The role parents play in a child's development is crucial. They are the people who have the greatest influence on them, influencing most aspects of their adult lives as well. When too controlling, a parent's role can have lasting negative consequences for the child. In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the author shows that the loss of an authoritative parent leads people to try to replace the loss of that control in unhealthy ways that destroy the person. This can be seen in the lives of Ophelia, Hamlet, and Laertes, who all lose an authoritarian father. In Ophelia's life, it can be seen that she is very dependent on Polonius. She obeys him, even if she doesn't want to. When Polonius tells her: “I would not, in plain language, henceforth/ You have thus slandered in any spare moment/ As to say words or speak to the Lord Hamlet./ Take heed to it, I command you. Come your ways." (1.3.132-135), her immediate response is, "I will obey, my lord" (1.3.136). Being a woman, Ophelia is not allowed to take many of her own decisions in life, and therefore begins to rely heavily on her father. Her father orders her not to "give words or speak to the Lord Hamlet", Ophelia obeys, even though she believes that he really loves her, because he had said before: “My lord, he afterwards made many offerings / Of his affection to me” (1.3.99-100). She immediately promises to obey, demonstrating her habit of following his orders, even if it's not what she wants. By saying “my lord,” he respectfully acknowledges his father's request and submits to his authority. In doing so, she continues to depend on him. However, after Polonius's death, Ophelia no longer has an immediate authority figure over her,... center of the card... sources of input to help him make his first decisions, such as how to handle the revenge of his father, the consequences would have been very different. Laertes destroys himself by trying to take all control. In conclusion, Shakespeare shows throughout the play Hamlet that when people try to cope with the lack of control created by the loss of an authoritative parent, they harm and ultimately destroy themselves. Through the lives of the characters Ophelia, Hamlet, and Laertes, this truth is revealed, as they respectively lose their minds, harm those around them, and their plans take revenge against themselves for not dealing with the situation in a healthy way. When going through trying and trying times, positive ways to cope involve doing so with your closest friends, accepting the facts, and moving on with life at a pace that is neither focused on the past nor the future..