The second is Hamlet himself, who promised much to Ophelia, and whom Ophelia has probably has sex with. The combination of her former lovers cruelty and her fathers death sends Ophelia into a fit of grief. As youve done, its important to recognize that Ophelia is obviously mourning her father, and with great reason (he was indeed a vital figure in her life, especially considering she hadnt been married yet). In Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," Ophelia is a tragic figure whose untimely death serves as a catalyst for the events of the play. Characters drop one after the other, poisoned, stabbed, and, in the case of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, executed, as the theme of revenge and justice reaches its conclusion in the moment when Hamlet finally kills Claudius. I also wondered why she doesnt reach out to her brother for comfort, with him being so determined to seek revenge for their father, and I wonder how the plot would have changed as he stepped in to comfort her like he should have. In Act Four she spirals into madness and dies under ambiguous circumstances. Ofelias madness seems a little more delicate and sudden. At such an early age, her life was taken. They say a made a good end. give more credence to Ophelias shattered mental state, as she is constantly fixating on the death of Polonius, so much so that every single thing reminds her of his passing (4.5.180-181). There are several possible interpretations of the circumstances surrounding Ophelia's death. However, she is caught in the middle of the conflict between Hamlet and his family, and her own loyalties are torn between her love for Hamlet and her duty to her father and brother. I agree with your point in saying that the sexual references in Ophelias songs do account for her love of Hamlet. Many of the lines throughout her singing episodes also support your claim, as you aptly discuss. The next time Ophelia appears is at the Mousetrap Play, Later that night, after the play, Hamlet kills Polonius The last time Ophelia appears in the play is after Laertes comes to the castle to challenge Claudius over the death of his father, Polonius. We both wrote about Ophelia! I too agree you regarding Ophelia as a pitiable character in this Shakespeare play. Your email address will not be published. It is a tragic loss that underscores the human cost of the events of the play, and serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of being caught in the middle of such conflicts. He was one of the leading artists and founders of the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood group. Cirencione detailed the circumstances that led to the death of Brandon M. Zurkan, 31, of Warren, Pa., during a media briefing at the sheriffs office Wednesday. She is a victim of circumstances beyond her control, and her ultimate demise serves as a poignant reminder of the destructive power of manipulation and betrayal. By the time we reach the end of Act IV, Ophelia has gone quite mad. The first is her father, Polonius, who bids her stay away from Hamlet, and then go to Hamlet to help spy on him. I thought your post was interesting because you had a lot to say about Ophelia! John Everett Millais painted from nature at the Hogsmill River in Ewell, Surrey, which is in South East England. Subsection. Ophelias songs show her slipping into further madness with a lot of bizarre sexually-laced lyrics and while reading this portion of the play I just felt bad for her. I assumed her song at 4.5.62-64, insinuates an alleged intimacy she had with Hamlet, and his promise to marry her if she were to agree to intimacy. With this evidence, those involved in the incident should be held accountable for their part in her death. WebOphelias death is, arguably, an honorable one, characterized by her willingness to let go of her submissive, earth-bound self and leave the world no longer a victim. As youve done, its important to recognize that Ophelia is obviously mourning her father, and with great reason (he was indeed a vital figure in her life, especially considering she hadnt been married yet). The original frame is gilt plaster with ivy moulding, the Hamlet quotation, in red and blue, on either side of the painting in Gothic script. In the story of Shadehill by Mark Hitz revolves around a family who is suddenly looking at the death of Ophelia who was a twin sister to Patsy in the family. The tragedy follows the story of Prince Hamlet as he undergoes states of insanity, depression, and eventual death. Or would her fate be the same? But long it could not be Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay To muddy death. Published. Hamlet has fallen in love with Ophelia after the death of his father. After Ophelia has gone, Claudius agonizes over her madness and over the stir created by the return of an angry Laertes. With lines like Young men will dot if they come tot / By Cock, they are to blame signifies a strange and perhaps oblique reference to a promiscuous or simply flighty man who promises love (or sex here with the word cock) but backs out after a brief time (4.5.59-60). While it is evident that Ophelia is grieving over the death of her father, Polonius, as Horatio says of her She speaks much of her father, says she hears / Theres tricks in the world, and hems, and beats her heart (4.5.4-5), a secondary cause of Ophelias madness may be in fact about her failed relationship with Hamlet as well. It is almost as though the natural order has been disturbed by the death of King Hamlet and Ofelia is a casualty in the war to get the state of Denmark to not be quite so rotten. Hi Sam, I like your post and your analysis of Ophelias character. It is important to note that the flowers were significant during the Victorian era, holding various symbolic meanings. Ophelia's death is reported by Gertrude: Hamlet's would-be bride falls from a tree and drowns in a brook. CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. Ontario County Sheriff David Cirencione said police officers showed tremendous restraint before fatally shooting an armed man late Tuesday night. 