not having her father in her life, Karen is clueless when it comes identifying a respectful man. Similarly, Ophelia is a passive young woman who does not voice her opinions often. Ophelia grew up with only a fatherly figure, denying her the gentle guidance of a mother. Growing up with only a fatherly figure contributed to the timid and submissive nature of Ophelia. Without a mother, she had no womanly example, only a father who ordered her around and expected …show more content…
If Brian leaves, Karen will end up just like her mother, alone and devastated. This embedded fear comes from Karen’s childhood, as she watched the horrors of an abusive relationship in her own home. Growing up with this relationship as her only example, a deep fear was embedded in her mind. After breaking the news to Brian about her pregnancy she cannot even begin to process Brian’s cold remarks and assumptions that it is not his child. Karen is profoundly devastated, the man she loves has continually rejected her and treated her so cruelly. She feels a hole in her chest and a numbness in her mind. She does not even notice when Brian stands up and …show more content…
What has she done to deserve this? She has given all her love and devotion to Brian but it seems so insignificant now. An hour seems to pass before she collects her belongings and decides she cannot do this anymore. Karen herself does not know what she's doing or where she's going. All she knows is that she needs to get in her car and drive. The immense pain she feels and her racing heart clouds her mind. Hot tears stream down her face, blurring her vision. Karen drives for what seems like hours, she has no thoughts in her mind, only blinding pain. The sorrow and vulnerability she feels has seemingly numbed her body. She has no place in mind but she wants to run, she wants to hide somewhere, she has an intense desire to feel safe again. Karen knows that she will likely never feel that way again. Instead, she decides to feel nothing at all. Karen has now come to a remote town, there is no one around. To the left of her vehicle a river runs its course, and in that moment Karen makes a decision. Her child will never know the horrors of this world and she will never feel anything again. Karen accelerates her car into the river and sits in the driver’s seat, watching the water fill up her