This is actually a challenging question because she is not
simple to nail down with just a couple of words and sometimes she shows a quality, and
later shows the opposite quality.
1. Concerned -- she is
especially concerned for Hamlet after he starts to act crazy. Her report to her father
expresses he specific concerns, but that ultimate conclusion is that Hamlet is a
completely different person than before. Polonius assumes that the behavior is stemming
from Ophelia's rejection of Hamlet's romantic intentions, and Ophelia probably does as
well. On the other hand, she broke up with Hamlet because her father told her too and
willingly went along with the plan to attract Hamlet into conversation so that Polonius
and Claudius could spy on them. Is she really concerned for Hamlet here? or is she just
not strong enough to fight them?
2. Loving. She also
expresses clear concerns in the "get thee to a nunnery scene." She seems genuinely
convinced that Hamlet has lost his mind and that his reason is "sweet bells jangled, out
of tune and harsh." She takes quite a bit of harsh talk and accusation, but she
doesn't lash back, she takes it assuming that Hamlet isn't in his right mind. Perhaps
she is trying to warn Hamlet that he is being watched when she lies about where Polonius
is. On another note, she does show love or at least loyalty to her father and does what
is asked of her, even if it will hurt her and relationship with
Hamlet.
3. Fragile. She is clearly, and understandably
fragile when we see her breakdown and suicide in Act 4. In her defence, her boyfriend
has gone crazy and spoken very harshly too her, then spoken rather bawdily to her before
the play, and then killed her father. It would be a lot for
anyone!
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