Ophelia is a character in William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet." She is a young noblewoman of Denmark, the daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes, and the romantic interest of Prince Hamlet. Ophelia is known for her innocence, obedience, and beauty, but she becomes a tragic figure over the course of the play. She is caught between the conflicting demands of her father, brother, and Hamlet, which restrict her personal agency. After Hamlet kills her father Polonius, and due to Hamlet's cruel treatment and rejection, Ophelia descends into madness and ultimately drowns, an event often interpreted as a symbol of her loss of innocence and powerlessness in a male-dominated society. Her famous "mad scene" is one of the most well-known moments in Western literature.
