I still dont know if I see Ophelias death as a suicide because of the fact that her clothes led to her death and all, but with all of the circumstances around her, I think that she definitely did not fight her death for a purpose. Alternatively, it is possible that her madness and confusion caused her to accidentally fall into the water and drown. 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). I like the way that you wrote about Ophelia singing as her madness. Hamlet ridiculed her and her father, Im assuming a person closest to her as there is no mention of a mother, dies unexpectingly. There are numerous flowers depicted and each holds symbolic meanings that relate to the themes of the story, which is based on the play Hamlet (c. 15991601) by William Shakespeare. Her clothes spread wide, And, mermaid-like, a while they bore her up; Which time she changed snatches of old tunes, As one incapable of her own distress, Or like a creature native and indued Unto that element. 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. And mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up; Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes, Or like a creature native and endued unto. 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! 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. 25 minutes ago. Ophelias 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. The questions behind Ophelia's death has to do with her mental state at the time of her tragic flower-gathering. There are also other colors from the various flowers, providing more variety as well as enhancing the subject matter and symbolic meanings. Ophelia hasnt any direct control over the influential characters in her life. Webin Hamlet's fifth soliloquy how do the circumstances of this soliloquy differ from those surrounding the previous four? WebOphelias father had been killed by Hamlet; anyone put in that situation would likely have thoughts of suicide. 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). Tweet. Sam, The famous Ophelia (18511852) oil-on-canvas was painted by John Everett Millais, who was part of the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood art group, and one of its founders. 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Wiltshire. Print of Sir John Everett Millais Ophelia (Shakespeares Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 7) by James Stephenson;John Everett Millais, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Whether or not her death was a suicide is the subject of much debate among Shakespearean scholars. She modeled for Millais in a bathtub, floating in the water and wearing a thin dress. Self-portrait (1881) by John Everett Millais;John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. 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. Well written! 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. The second is Hamlet himself, who promised much to Ophelia, and whom Ophelia has probably has sex with. After all, the young woman has gone mad, and apparently did nothing to try and escape her watery death. Wiltshire. Webwhat are the circumstances of ophelia's death?how to make an infinite block in minecraft. There were also several types of flowers mentioned in the play when Queen Gertrude described the natural setting where Ophelia died, explaining: therewith fantastic garlands did she make of crow flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples. Latest answer posted December 18, 2020 at 11:36:35 AM. Great points! Furthermore, if Ophelias death was, indeed, a subliminal expression of an unconscious desire to die, it is essential to discuss the reason for this unconscious desire; whether or not it was Her death is reported by Queen Gertrude, Hamlets mother, in great poetic detail as though she had witnessed the poor girls death. Ophelia by John Everett Millais has invited many a discourse, from feminism and how women are depicted in art, their role in a patriarchal society, and Ophelia herself as the subject for many paintings during the 19th century, to the Victorian eras penchant for flowers, their significance, and symbolic meanings. WebDeath is the pervading theme of the play. Ophelia seems to be much a more complex character the more that I read about her and I think she is underrated because of that. Or would her fate be the same? 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). Hamlet performs a soliloquy. Well written! Would she have been more proactive with trying to fight the current of the stream? Video journalist: Emma Colman. We both wrote about Ophelia! Her death can be viewed as a suicide which is what I had originally thought, but now after reading what you wrote, it can be viewed as Ophelia seriously becoming mad from all the tragedy she faced all at once. I really enjoyed your post any how you revolved it around what you considered to be Ophelias madness. It causes many people to wonder if she should even be It is interesting to me that you believe her suicide is due to both her fathers death AND her complex relationship with Hamlet. 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). Then, Ophelia's funeral procession takes place, and Hamlet and Ophelia's brother Laertes confront each other. Or would her fate be the same? Who tells Claudius and Laertes about the circumstances surrounding Ophelia's death? She died about 30 seconds before her father, Daniel, arrived from the Tijuana dam. The death of a woman is under investigation after authorities said she was found in her apartment on Stella Link Road. In memory of the BARCS late employee passing, a celebration of life will be held on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Chasseur, 3328 Foster Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224. Ophelias maddness I believe, like you, is caused be her loss of her loved ones. 