The opression of ophelia

The Oppression of Ophelia Young adolescent girls are being faced with issues like sex, alcohol, religion, and school all at the same time. Today girls are relatively free to think through these issues, but for Ophelia in William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, there were few choices. Many restrictions were placed on women during the time in which “Hamlet” was set. Restrictions were placed on girls by their society and by the men in their lives. Males …

…stay stagnant. Women will continue to battle eating disorders, depression, and stress under the constraints of our demanding society. The battle, however, is not fought solely against men, but against all who continue oppressing others. Ophelia could not grow, and thus became an object of others and lost her true subjective self. Growth requires courage and hard work on the part of the individual and a protective and nurturing environment on the part of society.