25 minutes ago. I think that youre absolutely right in saying that Ophelias insanity is caused by a combination of Poloniuss death and Hamlets spurning of her, and murder of her father. The evidence suggesting that she is simply mourning her father is obvious, as lines from one of her many songs points towards grieving over an aged relative His beard as white as snow / All flaxen was his poll with flaxen here indicating a white or grayed head of hair (4.5.190-191). I like that you included her singing in what you believed to be madness, because I too brought up her mindless singing in my post about her death. There with fantastic garlands did she come Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples That liberal shepherds give a grosser name, But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them; There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds Clamb'ring to hang, an envious sliver broke, When down her weedy trophies and herself Fell in the weeping brook. Its upsetting to see anyone go through all of these unfortunate circumstances because it realistically can happen to anybody. In Elizabethan slang, nothing was a term for female genitalia. Ophelia is doing as a proper lady should, and for it she is punished. In the process, they all redeemed themselves by dying because, somehow, their deaths advanced the cause each of them stands for. Their fathers deaths play a significant role in the actions and motivations of each character. The fleeing from marraige, I thought was caused do to a lack of purity in Ophelia. Wiltshire. Lee was still alive at that point. SARAH: Gertrude offers two different visions here of Ophelia singing as she sinks into the water the first is of someone unaware of her life-threatening danger, and seems to convey Ophelia's actual state. I do think that she is a tragic character in this play, and I do think that it is in a pitiable way, because of the events that she has gone through. If one is to examine the symbolic meanings of the flowers she makes wreaths with before falling into the brook and the flowers she presents to the royals, Leartes and herself, (Remember, she gives herself RUE) then the question over whether her death is suicide or accident becomes even more significant. However, these shapes are not distinctively outlined or geometric; instead, they blend into the natural environment. WebThe Innocence of Gertrude and Ophelia Pretty Ophelia, as Claudius calls her, is the most innocent victim of Hamlets revenge in Shakespeare s play Hamlet. SARAH: Ophelia continues to float on the surface of the water for just a brief moment then her clothing becomes waterlogged and pulls her under. Question 28 options: Horatio Queen Gertrude Marcellus a messenger What is the importance of the gravedigger scene in the story of Hamlet? Shes being torn between two very influential men in her life. With lines like Young men will dot if they come tot / By Cock, they are to blame signifies a strange and perhaps oblique reference to a promiscuous or simply flighty man who promises love (or sex here with the word cock) but backs out after a brief time (4.5.59-60). But, there are many key events and characters that help support to argument that Ophelia was, in fact, murdered. I wonder which had more an effect? Print of Sir John Everett Millais Ophelia (Shakespeares Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 7) by James Stephenson;John Everett Millais, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Ophelias death was doubtful because, once she fell into the brook, she appears to have made no attempt to save herself. To access all site features, create a free account now or learn more about our study tools. Answers. WebOphelias death, at first glance, could be thought of as an accident which is completely disgraceful during her time period. To the left of the composition is a large tree stump of a weeping willow with various branches and stinging nettle growing around it. Hi Sam, Ophelias subservience is taken to an entirely new level through the event of her death. This is compounded on by a following line, You promised me to wed, / So would I a done, by yonder sun, / An thou hadst not come to my bed. and it is this part of Ophelias song that likely damns Hamlet as a cause of her mental fracturing (4.5.62-64). It was started in 1848 by Millais, William Holman Hunt, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The priest refuses, saying that, because she committed suicide, he must deny Ophelia the requiem mass and other trappings of a Christian burial, even though Ophelia will be buried on sacred ground. With the loss of her father, brother, and her lover all extremely close together is enough to make anyone go mad I suppose. The series of Furthermore, the background of the composition acts almost as a backdrop of fauna and flora, which brings Ophelias figure closer into our space, also making the picture space shallower. In Act Four she spirals into madness and dies under ambiguous circumstances. Self-portrait (1881) by John Everett Millais;John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Another rough texture is implied by the willow trees furrowed bark and a seemingly slimy texture of the algae in the water in the foreground.Texture in Ophelia (1851-1852) by John