Ophelia’s fate in Shakespeare’s Hamlet does not only inspire pity, but also illustrates the difference between men and woman and highlights Hamlet’s tragic faults. Shakespeare links females with liquids, insanity or frailty so beautifully through Ophelia’s character, that it is easy to miss the deeper message. Ophelia was mistreated by various men throughout her life, which led to her insanity and ultimately to her death.
Ophelia was a person with a low self-esteem. Laertes confronts Her about Hamlet’s relationship. She does not resist. He is not sensitive when he says to Ophelia, “Hamlet’s love was a fashion, and a plaything in blood. A violet in…nature. Forward, not permanent, sweet… [and] never lasting.” (1.3.7-9). Laertes is not the only male influence that has a negative impact on Ophelia. Polonius’s treatment of Ophelia is unkind and insensitive. He also shows disrespect to his child. Polonius does no credit Ophelia’s common sense for being able judge things on her behalf. In a cruel twist, he tells Ophelia that she is a baby. Ophelia will never be able to relate to men because of the way he treated his daughter.
Ophelia is vulnerable because of her frailty. Her father will exploit her for the sake of deceit, while Hamlet will do so for the sake lust. Polonius uses Ophelia as a spy to investigate Hamlet’s “madness” in the scene that literary scholars call the “nunnery”. Hamlet’s question, “Where’s the father?” (3.1.141) tests Ophelia to see if she is loyal. He loses temper when Ophelia tells him the truth. Hamlet says that Ophelia never loved him. It’s likely that he is telling her this to try to make Ophelia forgive him. Ophelia cannot see it, and is therefore silently hurt. He could mean a convent or a brothel when he says, “Get thee to the nunnery.” (3.1.148-149) Hamlet sees that there are some feminine characteristics he doesn’t like in himself. For example, his excessive sorrow for his dad and his hesitation to murder Claudius. Hamlet’s disgust for his own feminine passivity is expressed in violent revulsion of women, and Hamlet’s brutal behavior toward Ophelia. This is what critic Showalter says.
Showalter also says eloquently in his book that “Water symbolizes the deep and organic symbolism of the liquid women whose eyes easily get drowned out by tears”. Ophelia tears up because she really believes her lover went crazy. Hamlet’s confrontation with Gertrude about her rash remarriage is similar to this situation. Hamlet warns Gertrude against flattering herself: “Lay…unction in your soul, not my trespass, but madness’s voice” (3.4.166-167) Gertrude is trying to justify herself and her sins by blaming Hamlet for his madness, much like Ophelia. Ophelia is more noble than Gertrude, but the scene represents women’s tendency to blame others.
Hamlet becomes more relaxed and tolerant as the play progresses. While Ophelia watches the “play-within-the-play”, Hamlet makes crude, manipulative remarks. Hamlet turns Ophelia into a victim of sexual harassment with what initially appears to be a flirtatious joke. Hamlet’s response to Ophelia, who innocently asked, “Will you tell us what the show means?” was, “Yes. Or any show you want to show him.” Show him, and he will not be ashamed to tell you the meaning (3.2.164-167) He continues to flirt with her despite the fact that she is merely playing. Hamlet may think he’s helping Ophelia recover after she was “dumped”, however, it appears that his plan has backfired. Ophelia and Hamlet are both trying to see the world from a female perspective, but neither can really understand each other. Hamlet believes he can “get over” Ophelia by using crude sexual references. Ophelia, who knows men well, interprets his remarks as flirting. It could be that he is re-accepting her love. Hamlet contributes to Ophelia’s confusion by telling her “nothing”, Elizabethan language for female genitalia.
Hamlet’s mixed messages and her father’s death made it inevitable that Ophelia would suffer from dementia. The most important thing we can learn about Ophelia is in this moment. Shakespeare proves that Ophelia is honest in her insanity. Ophelia speaks with freedom about her relationship with Hamlet, and the treatment she has received from him. Like a drunken admission, she also reveals how close she is to Hamlet.
Shakespeare’s most powerful symbol of fluidity and femininity is Ophelia’s death. Gaston Bachelard, a phenomenologist, describes it as “a beautiful submersion and immersion in the feminine element” (Showalter). Laertes regrets that “too many tears havet Ophelia” (Showalter). But…nature’s custom says…when the tears are gone…the woman will no longer be there” (4.7.211-215). His tears are a symbol of him purging his femininity.