what are the circumstances of ophelia's death?

Polonius is killed by Hamlet, who thought he was 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. Video journalist: Emma Colman. 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. If Ophelias intentions were to kill herself, she would likely either 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. Fly high, lovely spirit, Hersl Dana.. Furthermore, women would often be the main protagonists, and artists would depict them from live models. Towards the middle foreground is a mossy/algae patch with small white flowers growing from it, which could be stream water crowfoot. Your email address will not be published. Both her father and her brother believe that Hamlet is using her to achieve his own personal goals. I wonder if her father didnt die would she have reacted to this accident in the same way? She died about 30 seconds before her father, Daniel, arrived from the Tijuana dam. Whether or not her death was a suicide is the subject of much debate among Shakespearean scholars. 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. Although she is tragic, she is also used at will with the men around her. 190). Even though, in the beginning, Hamlet is only feigning madness, he is certainly troubled (to say the least) at the end of the play. Though she is demeaned by Laertes, Polonius, and Hamlet, Ophelia exhibits intelligence and independence and ultimately resorts to suicide in order to free herself from the power of the men around her. Lee was still alive at that point. SO many questions that are generated by your post. Ophelia (18511852), painted by John Everett Millais, was based on the character from William Shakespeares famous play Hamlet (c. 15991601). 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. There is a briar rose bush with white blooms more towards the middle background, and to its left (our right) are either the teasel flowering plant or meadowsweet flowers. Wiltshire. The scene depicted is of the circumstances of Ophelia's death described in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', Act 4, Scene 7. SARAH: Ophelia made a wreath of flowers and attempted to hang it on the branches of the willow. 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. With this evidence, those involved in the incident should be held accountable for their part in her death. Problems that could have prompted her to end her life which include being thought of as an obedient piece of property. Notice the broken tip of one of the leaves and the overall smoothness, upright firmness, yet soft flexibility. 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. Sam, Self-portrait (1881) by John Everett Millais;John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. 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. We both wrote about Ophelia! In this article, we will discuss one of the most famous renditions of her tragic end by pre-Raphaelite artist John Everett Millais. 25 minutes ago. 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. 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! WebHe suddenly reveals all his secrets and admits that the burden of having killed his brother is bothering him. It is interesting to analyze this scene to see that both her fathers death and Hamlets acts led to her madness. Claudius then promises to have a monument constructed in her memory. The death of a woman is under investigation after authorities said she was found in her apartment on Stella Link Road. He was one of the leading artists and founders of the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood group. Then, Ophelia's funeral procession takes place, and Hamlet and Ophelia's brother Laertes confront each other. The first is her father, Polonius, who bids her stay away from Hamlet, and then go to Hamlet to help spy on him. WebGertrude speech makes Ophelias death not only more beautiful and tragic to the characters listening but also, to us the audience. 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. It causes many people to wonder if she should even be Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. WebThe fact that Ophelias death is from Gertrudes standpoint means that the reliability is in question. WebFor Gertrude is awkwardly unimaginative, as has been seen before. It is interesting to analyze this scene to see that both her fathers death and Hamlets act led to her madness. I too wrote about Ophelia, however based it on her heartbreaking death. As the scene opens, two gravediggers are conversing about the suspicious manner of Ophelia's death. These include a variety, from the diamond-like and oval shapes of the leaves to the circular and patterned shapes of the flowers. The walker caught in the ventilation fan fell on top of her and took a chuck out of her clavicle. WebOphelia was caught up in the political and emotional intrigue and died in mysterious circumstances. His style ranged from portrait paintings to landscapes and he was also commissioned by several important political figures, namely William Ewart Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli. But, there are many key events and characters that help support to argument that Ophelia was, in fact, murdered. In the final scene, the violence, so long delayed, erupts with dizzying speed. Their fathers deaths play a significant role in the actions and motivations of each character. Alternatively, it is possible that her madness and confusion caused her to accidentally fall into the water and drown. Her death comes in the denouement of the play following the Act 3 climax. He and Hamlet then quarrel over who loved Ophelia more, and WebIt was the death of Hamlets father that becomes the focal point of the play. BBC News. In the begining of the play Ophelia knows that Hamlet loves her yet decides to keep her distance because her brother tells her to. 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. Its quite the strain to put on anyones mental state. Ophelia exists as a tragic character inHamletand one that is entirely pitiable because of unfortunate circumstances that she has been put through. 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. Why is ophelia's funeral so brief and unceremonious? 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. 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 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. Both the loss of her beloved father and Ophelia's death is one of the great Shakespearean mysteries that is never fully explained in Her clothes spread wide, And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up, Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds, As one incapable of her own distress However, Ophelia's innate weakness probably assured that she would not have had the courage to kill herself. 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. Sam, 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. Why did Ophelia go crazy in Hamlet? I really liked the points you made about Ophelia and her madness. I like the way that you wrote about Ophelia singing as her madness. You are right though, her character exists as a tragic character, unfortunately so because her character is so interesting. 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. I think that throughout Hamlet, madness is exhibited in many forms and Hamlets madness is very different from Ofelias. 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. To the left of the composition is a large tree stump of a weeping willow with various branches and stinging nettle growing around it. If it had been a suicide, she would not have a Christian burial at all, and only at the urging of the king was 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). Laertess revenge was very similar yet different from the actions of Hamlet and Fortinbras. It is important to note that Ophelia was also closely associated with flowers, and certain flowers held symbolic meanings. 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. 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. He utilized a lush mixture of hues to create the tonal contrasts of color, especially between the darker shadier parts of the foliage and the lighter parts illuminated by natural light. 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). Hi Sam, 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 in the Graveyard Act 5 Scene 1 of Hamlet opens in a graveyard. Section. Ophelia (18511852) by John Everett Millais;John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. either. 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. A sexton suggests as much at her gravesite, to the outrage of Laertes. Her father's death would have been traumatic, of course, but the fact that Hamlet did it makes her even more distraught. As the play progresses, Ophelia becomes increasingly isolated and distressed as she is manipulated by the men in her life, particularly her father and brother, who forbid her from seeing Hamlet. Ophelia hasnt any direct control over the influential characters in her life. 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. WebOphelias actions in the scenes leading up to her death suggest it, but in truth it was caused by a terrible accident. She and her husband Thomas Combe were both friends as well as promoters of the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood art, comparing the conditions as a greater punishment to a murderer than hanging.