Everett Millais;John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Ophelia is forced to give up the one she loves due to what others are telling her to do so, and because of her fathers prying he ultimately dies. Her love for Hamlet is frustrated Ophelia Laertes First Flower In Hamlet 585 Words | 3 Pages In the first three acts, Ophelia is portrayed as a virtuous daughter who knows how to behave at Court. Despite whether or not the cause of her madness is her fathers death or the loss of her boyfriend or something entirely different, Ofelia almost falls into madness. STORY: Vincenzo Luciano is telling us he raced to the beach from his house, which is nearby, jumped into the water with his clothes on, and pulled out a little boy.He's a fisherman here in Steccato di Cutro, Italy - the scene of that massive shipwreck on Sunday (February 26) that killed at least 67 migrants trying to cross into Europe, including As daughter of the Kings Chief Chamberlain, she is part of the Queens Court Ladies. The reappearance of the mad Ophelia is devastating to Laertes. Or would her fate be the same? This line directly references an older man and because of this detail, Poloniuss death has obviously taken its toll on Ophelias psyche, causing her to spout such wild and woeful songs. However, the explicit sexual references in Ophelias songs perhaps account for her obsession with the now absent Hamlet, as in promising his love to her earlier in the play and then being scorned, she is doubly heartbroken alongside the death of her father. While it is evident that Ophelia is grieving over the death of her father, Polonius, as Horatio says of her She speaks much of her father, says she hears / Theres tricks in the world, and hems, and beats her heart (4.5.4-5), a secondary cause of Ophelias madness may be in fact about her failed relationship with Hamlet as well. Soon after, Hamlet mistakenly kills Polonius. Sam, Great points! Hamlets madness is directly correlated to his fathers death and the appearance of his fathers ghost. When John Everett Millais painted Ophelia around the early 1850s the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was already active. Your email address will not be published. I think your suggestion that Ophelias madness is also the consequential result of her failed relationship with Hamlet is totally credible. Because of these is, Ophelia certainly is one of the most pitiable characters in Hamlet, and perhaps one of the only characters whose madness is justifiable. He was an artist from a young age and was encouraged to paint further when his family moved to London, where he attended the Royal Academy of Arts. It is important to note that Ophelia was also closely associated with flowers, and certain flowers held symbolic meanings. The death of a woman is under investigation after authorities said she was found in her apartment on Stella Link Road. Because of the strong religious sanction against suicide, Ophelia would not want to risk damnation. Log in here. Yet much speculation remains about the details of her death. Sam, SO many questions that are generated by your post. The fact that this grief drives Ophelia to madness reveals her overwhelming feelings of hopelessness and powerlessness, and the power that the men in Ophelia's life wield over her. WebOphelias death was more likely to have been an accident than suicide. About the Author. There, on the pendant boughs her coronet weeds Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke, When down her weedy trophies and herself Fell in the weeping brook. I definitely feel that before Polonius dies she is effected by how Hamlet treats her, which the argument I made in my post. Or would her fate be the same? Share. I really enjoyed your post any how you revolved it around what you considered to be Ophelias madness. While doing so, she slipped and fell into the brook. I think that Hamlet and Laertes carried on Ophelias madness when she passed away and they both jumped into her grave. WebOphelias father had been killed by Hamlet; anyone put in that situation would likely have thoughts of suicide. I know the focus is mainly on Hamlet and his questionable madness, but in a way I definitely see how Ophelia went somewhat mad as well! Ophelia in the fourth act ofHamletis demonstrably insane, but the direct cause of her slipped sanity is something that remains debatable. At Both her father and her brother believe that Hamlet is using her to achieve his own personal goals. The soliloquy is not about suicide, as some people believe, but rather about Hamlet's existential dilemma. WebA semi-circular canvas set in a rectangular frame. A close-up of the robin in Ophelia (1851-1852) by John Everett Millais; John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. WebIt was the death of Hamlets father that becomes the focal point of the play. Webwhat are the circumstances of ophelia's death?how to make an infinite block in minecraft. