Have you ever had a week where you felt like absolutely nothing in your life was going your way? Hamlet certainly feels this way throughout Hamlet by William Shakespeare but in his case his turmoil lasts longer than a week. His problems start after he receives the news of the death of his father. To further his anguish he then finds out that his mother has married his Uncle Claudius. After being visited by the ghost of his father, Hamlet discovers that his Uncle Claudius was behind the murder of his father. Hamlet's mission then becomes avenging his father's death. In the process of fulfilling his new mission Hamlet kills his girlfriend's father, Polonius, and drives himself and Ophelia further into madness. Ophelia becomes so crazy that she ends up drowning in the ocean. The play ends with everyone's death in a violent sword fight scene. Ophelia portrays many different character traits that will be explained throughout this essay.
Ophelia expresses naivety throughout the story. This can be seen through her dialogue found in Act 1, Scene 3, Line 104. At this point in the show Ophelia is conversing with her father Polonius when her father calls her a "green girl." When asked what she thinks about her feelings towards Hamlet, Ophelia responds, "I do not know, my Lord, what I should think." She will rely on her father's direction regardless of her own feelings. Ophelia is also being naive during her exchange with Hamlet regarding his changing romantic feelings towards her. He first tells that he loves her, but then says he does not love her. She responds in Act 3, Scene 1, Line 116 by saying, "Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so." This response shows her innocence in matters of the heart.
Ophelia is also seen as being very passive. In fact, many readers dislike her character due to her passiveness. You can see this trait expressed through Act 3, Scene 2, Line 120.