Although Queen Gertrude says that Ophelia’s death was caused by a broken branch, Ophelia is not given a church burial and her death is considered a suicide. In what ways is Ophelia’s suicide a result of the impossible expectations society places on her? H

I think Ophelia is really being used here. Her father Polonius has told her to stay away from the man she loves yet uses her to set a trap for the man she loves. Hamlet uses Ophelia to further his own goals to expose the king. Laertres wants to control her sexual and romantic life. Ophelia should stir a lot of pathos in the audience. She is innocent of wrongdoing yet, as a young woman, must serve as a pawn under the men in her life.