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. http://www.shmoop.com/hamlet/ I agree with your point in saying that the sexual references in Ophelias songs do account for her love of Hamlet. Well written! Latest answer posted February 17, 2021 at 12:04:07 PM. WebThe questions behind Ophelia's death has to do with her mental state at the time of her tragic flower-gathering. I definitely feel that before Polonius dies she is effected by how Hamlet treats her, which the argument I made in my post. The second thing that happens is that Hamlet is sent away by the king, leaving Ophelia virtually alone in her grief, since her brother, The result is almost predictable: Ophelia goes mad. There are many different things that contribute to Ophelias death, and I like that you put it all out there. Alternatively, it is possible that her madness and confusion caused her to accidentally fall into the water and drown. WebYet much speculation remains about the details of her death. It is almost as though the natural order has been disturbed by the death of King Hamlet and Ofelia is a casualty in the war to get the state of Denmark to not be quite so rotten. Ophelia (18511852) by John Everett Millais;John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. However you dont have to take her description at face value. I never picked up on those lines of her song in relation to Hamlet breaking his promise of marrying her. There are a few reasons for why Hamlet treats Ophelia so badly. The first is her connection to Polonius. By keeping her off guard, Hamlet keeps Polonius and the King confused as well. The play leaves Hamlets awareness open ended. Hamlet could not know whether Ophelia was actively involved or simply being used. Because Polonius was such a vital figure in her life, she is likely bereaved beyond help and thus does not recognize her brother. I like the way that you wrote about Ophelia singing as her madness. Would she have been more proactive with trying to fight the current of the stream? It is interesting to me that you believe her suicide is due to both her fathers death AND her complex relationship with Hamlet. Hi Sam, WebWhen reporting Ophelias death, Gertrude states that there is a willow grows askant the brook (4.7. Tweet. Also Hamlet's own madness and isolation is a cause in Ophelia's deteriorating mental condition. Webwhat are the circumstances of ophelia's death?how to make an infinite block in minecraft. The views and opinions expressed by the authors and other contributors to this blog are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of SUNY New Paltz or any employee thereof. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. She is holding several flowers in her right hand (our left) and her left (our right) hand is empty. Ophelias random singing was the first sign of madness when I first read it because instead of trying to save herself from drowning she was just calmly singing and letting the heavy water pile on top of her and her clothing. Who tells Claudius and Laertes about the circumstances surrounding Ophelia's death? WebShe then becomes a victim of circumstances because of lack of conviction and dies a poor death. The questions behind Ophelia's death has to do with her mental state at the time of her tragic flower-gathering. A close-up of the different flowers in Ophelia (1851-1852) by John Everett Millais;John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. 25 minutes ago. Lacking refined sensibility herself, she cannot well enter into the feelings of others. The dominant colors in Ophelia by John Everett Millais are varieties of greens, however, Millais utilized different yellows, blues, whites, and blacks. It must also be difficult for her to reconcile the fact that her lover murdered her father, and in doing so took away all present support systems from her. In this article, we will discuss one of the most famous renditions of her tragic end by pre-Raphaelite artist John Everett Millais. Why do the gravediggers question Ophelia's burial in this cemetery? I wonder if her father didnt die would she have reacted to this accident in the same way? The pain of losing his beloved Sister fill John Everett Millais painted so close to nature that you would think the Ophelia painting is a photograph. Ultimately, this emotional turmoil leads to Ophelia's descent into madness and her tragic death. Wiltshire. Instead of calling for help, she "chanted snatches of old tunes / as one incapable of her own distress." She appears almost unaware of the fact that she is drowning (As one incapable of her own distress), and she is still singing, as per Queen Ophelias description of her in Hamlet (Act 4, Scene 7), which was mentioned earlier in the article. She is a tragic figure who is caught in the crosshairs of the power struggle between Hamlet and his family, and her love for Hamlet ultimately leads to her downfall. Her father's death would have been traumatic, of course, but the fact that Hamlet did it makes her even more distraught. But, we cant ignore the lines that signify the other figure her grieving is fixated upon: Hamlet. Over all, your post cleared up some misconceptions for me and went in depth on a character I would have liked to discuss more in class. Many of the lines throughout her singing episodes also support your claim, as you aptly discuss. Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants, Her maiden strewments, and the bringing home Of bell and burial. In the begining of the play Ophelia knows that Hamlet loves her yet decides to keep her distance because her brother tells her to. Only Shakespeare knew for sure. There is a diversity of lines in Ophelia by John Everett Millais, from the vertical lines created by the Sedge plant in the lower left foreground to the diagonal lines from the various branches and twigs of the willow tree to the left, including the tree stump. WebAt the end of the play she dies, and it remains unclear if her death is an accident or if she committed suicide. Also, in the description of her death it is obviously displaying Ophelia 's madness. In the begining of the play Ophelia knows that Hamlet loves her yet decides to keep her distance because her brother tells her to. Gertrude reports that she fell into the brook and that her clothes became heavy with water and pulled her under. Because Polonius was such a vital figure in her life, she is likely bereaved beyond help and thus does not recognize her