In Ophelia Did Not Die, two characters, two actors, two roles star; they are two Shakespearean heroes, Hamlet and Macbeth. The two men are physically paralyzed, as Hamlet says, "I paralyze my body so that my conscience does not create any harm for me."

However, their thoughts remain penetrating and vivid, although they often seem unclear or hazy. Through a delirious dialogue, they reference the timeless imperialist policies of humanity from ancient times and the Roman era to Hitler and the Second World War, as well as colonial policies and the fear of non-believers.

The story is inspired by the pan-Arab liberation ideology of the era it was written in and the liberation of art in the post-colonial Arab countries.