Yet she is still confused because she is not in control of the surrounding circumstances that encroaches her. .
Ophelia's environment makes it easy for her father to exploit her. Polonius is mainly paranoid with his daughter ruining the family name by sleeping with Hamlet. He wants Ophelia to remain chaste, and he chooses to oppress Ophelia's sexuality throughout her life by overseeing her every action. He is not about to let his daughter make him look like a fool. Laertes even tells Ophelia that she should "keep your chaste treasure close" (I, iii, 30-31), since it is her most prized virtue as a woman. Laertes and Polonius instruct Ophelia's relationships because they view women as sexual objects that need guidance. A young woman's reputation is extremely fragile. It was thought that if men did not control women, then women would be allowed the freedom to choose and think for themselves. This was unacceptable because that would lead to a breakdown in society, descending the men's world into chaos. .
Being obedient to her father, Ophelia avoids Hamlet, assenting "I shall obey, my lord" (I, iii, 136). Women were constantly seen as instruments in the city of Elsinore, never defending themselves. Ophelia reflects the nature of woman in a patriarchal society, demonstrating how females are hugely influenced by the men in their lives. Ophelia does not even realize that her father and her brother destroyed the one positive force for making life worthwhile. It was Laertes and Polonius' mistaken confidence, masquerading as knowledge that led to Ophelia's tragedy. Women throughout the play are used as pawns, susceptible to cruel intentions. Hamlet uses Ophelia to display to King Claudius and the rest of the Court that he has 'gone mad'. Hamlet enters Ophelia's room wearing disheveled clothing and acts a bit odd towards her; he knows that Ophelia will report back to Claudius and her father.
