How does Shakespeare present the character of Ophelia in 'Hamlet'?

The character of Ophelia has been subject to intense debate, especially concerning her wider purpose in the drama and her reflection of Elizabethan society. Critic Carol T. Nealy, for instance, contends that ‘when Ophelia goes mad, her disturbed language sounds like patriarchal oppression’. In doing so, she interprets Ophelia as completely helpless, devoid of any power as she suffers under the gender constraints imposed by society. These limitations are depicted through her subjugation under her father, Polonius, in which she can only respond, ‘I shall obey, my lord’. In particular, the dominating connotations of Shakespeare’s use of the word ‘obey’ emphasises her powerlessness. Moreover, the brevity of the declarative reflects the suppression of her speech and by further extension, her own authority. Through Shakespeare’s use of such language, Nealy’s thesis can be corroborated, suggesting Ophelia to be nothing more than a reflection of societal gender restrictions.Upon further analysis, however, it is revealed that Ophelia harbours more authority than initially perceived, instead taking an active role during her madness in order to harshly criticise the predicaments of her gender. This is clearly visible as she distributes her flowers, all of which held figurative significance in Elizabethan society. For instance, fennel - symbolic of flattery – is emblematic of the corruption of the Danish monarchy. Meanwhile, columbine and rue, being associated with adultery, emphasise the incestuous and deceitful nature of the crown: an idea promulgated by Hamlet himself in his soliloquies. Such heavy criticism can be understood as a response to the equally vehement opposition to women in Elizabethan society. For example, the ideas circulated in John Knox’s book ‘The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women’, published in 1558, are likely to have provoked such an intense reaction in the form of Ophelia’s criticism, allowing her to serve a wider societal purpose. Ultimately, there is no doubt that Shakespeare portrays Ophelia as being oppressed by her gender in the play; yet she is not merely a reflection of such conditions, for it is she herself who directly criticises the restrictions imposed upon her, lending her a greater degree of agency than initially perceived.