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. Subsection. The famous Ophelia (18511852) oil-on-canvas was painted by John Everett Millais, who was part of the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood art group, and one of its founders. This week, they killed off Ofelia. Because Polonius was such a vital figure in her life, she is likely bereaved beyond help and thus does not recognize her brother. It is interesting to analyze this scene to see that both her fathers death and Hamlets act led to her madness. 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. Hamlet tries to kill Claudius three times. Her death was doubtful (5.1.182), 3 as the priest tells Laertes, by which he means it is questionable whether Ophelias death was an accident or a suicide. While doing so, she slipped and fell into the brook. Would she have been more proactive with trying to fight the current of the stream? As daughter of the Kings Chief Chamberlain, she is part of the Queens Court Ladies. Shes being torn between two very influential men in her life. Even though, in the beginning, Hamlet is only feigning madness, he is certainly troubled (to say the least) at the end of the play. In the midst of readings performances and one particular question has remained open and unresolved: was Ophelia's death an accident or a suicide? 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Yet in the scene of The Gravediggers, Hamlet later contends that Ophelia must have purposefully taken her own life. We both wrote about Ophelia! 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. A close-up of Ophelia (1851-1852) by John Everett Millais; John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Maybe if Hamlet wasnt such an ass to her she wouldnt have committed suicide because I think that was truly the last straw for her. Though the man in the song has promised the speaker that they will soon wed, he has left her for no apparent reason and like Hamlets alleged claims of love and marriage to Ophelia, so too has Hamlet broken those vows for reasons unbeknownst. Great points! Sam, Space as an element of art refers to the area utilized in the composition as well as the level of three-dimensionality or depth to create perspective. The gravediggers are used to clearly foreshadow that more deaths will occur in this tragic play, and the audience is made to wonder for whom the next grave will be readied. Hi Sam, I like your post and your analysis of Ophelias character. WebOphelias death was more likely to have been an accident than suicide. 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). 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. Many of the lines throughout her singing episodes also support your claim, as you aptly discuss. Ophelia in the fourth act ofHamletis demonstrably insane, but the direct cause of her slipped sanity is something that remains debatable. John Everett Millais depicted some of these flowers in the Ophelia painting, which we will explore in the visual description below, but he also depicted the flowers and foliage from the Hogsmill River and its bank. One theory is that she deliberately drowned herself in the river out of I really liked the points you brought up about Ophelia, I wrote about her in my blog post as well. Hi Sam, 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. I wonder if her father didnt die would she have reacted to this accident in way? In Act Four she spirals into madness and dies under ambiguous circumstances. WebOphelia was caught up in the political and emotional intrigue and died in mysterious circumstances. Clamb'ring to hang, an envious sliver broke, Fell in the weeping brook. Ophelia exists as a tragic character inHamletand one that is entirely pitiable because of unfortunate circumstances that she has been put through. Sam, You can check out the link to that page below. Her face is still out of the water, and we can see she has an almost listless expression; her eyes are staring out ahead and her mouth is slightly parted. I too agree you regarding Ophelia as a pitiable character in this Shakespeare play. The robin bird holds significant symbolism, including rebirth and death. I wonder if her father didnt die would she have reacted to this accident in the same way? http://www.shmoop.com/hamlet/ Why did Ophelia go crazy in Hamlet? She also stated that while Ophelia was drowning, she seemed oblivious to her plight. Latest answer posted February 17, 2021 at 12:04:07 PM. 