Ophelia as a Sexual Being in HamletIn Elaine Showalter's essay, “feminist criticism allows Ophelia to steal the spotlight from Hamlet [and] …foregrounds…the cultural connections between femininity [and] female sexuality” (221). In most of his plays, William Shakespeare places many women in secondary roles, only filling dead space or causing conflict between men. In Shakespeare's time, thoughts about women bordered on weak and misleading images, leading to the idea of ​​fragile but conniving creatures. In Hamlet, the character Ophelia uses her sexual prowess as a source of power when dealing with the opposite sex. As she makes her way through the background of the play, she greatly affects the men and becomes the main focus of criticism of the literary work. Interpretations of Ophelia vary depending on experts' views on sexual significance. The influence she has on Hamlet's emotions and desires affects the outcome of their faltering relationship and Hamlet's mental health. Considering Ophelia as a sexual being, we can assume that she embodies the very essence of female sexuality. Kenneth Branagh's 1996 film version of Hamlet depicted Ophelia as a mermaid: natural, beautiful, and the perfect object of male desire. In Elaine Showalter's essay and Kenneth Branagh's film, the portrayal of Ophelia gives strong evidence of the sexuality she exudes and its effect on the men around her despite her five short scenes in the play . Ophelia's excessive sexuality, rare in these "moral" times, constitutes a picture of madness and impropriety ending with her tragic death at her own hands. With the strong sexuality that Ophelia exudes, even her brother Laertes cannot resist her charms. Speaking to Ophelia, Laertes warns h...... middle of paper ......h his fire and his passion. William Shakespeare produced this female character, who became the most important heroine of all his literary works. As a symbol for women everywhere, Ophelia describes the importance of using the power one has to make a difference in one's own life.Works CitedHamlet. Real. Kenneth Barnagh. Perf. Kenneth Branagh, Kate Winslet, Brian Blessed, Richard Briars, Julie Christie, Billy Crystal, Derek Jacobi, Michael Maloney. Castle Rock, 1996. Showalter, Elaine. “Representing Ophelia: women, madness and the responsibilities of feminist criticism.” Hamlet. Ed. Susanne L. Wofford. Boston: Bedford Books of St. Martin's Press, 1994. 220-238. Wofford, Susanne L., ed. Case Studies in Contemporary Criticism, William Shakespeare: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Boston: Bedford Books of St. Martin's Press, 1994.