Compare and Contrast the characters of Ophelia and Desdemona

1. Ophelia:
Relationships:
 Ophelia is the daughter of Polonius and the sister of Laertes.
 She has been romantically involved with Hamlet.

Role and Agency:

 Ophelia’s role in the play revolves around her relationships with three men.
 Her relationships with these men restrict her agency and eventually lead to her death.

Tragic Fate:
 Ophelia’s fate is tragic. She goes mad after Hamlet’s rejection and the death of her father,
Polonius.
 She ultimately drowns herself in a stream, becoming one of the play’s most poignant symbols of
innocence and tragedy.

2. Desdemona:
Relationships:
 Desdemona is the wife of Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army.
 She is also the daughter of a Venetian nobleman, Brabantio.

Character Traits:
 Desdemona is a more plausible, well-rounded figure than she is often given credit for.
 She displays conviction and authority in her speech and actions.
 Desdemona is young, sexual, and recently married, which contributes to her character
complexity.

Contradictory Nature:
 Desdemona is portrayed both as a self-effacing, faithful wife and as a bold, independent
personality.
 Her independence clashes with societal expectations, especially when defending her choice of
marriage to her father.

Tragic End:
  Desdemona’s tragic end comes when she is smothered by a pillow in a bed covered in her
wedding sheets.
 Symbolically, she is suffocated beneath the demands placed on her fidelity.
 Desdemona forgives Othello even as she meets her demise, highlighting her complexity and
compassion.

In summary, while both Ophelia and Desdemona are tragic figures, Desdemona’s character is more
multifaceted, displaying both strength and vulnerability. Ophelia, on the other hand, is largely defined by
her relationships and their tragic consequences34.