Hamlet is a revenge tragedy which focuses primarily on Hamlet’s desire and attempt to avenge his father’s death. Part of the tragedy of Hamlet revolves around the character Ophelia and his relationship with her. Usually, critics regard the tragedy of this subplot to stem from Hamlet’s loss of love. Elaine Showalter notes that Ophelia is only present in 5 of the 20 scenes in the play and that very little is known about her background. Another scholar, Lee Edwards, adds that “We can imagine Hamlet’s story without Ophelia, but Ophelia literally has no story without Hamlet” (qtd. in Showalter 283). Despite her relative absence, Ophelia still holds much of the readers’ and play goers’ attention. Perhaps she gains so much attention because her character and her circumstances are so tragic. As Annette Wyandotte observes, “One could argue that Ophelia’s death is the true tragedy of Hamlet.” Ophelia’s life certainly seems tragic based on Aristotle’s definition of tragedy. She experiences the reversal of fortune, but in order for her death to be truly tragic, she must experience anagnorisis—a realization of her powerlessness without the men in her life. In her madness, Ophelia eventually does make this realization and because of her lack of alternatives, she accepts death. Even with only five appearances in the play, the text provides enough support that the audience can come to understand something about Ophelia and her own tragedy.
Ophelia has limited options as a woman in a patriarchal society and this is what separates her from Hamlet, who has the freedom to change his own fate. Ophelia needs to be obedient and is not allowed to express herself and her true feelings. What happens in her life is determined by the whims of the men who control her. She is obedient to her father and brother and also to the king, and although she tries to do what is right, she is often pulled along by these men. Unlike Hamlet, who can act according to his own will and speak...