Ophelia: A Sad Story from a Play
Images

Georges Clairin (French, 1843-1919), 'Ophelia in the Thistles'











Key Facts
Who is Ophelia?
Ophelia is a character in a very old play called Hamlet. Imagine a princess, but not quite a princess. She's a young noblewoman, which means she comes from a fancy family in Denmark. She has a brother named Laertes and a father named Polonius. Prince Hamlet is also in the play, and he might have liked Ophelia a lot!
What Happens to Ophelia?
Things get really tough for Ophelia in the play. Prince Hamlet does some confusing and upsetting things. Because of all this, Ophelia becomes very sad and confused, almost like she's lost her way. It's a very tragic part of the story, and she ends up drowning. It's a sad ending for her character.
Ophelia and the Queen
Did you know that in the whole play Hamlet, there are only two girls? Ophelia is one of them! The other is Queen Gertrude, who is Hamlet's mother. It's interesting that in this big story with lots of characters, only these two women have important parts. They are the only female voices you hear!
Why We Remember Ophelia
Even though Ophelia is a character in a play written a super long time ago, people still talk about her. She represents someone who is deeply affected by the actions of others. Her story shows how sad things can happen, and it makes us think about feelings and how people treat each other.
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