The Despair of Ophelia ... Shakespeare's Hamlet

Ophelia is unequivocally good, both naive, childlike and loyal. She seems unaware of the harsh realities of adult life. She does not involve herself in the political life of the court, so is unable to defend herself against the treatment she is subjected to

Pressure from the men around Ophelia drive her mad. Ophelia descends into mental illness and commits suicide by drowning herself.From the Pre-raphaelites onward, Ophelia became a symbol of how cruel the world can be to the innocent ....