Ophelia Ophelia Ophelia () is a character in William Shakespeare's drama "Hamlet". She is a young noblewoman of Denmark, the daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes, and potential wife of Prince Hamlet. As with virtually all "Hamlet" characters, Ophelia's name is not Danish. It first appeared in Jacopo Sannazaro's 1504 poem "Arcadia" (as "Ofelia"), probably derived from Ancient Greek ὠφέλεια ("ōphéleia", "help"). In Ophelia's first speaking appearance in the play, she is seen with her brother, Laertes, who is leaving for France. Laertes warns her that Hamlet, the heir to the throne of Denmark, does not have the freedom to marry
HMS Ophelia down on 1 February 1915 by William Doxford & Sons at their shipyard in Sunderland. The ship was launched on 13 October and completed in May 1916. "Ophelia" was attached to the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, part of the Grand Fleet during the Battle of Jutland on 31 May/1 June 1916. "Ophelia" was one of four destroyers of the 4th Flotilla (the others were , and ) that formed a screen for the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron. The four destroyers engaged German ships which were carrying out a torpedo attack on the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron. "Ophelia" fired one torpedo that missed its