This is a photo of the woman who plays Ophelia in the BBC David Tennant Version of the play.
How Ophelia is Obedient and Controlled by Claudius and consumed by the Corruption around her
Ophelia is much like Gertrude in the sense of her role as a woman. However Ophelia has grown up without a mother figure to guide her. She only has her father, Polonius and her brother Laertes in her family. Due to this fact she is extremely obedient to men. She is controlled by their opinions and barley speaks or sticks up for herself. For one thing Polonius does not believe that Hamlet truly loves his daughter so he orders her to return the letters and to stop speaking to him. Ophelia replies, “I shall obey my lord” (1. 4.136). This demonstrates how obedient and controlled she is by the men in her life. This leads her to be consumed by the corruption around her that Hamlet has caused.
Since Ophelia is obedient and controlled by the men in her life, she does not stick up for herself or speak often. For instance Hamlet makes inappropriate remarks to Ophelia in front of Claudius, Gertrude and Polonius. Hamlet says, “no, good mother, here’s metal more attractive” (3. 2.111). Hamlet is implying that he does not find her attractive. Hamlet also says, “that’s a fair thought to lie between maids’ legs” (3. 2.119). In this quote Hamlet is making a sexual remark towards Ophelia then proceeds to lie near her feet in front of everyone. When Hamlet is saying these horrible things to her, she stands there and says nothing in return to Hamlet. Ophelia is used to highlight Hamlet’s feelings of women. He tells her he never loved her, and this greatly upsets Ophelia because she believed he did. Due to the fact that Ophelia is obedient and listens to everything the men in her life tell her, she believes Hamlet loved her and his words are due to the madness. Obliviously, Ophelia is consumed by his words and she stays by him which only leads to further consumption into the corruption.
Since Ophelia is obedient and controlled by the men in her life, she does not stick up for herself or speak often. For instance Hamlet makes inappropriate remarks to Ophelia in front of Claudius, Gertrude and Polonius. Hamlet says, “no, good mother, here’s metal more attractive” (3. 2.111). Hamlet is implying that he does not find her attractive. Hamlet also says, “that’s a fair thought to lie between maids’ legs” (3. 2.119). In this quote Hamlet is making a sexual remark towards Ophelia then proceeds to lie near her feet in front of everyone. When Hamlet is saying these horrible things to her, she stands there and says nothing in return to Hamlet. Ophelia is used to highlight Hamlet’s feelings of women. He tells her he never loved her, and this greatly upsets Ophelia because she believed he did. Due to the fact that Ophelia is obedient and listens to everything the men in her life tell her, she believes Hamlet loved her and his words are due to the madness. Obliviously, Ophelia is consumed by his words and she stays by him which only leads to further consumption into the corruption.