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. How does Ophelia take the news of her fathers death in Hamlet? Ofelias madness seems a little more delicate and sudden. I definitely feel that before Polonius dies she is effected by how Hamlet treats her, which the argument I made in my post. WebFor Gertrude is awkwardly unimaginative, as has been seen before. She is also deeply affected by Hamlet's erratic behavior, which is a result of his own turmoil and grief following his father's death. With our Essay Lab, you can create a customized outline within seconds to get started on your essay right away. Ophelia exists as a tragic character inHamletand one that is entirely pitiable because of unfortunate circumstances that she has been put through. But, there are many key events and characters that help support to argument that Ophelia was, in fact, murdered. The orientation of the composition itself is landscape, which creates an overall horizontal linearity, emphasized by Ophelias placement in the scene; her body and the part of the stream she floats in both create a horizontal band running through the center of the canvas. Lacking refined sensibility herself, she cannot well enter into the feelings of others. Because Polonius was such a vital figure in her life, she is likely bereaved beyond help and thus does not recognize her brother. In the midst of her inner turmoil, her depression worsens as she learns that 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Act II, Scenes 12 Summary and Analysis, Act III, Scenes 12 Summary and Analysis, Act III, Scenes 34 Summary and Analysis, Act IV, Scenes 14 Summary and Analysis, Act IV, Scenes 57 Summary and Analysis, Framing Ophelia: Representation and the Pictorial Tradition, Grinning Death's-Head: Hamlet and the Vision of the Grotesque, Mourning and Misogyny: Hamlet, The Revenger's Tragedy, and the Final Progress of Elizabeth I, 1600-1607, Nobler in the Mind: The Dialect in Hamlet, The 'Heart of My Mystery': Hamlet and Secrets, The First Quarto of Hamlet: Reforming Widow Gertred. I definitely feel that before Polonius dies she is effected by how Hamlet treats her, which the argument I made in my post. Ophelia cannot trust her beloved father or her lover, Hamlet, because they are all simply using her against each other. By this logic, of course she went insane. Carol Camden wrote a fantastic article titled Ophelias Madness in which she pretty neatly goes over a variety of theories and quotes several critics. Sam, 3. Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay, myShakespeare | Hamlet 4.7 Gertrudes Description of Ophelia's Death. I wonder which had more an effect? Fortinbrass father, King Fortinbras of Norway, was killed in a battle with King Hamlet. The Ophelia painting was exhibited in 1852 at the Royal Academy of Arts and received a variety of responses, some criticisms, and some praises, for example, The Morning Chronicle from 1852 described it as startling in its originality and a review in The Times newspaper likened Ophelia as a dairymaid in a frolic. Note the use of horizontal lines in the painting Ophelia (1851-1852) by John Everett Millais;John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Ophelia sings more songs and hands out flowers, citing their Ophelia by In Act 4 Scene 7, Queen Gertrude reports that Ophelia had climbed into a willow tree There is a willow grows aslant the brook , and that the branch had broken and dropped Ophelia into the brook, where she drowned. I do pity her as a character because now she is truly on her own and I feel Hamlet and her family is partially to blame. There are several possible interpretations of the circumstances surrounding Ophelia's death. If it had been a suicide, she would not have a Christian burial at all, and only at the urging of the king was There are also several other flowers like a red poppy, daisies, a deep violet/blue cornflower, white jasmine, pansies, marsh marigolds, a cabbage rose, Irises, fritillaries, and more floating down the waters current, mostly along Ophelias right side (our left). He was also made Baronet in 1885. Both her father and her brother believe that Hamlet is using her to achieve his own personal goals. I do pity her as a character because now she is truly on her own and I feel Hamlet and her family is partially to blame. Question 28 options: Horatio Queen Gertrude Marcellus a messenger Ophelia goes mad because her father, Polonius, whom she deeply loved, has been killed by Hamlet. In addition, Hamlet, whom she also loved, has cruelly rejected her. What was Ophelia doing when she drowned? In this article, we will discuss one of the most famous renditions of her tragic end by pre-Raphaelite artist John Everett Millais. Regardless of the exact circumstances of her death, it is clear that Ophelia is a victim of the political and personal conflicts that plague the Danish court. The second is Hamlet himself, who promised much to Ophelia, and whom Ophelia has probably has sex with. Nope: After being bitten, Ofelia survived many many hours longer. Hamlets madness is directly correlated to his fathers death and the appearance of his fathers ghost. 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 agree with the fact you believe her suicide is due to both her fathers death and her complex relationship with Hamlet. Ophelia, obedient, weak-willed, and no feminist role model, deserves the most pity of any character in the play. Her death could be either interpreted as an accident or suicide. What is the ghost wearing when it appears to Horatio? The Ophelia painting depicts organic shapes and forms that are found in nature versus geometric shapes and forms. WebThrough Ophelias interactions with the men of the play, the audience can see that the male-dominated society brings inequality, distrust, and destruction. 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. In Act Four she spirals into madness and dies under ambiguous circumstances. We see in act III that Ophelia is shaken by how Hamlet is treating her harshly where before he was kind and gentle. It was started in 1848 by Millais, William Holman Hunt, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. But sometimes that just don't matter. 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.
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