The roles actors play in the theater provide insight into the surrounding society by exaggerating the qualities of certain stereotypes. In Hamlet, Shakespeare uses many of these qualities to establish his characters. One character of interest, Ophelia, is a young middle-class woman who struggles with the issue of self-image. Although Hamlet is set in the 1600s, the battle against self-consciousness is still common for young women today. In many ways Ophelia reflects a modern teen trapped by her own deprecation and lack of confidence.
As a result of Ophelia’s self-doubt, she is excessively obedient to her father, whom she sees as an undefiable authority. In this social dynamic of “superior man” to “subservient woman”, common in the Elizabethan era, women have few rights and disobedience is heavily punished. When questioned about her affairs with Hamlet, Ophelia meekly agrees to ignoring him at her father’s request by simply saying, “I shall obey, my lord.” (I, iv, 136). This quality of acquiescence to her father is highlighted throughout the play and eventually leads to her betrayal of Hamlet. This betrayal occurs when Ophelia’s obedience to her father causes her to blindly break Hamlet’s heart, when first she avoids contact with him and then returns his tokens, only for the approval of her father and the king.
While Ophelia demonstrates subservient qualities around her father and the king, she acts quite differently in the presence of Hamlet. Ophelia sees Hamlet as her lover and because of this, as an equal to herself. Around him she is more open in her speech and at one point even chastises him for his treatment of her by saying, “Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.” (III, i, 100). Ophelia also treats her brother, Laertes, in a similar manner. After being scolded by her brother about her love affair, she becomes a touch bitter when she sees the hypocrisy of his statements and retorts with, ” Whiles, like a puff’d and reckless libertine, Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads, And reeks not his own rede.” (I, iii, 49-51). Here Shakespeare presents Ophelia with a more defiant and outspoken personality that has become a stereotype of the modern teenager. Being confronted both with young love and sibling rivalry, she responds in the “typical” way by becoming temperamental and by lashing out. This behavior is a defense mechanism that today’s teens display when they feel threatened or belittled.
Throughout the play Ophelia is characterized by her insecurities and after a while they become too much for her to handle. After pushing Hamlet away, Ophelia becomes filled with guilt and inadequacy because she feels she failed him. With her brother away in France she is left with only her father, who is soon killed by Hamlet. The revelation of this event is catastrophic for Ophelia and she finds herself alone and confused. Without her father, she no longer has constant guidance and is unable to make sound decisions for herself. She is also horrified by the fact that Hamlet is the cause of her father’s death and is overwhelmed with a feeling of disgust and disappointment in herself for trusting such an awful man. In her insanity Ophelia dances into the court singing of her lost love and her dead father, all the while passing out imaginary flowers to the people present. In her songs she denigrates her virtue by singing, ” …O how the wheel becomes it! It is the false steward, that stole his master’s daughter.” (IV, v, 172-173). This shows that she feels guilt and embarrassment for her trust of Hamlet and for her willingness to give herself to him. Ophelia suggests that she regrets certain aspects of her love with Hamlet, however she is conflicted by feeling empty without him.
Shortly after Ophelia succumbs to madness, she drowns herself in a nearby river. Unfortunately, it is this that connects her most with contemporary society; according to Troubled Teen Issues, suicide is the third most common cause of death for people between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four (http://www.familyfirstaid.org). Even if Ophelia were in the new millennium, she would still be drowning in self-doubt. The same insecurities and self-image issues that are present in the 1600s are still prevalent now, and because of this her fate remains the same. Ophelia’s main flaw is her lack of confidence and no change of time or place can stop her from doubting herself.
At first it may not look like Ophelia would be “normal” in today’s society, but at further inspection it becomes apparent that she very heavily reflects the modern teen. Self-image will always be a problem for young people in the world and as tragic as it may be, suicide will always be present. Through plays, Shakespeare exaggerates stereotypes and he highlights the flaws and strengths of society. Throughout Hamlet, Shakespeare uses Ophelia to cast a light on the insecurities of young women and Ophelia’s personality will remain identifiable to the teenage masses.
