How is the representation of Ophelia, from Hamlet, still relevant to modern society?

Ophelia is the quintessential "good girl," who does everything she is supposed to. She is an obedient daughter (agreeing to quit seeing Hamlet, then spy on him for her father Polonius), a patient sister (listening to Laetres' gross virginity speech), and just altogether patient and charming. Meanwhile she has no control or agency over her body, sexuality, or marriage choices.

It's hardly surprising, then, when she goes insane, passing out flowers to everyone, singing a...

Ophelia is the quintessential "good girl," who does everything she is supposed to. She is an obedient daughter (agreeing to quit seeing Hamlet, then spy on him for her father Polonius), a patient sister (listening to Laetres' gross virginity speech), and just altogether patient and charming. Meanwhile she has no control or agency over her body, sexuality, or marriage choices.

It's hardly surprising, then, when she goes insane, passing out flowers to everyone, singing a song about a maiden who was pressured into sex then abandoned, and finally drowned by her flowing dress and skirts. The reason for her insanity seems pretty clearly to fall at the feet of the pressure she felt to live up to her family's and society's expectations for her.    

This theme is absolutely relevant to today's society. Girls and women are still under constant pressure. Beauty standards imposed by magazines and models and make-up companies define a narrow but rigid set of acceptable looks for women to work towards. The double standard of sexuality that Ophelia was held to still exists, devaluing women for looking or acting "too slutty," but celebrating men for the same behaviors. Women are able to make more of their own choices now than Ophelia was, but are constantly criticized for them. A working mother is "taking on too much" or "neglecting her kids," while a stay-at-home-mom is "old-fashioned" or "not living up to her potential."

As long as social norms put undue pressure on women to fit into a strict set of standards, Ophelia's story will be relevant.