Ofelias madness seems a little more delicate and sudden. I really liked the points you made about Ophelia and her madness. In a fit of anger, Hamlet impulsively kills the man behind the curtain, thinking it was Claudius. Gertrude reports that she fell into the brook and that her clothes became heavy with water and pulled her under. I wonder if her father didnt die would she have reacted to this accident in way? She has no way to prevent the death of her father, and no way to reason with the loss of Hamlets affection. Sam, . WebAnalysis. I wonder which had more an effect? Sam, Art styles before or pre-Raphael were inspirations, and some of the main artistic characteristics were painting realistically, true to nature, also described as Naturalism, and depicting subjects from literature or sometimes the Bible. At the point in the play that you referenced in your question Ophelia, is of course, drowned. SARAH: Ophelia made a wreath of flowers and attempted to hang it on the branches of the willow. She is holding several flowers in her right hand (our left) and her left (our right) hand is empty. Ophelia's death is reported by Gertrude: Hamlet's would-be bride falls from a tree and drowns in a brook. 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. The soliloquy is not about suicide, as some people believe, but rather about Hamlet's existential dilemma. But, we cant ignore the lines that signify the other figure her grieving is fixated upon: Hamlet. Already a member? Ophelias maddness I believe, like you, is caused be her loss of her loved ones. Who tells Claudius and Laertes about the circumstances surrounding Ophelia's death? Both her father and her brother believe that Hamlet is using her to achieve his own personal goals. Well written! WebIt was the death of Hamlets father that becomes the focal point of the play. With our Essay Lab, you can create a customized outline within seconds to get started on your essay right away. If it had been a suicide, she would not have a Christian burial at all, and only at the urging of the king was 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. The gravedigger believed that political favors were granted. This can also be conveyed through various other elements like color, shapes, and the scale of objects, as well as how much detail is depicted, which is noticeable in Millaiss Ophelia painting. Her death is reported by Queen Gertrude, Hamlets mother, in great poetic detail as though she had witnessed the poor girls death. I really enjoyed your post any how you revolved it around what you considered to be Ophelias madness. Many of the lines throughout her singing episodes also support your claim, as you aptly discuss. Shes being torn between two very influential men in her life. 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. Why did Ophelia go crazy in Hamlet? Well written! However, later, at the burial site, the two grave makers are discussing Ophelia's death. Its upsetting to see anyone go through all of these unfortunate circumstances because it realistically can happen to anybody. Latest answer posted November 19, 2020 at 1:33:52 PM. Ophelia sucked the honey of his music vows and returned Hamlets affection. It causes many people to wonder if she should even be buried in the christian cemetery. The series of 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. It is important to note that the flowers were significant during the Victorian era, holding various symbolic meanings. 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. Yet much speculation remains about the details of her death. What major philosophical points dominate Hamlet's soliloquy in Scene 1? Ophelias Role in Hamlet by William Shakespeare In Hamlet, one of the many things Shakespeare shows us is how the world can change a person, how certain circumstances can knock a person so out of proportion with who they used to be that they take on a new persona, a new identity. In act 2, scene 2, what use does Hamlet plan to make of the players? I wonder if her father didnt die would she have reacted to this accident in way? There's no evidence in the text to suggest that he did. 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. Its quite the strain to put on anyones mental state. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. In the final scene, the violence, so long delayed, erupts with dizzying speed. 3. What is the importance of the gravedigger scene in the story of Hamlet? Ophelia hasnt any direct control over the influential characters in her life. Analysis WebThrough Ophelias interactions with the men of the play, the audience can see that the male-dominated society brings inequality, distrust, and destruction. 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. I think both her fathers death and her relationship with Hamlet made her depressed and unfortunately made her commit this awful act of suicide. I really enjoyed your post any how you revolved it around what you considered to be Ophelias madness. However, he is often quoted from one of his letters written to Mrs. Martha Combe. Hamlet has fallen in love with Ophelia after the death of his father. William Shakespeares Hamlet (c. 15991601) was a tale of love, murder, madness, and heartbreak, of which the character Ophelia met her end, drowning in a brook, but is forever immortalized in the visual arts. He was also made Baronet in 1885. Well written! The reappearance of the mad Ophelia is devastating to Laertes. 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. 