Ophelia's Road to Madness The play Hamlet, written by Shakespeare, was set in the late Middle Ages. Often women in Shakespeare's plays have a very significant role, Ophelia herself did not have a very significant role in the plot but she had an effective influence on some characters. During this time women were oppressed by the dominant sex. This had a very negative effect on women in that society. Due to male dominance, Ophelia was driven to madness which ultimately led to her death. There had been three very male dominant oppressors in Ophelia's life. These three male figures had undoubtedly loved her. But the love quickly spread to control. Although both were hurt at the loss of their dear, sweet Ophelia, the menAlthough Hamlet had driven her mad with complicated signs, she too had been a reason for his madness. At the beginning of the play Hamlet had been corresponding with Ophelia for some time, but she had to cease all feelings and ties to her love due to her father's orders. This had given reason for Hamlet to start acting crazy towards Ophelia. He bursts into her sewing closet: “As if delivered from hell / to speak of horrors, he comes before me.” (Act 2. Scene 1. Lines 92-93). Hamlet had frightened Ophelia. Hamlet treated her that way in his closet, almost like a form of abuse. But when she rejected his letters, according to Polonius, it drove him mad. Then the two met and discussed their love for each other and he had embarrassed her after they once loved each other. Hamlet states that he does not love her and that instead of being in the palace she should “Take you to a convent! Why should you be a breeder of sinners?” (Act 3. Scene 1. Lines 131-132). He's yelling at her and she just takes it. She simply responds as she would respond to anything said to her. Ophelia has very little power among men. This is another reason why Ophelia went mad because Hamlet is so bipolar with her. She doesn't realize that this is hurting her and is leading her down the path of madness. The third and least effective oppressor in his life is his brother Laertes. He is Scene 3. Lines 17-22) This is actually an example of Laertes being a good older brother and taking care of her so that she doesn't end up getting hurt. But when her father arrives, Laertes takes her side and does not defend her in any way, so he lets Polonius control her. Then he leaves for England until the fourth act, when he returns he discovers that she has gone mad and he tries to reason with her but it is too late. Laertes has no way to make up for all the injustice he has received so far in his life. Later in the play Ophelia is soon declared dead, when she is placed in the tomb Laertes goes mad and climbs into the tomb with her corpse. Then Hamlet jumps into the grave with him and they start fighting over her. Hamlet is attacked by Laertes and proclaims, "I pray thee, take thy fingers from my throat; / For though I am not splendid and reckless, /...Keep thy hand away." (Act 5 scene 1 lines 259, 260, 262). This symbolizes how, even when she is finally at peace, men still try to control her