Hamlet. Relationship between Ophelia, Hamlet and Laertes

In the play Hamlet, from the opening, Shakespeare uses the influence of dialogue to show the noticeable ill-treatment of Ophelia through the arrogant tone and improper speech of her father and brother. I believe Ophelia is characterized as a young and immature woman. The men in her life talk down to her. She is obedient to her brother, Laertes and father Polonius. Ophelia is treated like a child and is easily persuaded by the more powerful opinions of others. I see her as a woman who is victimized and is not responsible for other people's actions and behavior. Ophelia is weak because of her lack of self worth, falling under the manipulations of her brother, father and lover, Hamlet. Shakespeare expresses this characteristic of immaturity by the conversations Ophelia has with others and her actions throughout the play. As a weak victimized woman, she carries out her role in this play.

Ophelia is introduced in the play with her brother giving her his opinion about the affections of Hamlet and how he could deceive her. Hamlet is apparently treating her with great affection at this point but her brother does not appear to trust his sister's judgment and that implicates her as being young and immature. He talks to her as if she is a child and cannot make good choices on her own Laertes say to Ophelia expressing his concern for her:

Then weigh what loss you honor may sustain,

If with too credent ear you list his songs,

Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open

To his unmastered importunity.

Fear it, Ophelia, fear it my dear sister,

And keep you in the rear of your affection,

Out of the shot and danger of desire. "(1.3.31-37)"

Feeling victimized by her brother's discussion, Ophelia is defensive of Hamlet's affections and tries to get her brother to understand that she trusts Hamlets affections toward her to be honorable and true. Laertes tells her that she does not need to fear him and apparently his intentions are for her sake. Her father follows in to give her a similar talk and she listens to him while being talked to like a child telling her:

Marry, I'll teach you: think yourself a baby;

That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay,

Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly;

Or--not to crack the wind of the poor phrase,

Running it thus--you'll tender me a fool."(1.3 106-110)"

Ophelia is weak because of the way she allows the people around her to continue to treat her like as if she is a child. A person can only take so much ill treatment and be able to be strong. Nature gives humanity the will to make choices and to be able to hold up to certain limits of emotional stability. In Hamlet, Ophelia represents a character with the internal troubles of humankind, the reality of the repeated conflict in life, as well as existence itself, must present it in the form of a ...