In Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the death of a character becomes a frequent event. Although many people lose their lives as a result of their own self-centered wrong-doing, there are others whose deaths are a result of manipulation from other main characters in the tragic play. This is the case of Ophelia, the daughter of Polonius. The real tragedy of Hamlet is not that of Hamlet or his family but of Polonius' family because their deaths were not the consequence of sinful actions of their own but rather by their innocent involvement in the schemes of Claudius and Hamlet as well as other influences in their lives.
             Although the first of the Polonius family to die is Polonius himself, Ophelia is the next to die tragically. Ophelia's death is tragic because of her almost complete innocence in the situation. Ophelia is one of the most manipulated characters in the book, being fooled by her father Polonius, her brother Laertes, and her love interest, Hamlet. The relationship she carries on with these characters in Shakespeare's book is the real cause of her death. It takes its toll on her leading up to her suicide drowning in the river.
             Ophelia is frequently misguided by her brother Laertes. Laertes knows that Ophelia is deeply in love with Hamlet. Although Laertes knows Ophelia has deep feelings for Hamlet, he still tells her to stay away from him because he is after something else.
             "For Hamlet and the trifling of his favour,
             Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood,
             A violet in the youth of primy nature,
             Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,
             The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more." (page 39)
             Laertes had no right to leave this imprint in Ophelia's mind because as her older brother, Ophelia will always remember what he said, whether or not she agrees. Laertes is being a hypocrite because he is warning Ophelia of the exact things he does, while Hamlet might be a diffe...