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. Hamlet tries to kill Claudius three times. The death of a woman is under investigation after authorities said she was found in her apartment on Stella Link Road. It is interesting to analyze this scene to see that both her fathers death and Hamlets act led to 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. Her beauty, innocence and determination to love Hamlet as young as she was leads her to do things that she would not have done if she had clear knowledge of A close-up of the different flowers in Ophelia (1851-1852) by John Everett Millais;John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. There is a necklace of purple violets around her neck and a small pink rosebud on its stem near her right ear. When Laertes breaks in on Claudius and Gertrude, Claudius asserts his innocence with regard to Poloniuss death. Her head is situated to the left of the composition, and her feet face towards the right-hand side. 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. In the top left corner, atop one of the thin branches, is a robin. Your email address will not be published. I loved your analysis on Ophelia and your text examples on how she viewed each horrific death of her loved ones. These include a variety, from the diamond-like and oval shapes of the leaves to the circular and patterned shapes of the flowers. SO many questions that are generated by your post. There are several possible interpretations of the circumstances surrounding Ophelia's death. Even though, in the beginning, Hamlet is only feigning madness, he is certainly troubled (to say the least) at the end of the play. She also disclose s that this pain and suffering had been the prime cause of her tragic end and took her to the death bed. Hamlet ridiculed her and her father, Im assuming a person closest to her as there is no mention of a mother, dies unexpectingly. Last Update: October 15, 2022 This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Well written! Wiltshire. 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. Her madness stems from the death of her father but carries over once shes lost Hamlet. 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. 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. WebFor Gertrude is awkwardly unimaginative, as has been seen before. Ophelia's death is an unplayed scene; it does not appear on stage. Vote everyone! Claudius then promises to have a monument constructed in her memory. 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. Their fathers deaths play a significant role in the actions and motivations of each character. But, there are many key events and characters that help support to argument that Ophelia was, in fact, murdered. Latest answer posted December 18, 2020 at 11:36:35 AM. I agree with the fact you believe her suicide is due to both her fathers death and her complex relationship with Hamlet. WebOphelia enters singing about death and betrayal. But, we cant ignore the lines that signify the other figure her grieving is fixated upon: Hamlet. 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. Alternatively, it is possible that her madness and confusion caused her to accidentally fall into the water and drown. 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. The questions behind Ophelia's death has to do with her mental state at the time of her tragic flower-gathering. The willow is symbolic to Ophelias death because it relates the 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). It depicts the scene of Ophelias death described by Queen Gertrude in Act 4, Scene 7. I never picked up on those lines of her song in relation to Hamlet breaking his promise of marrying her. There are several possible interpretations of the circumstances surrounding Ophelia's death. There arent any other characters in the play that her references to promised love could be accountable for WebThe combination of her former lovers cruelty and her fathers death sends Ophelia into a fit of grief. In Act Four she spirals into madness and dies under ambiguous circumstances. WebThe questions behind Ophelia's death has to do with her mental state at the time of her tragic flower-gathering. John Everett Millais painted so close to nature that you would think the Ophelia painting is a photograph. 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). She does not decide to save herself, or to even deliver herself onto death, but ultimately ignores her freedom to choose and continues to abide by her own indifference. The tragedy follows the story of Prince Hamlet as he undergoes states of insanity, depression, and eventual death. Lee had made his way down to Wilmer to sell narcotics two these two individuals. Great points! 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. In the painting Ophelia by John Everett Millais, the woman who modeled was Elizabeth Siddall, who was 19 years old. Her father's death would have been traumatic, of course, but the fact that Hamlet did it makes her even more distraught. I too wrote about Ophelia, however based it on her heartbreaking death. SO many questions that are generated by your post. Ophelias madness is perhaps overtaking her so much so that she does not even recognize whom she is talking to in this instanceher brother Laertes. Painting Ophelia was no walk in the park for Millais, and he weathered the elements around him, reportedly from early in the morning to the evening, for around five months, but in the end, he created a composition that was almost photographic. I wonder which had more an effect? 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. Hi Sam, Further explicit references to Ophelias father, such as I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died. Great points! Artist Abstract: Who Was John Everett Millais?