Ophelia's Madness

The reason for Ophelia's madness I think has to do with Hamlet. Ophelia is already limited in society because she is a woman, this makes her different than Hamlet who has the ability to change his fate or even have control of his own life and do as he pleases. Ophelia isn't really allowed to express her feelings and be obedient as Hamlet can. Also her relationship with Hamlet isn't great. He didn't treat her great. Hamlet was her first in meaning of having relations with someone. That was very emotional for her and the fact that they weren't together and being that they did that messed Ophelia mentally. At one point Ophelia had to choose between Hamlet and her father, and of course Ophelia chooses her father as she should because Hamlet isn't her husband, as it would differ if she was married to Hamlet. Once Ophelia's father Polonious is killed she finally loses herself. I do feel sorry for Ophelia because at that time in society as a women she didn't have a voice to speak up for herself. Also she didn't really have anyone she could trust and the only man that she could trust is now dead, so everything in her life has fell apart for Ophelia. I think Ophelia did just give up once the branch broke because she felt as if she didn't have anything else to live for. I think Gertude did let her die because he most likely knew she was crazy, so he just let her die to not witness her life get worse for her.