who is ophelia

Ophelia is a character from William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet." She is a young noblewoman of Denmark, the daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes, and the love interest of Prince Hamlet. Ophelia is known for her obedience to her father and her tragic fate, which includes descending into madness and ultimately drowning, a death often interpreted as symbolic of her innocence destroyed by the cruelty and manipulation around her. Throughout the play, she is caught between her love for Hamlet and her loyalty to her family, leading to her mental collapse following Hamlet's rejection and the murder of her father by Hamlet. Ophelia's character represents innocence and the devastating impact of the patriarchal society and political intrigue in the Danish court.