Shakespeare, through his apt use of minor characters, complements his main characters, builds his plots, and creates a complete play. Shakespeare builds the entire play around information which was narrated to Hamlet by his father’s ghost. The ghost tells Hamlet of events which the reader would otherwise never know about: the murder of the former Dane by Claudius. Ophelia’s suicide acts as a catalyst for this confrontation between Hamlet and Laertes. This clash is the climax of the play, and with Ophelia’s death looming over it, it becomes a very emotional and powerful scene. She and Hamlet are both in love, but she is not allowed to date him because of her father.
However, Hamlet causes her to want to go against her father although she remains very loyal to him. He does this by giving her attention and being very flirtatious with her. He tells her he loves her but then later, takes it back. He quickly is able to confuse Ophelia about his feelings for her. He causes her to be undecided with what she really wants as well. And in the end, Ophelia takes her own life because she thinks Hamlet is dead and she wants to be with him, so she kills herself.
He has a very strong effect on her. She loves him, and he is able to control the way she feels. She is a very weak and timid person whom Hamlet can easily sway or change. Shakespeare, through his apt use of minor characters, complements his main characters, builds his plots, and creates a complete play.