Ophelia
| Ophelia | |
|---|---|
| Hamlet character | |
John William Waterhouse's painting Ophelia (1894) | |
| Created by | William Shakespeare |
| In-universe information | |
| Family | Polonius (father) Laertes (brother) |
Ophelia (/oʊˈfiːliə/) is a character in William Shakespeare's drama Hamlet (1599–1601). She is a young noblewoman of Denmark, the daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes and potential wife of Prince Hamlet. Due to Hamlet's actions, Ophelia ultimately enters into a state of madness that leads to her drowning.
Along with Queen Gertrude, Ophelia is one of only two female characters in the original play.