brother. You are right though, her character exists as a tragic character, unfortunately so because her character is so interesting. Already a member? I think that throughout Hamlet, madness is exhibited in many forms and Hamlets madness is very different from Ofelias. Ophelias death is the final submission to the will of a stronger force. To the right of the composition is more greenery and an assortment of plants. WebNeed more help? I thought your post was interesting because you had a lot to say about Ophelia! You can check out the link to that page below. The fact that the water completely weighs her down and she doesnt even car is shocking because she shouldnt have died but her showing that shows how depressed she was. A discussion of Gertrude's description of Ophelia's death in Act 4, Scene 7 of myShakespeare'sHamlet. I think that throughout Hamlet, madness is exhibited in many forms and Hamlets madness is very different from Ofelias. I think that the most obvious cause that leads to Ophelias death is her fathers murder, but I like your point that it could indeed be because of her obsession with Hamlet, who has gone mad. Ophelia was a very unique character and was portrayed to us as a female character unlike many of the others weve read about this semester. While it is evident that Ophelia is grieving over the death of her father, Polonius, as Horatio says of her She speaks much of her father, says she hears / Theres tricks in the world, and hems, and beats her heart (4.5.4-5), a secondary cause of Ophelias madness may be in fact about her failed relationship with Hamlet as well. I definitely feel that before Polonius dies she is effected by how Hamlet treats her, which the argument I made in my post. Ophelias death was triggered by her mental breakdown due to the loss of her father. Many people in the kingdom obviously believe, based on this conversation, that Ophelia did not drown by accident, as the official story goes, but rather that she drowned herself. All the major protagonists and antagonists in the play die in the end. I really liked the points you made about Ophelia and her madness. Web2. Would she have been more proactive with trying to fight the current of the stream? She is used as a ploy by her father to test Hamlets maddness. How does Ophelia come to believe that Hamlet is mad?He enters her room as she is sewing; his clothes are dishevelled, and his look is piteous. She knows that refusing to marry Hamlet will make him go insane.Polonius reads a letter to Claudius and Gertrude, and Ophelia overhears it. The robin bird holds significant symbolism, including rebirth and death. Or would her fate be the same? The host of Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan says the circumstances surrounding the death of Georgia mother Debbie Collier have left him befuddled, following the Georgia Bureau of Investigations determination that the death was a suicide. Hamlet was one of William Shakespeares most famous plays, the phrase by Hamlets character, to be, or not to be is emblazoned on the pages of history, but the character known as Ophelia, who turned mad and drowned in a brook, became a popular choice for subject matter throughout the Victorian era, and although she met a tragic end, she was the star of many paintings. Below we will look at the visual composition of Ophelia by John Everett Millais, starting with a description of the subject matter and then how the artist created it in terms of color, texture, line, shape, form, and space. These include a variety, from the diamond-like and oval shapes of the leaves to the circular and patterned shapes of the flowers. So he rips into Ophelia. WebGertrude speech makes Ophelias death not only more beautiful and tragic to the characters listening but also, to us the audience. Her madness affects her death because she is oblivious to the danger which surrounds her. Note that Gertrude depicts Ophelia as less than human: she is mermaid-like, as well sees her as a passive creature held captive by tragic circumstances only to be freed in death. She also stated that while Ophelia was drowning, she seemed oblivious to her plight. At that point in time, it seemed to be an attribute to Ophelia letting herself go; but since you are comparing and including it within the madness of Ophelia I now find myself second guessing whether or not it was her letting herself go or if she was in fact mad. I assumed her song at 4.5.62-64, insinuates an alleged intimacy she had with Hamlet, and his promise to marry her if she were to agree to intimacy. Elizabethan Popular Theatre: Plays in Performance. I too wrote about Ophelia, however based it on her heartbreaking death. With our Essay Lab, you can create a customized outline within seconds to get started on your essay right away. Sam, The queen, however, describes it in detail. We both wrote about Ophelia! As the scene opens, two gravediggers are conversing about the suspicious manner of Ophelia's death. While it is evident that Ophelia is grieving over the death of her father, Polonius, as Horatio says of her She speaks much of her father, says she hears / Theres tricks in the world, and hems, and beats her heart (4.5.4-5), a secondary cause of Ophelias madness may be in fact about her failed relationship with Hamlet as well. However, the explicit sexual references in Ophelias songs perhaps account for her obsession with the now absent Hamlet, as in promising his love to her earlier in the play and then being scorned, she is doubly heartbroken alongside the death of her father. Despite whether or not the cause of her madness is her fathers death or the loss of her boyfriend or something entirely different, Ofelia almost falls into madness.