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. With the loss of her father, brother, and her lover all extremely close together is enough to make anyone go mad I suppose. In the final scene, the violence, so long delayed, erupts with dizzying speed. Claudius then promises to have a monument constructed in her memory. 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 Lee was still alive at that point. She has no way to prevent the death of her father, and no way to reason with the loss of Hamlets affection. It was as if Ophelia did not know what was happening to her. I definitely feel that before Polonius dies she is effected by how Hamlet treats her, which the argument I made in my post. About the Author. Even though, in the beginning, Hamlet is only feigning madness, he is certainly troubled (to say the least) at the end of the play. 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. 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. 2007, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/describe-the-fate-of-ophelia-as-reported-by-441. Instead, she chanted snatches of old lauds [hymns], / As one incapable of her own distress (4.7.18283). A close-up of the robin in Ophelia (1851-1852) by John Everett Millais; John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. 25 minutes ago. It is interesting to me that you believe her suicide is due to both her fathers death AND her complex relationship with Hamlet. It is interesting to me that you believe her suicide is due to both her fathers death AND her complex relationship with Hamlet. 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 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 Ophelias intentions were to kill herself, she would likely either 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). The second is Hamlet himself, who promised much to Ophelia, and whom Ophelia has probably has sex with. Gertrude reports that she fell into the brook and that her clothes became heavy with water and pulled her under. The walker caught in the ventilation fan fell on top of her and took a chuck out of her clavicle. Sam, Wiltshire. who tells Claudio and Laertes the circumstances of Ophelias death? Why does the priest not want to give Ophelia a proper burial? It is important to note that the flowers were significant during the Victorian era, holding various symbolic meanings. WebOphelia was caught up in the political and emotional intrigue and died in mysterious circumstances. 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. 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. Jessica Tovey. Sam, In the Ophelia painting, the vegetation in the foreground and background creates a framing effect, which places our, the viewers, attention on Ophelia in the center. I think your suggestion that Ophelias madness is also the consequential result of her failed relationship with Hamlet is totally credible. In the first three acts, Ophelia is portrayed as a virtuous daughter who knows how to behave at Court. SO many questions that are generated by your post. Ophelias actions in the scenes leading up to her death suggest it, but in truth it was caused by a terrible accident. I really liked the points you brought up about Ophelia, I wrote about her in my blog post as well. This description might support Ophelia's accidental death as a result of her madness. However, he is often quoted from one of his letters written to Mrs. Martha Combe. horatio queen gertrude marcellus a messenger. According to religious doctrine, suicides may not receive Christian burial. 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. I thought your post was interesting because you had a lot to say about Ophelia! WebThe fact that Ophelias death is from Gertrudes standpoint means that the reliability is in question. 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! And you remember the whole business of Ophelia 's burial. Hamlets madness is directly correlated to his fathers death and the appearance of his fathers ghost. Sam, Only Shakespeare knew for sure. Hamlet has fallen in love with Ophelia after the death of his father. I think that Hamlet and Laertes carried on Ophelias madness when she passed away and they both jumped into her grave. 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. Furthermore, Ophelias skin tone is depicted as fair and light, contrasted against the deep dark colors of the water below her. Hi Sam, 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. 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. Lacking refined sensibility herself, she cannot well enter into the feelings of others. Ophelia sucked the honey of his music vows and returned Hamlets affection. Already a member? 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. 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. 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. 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. After Ophelia has gone, Claudius agonizes over her madness and over the stir created by the return of an angry Laertes. She modeled for Millais in a bathtub, floating in the water and wearing a thin dress. I think both her fathers death and her relationship with Hamlet made her depressed and unfortunately made her commit this awful act of suicide. 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. The death of Ophelia is questioned due to different accounts regarding the circumstances of her death. Sam, Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. I too wrote about Ophelia, however based it on her heartbreaking death. 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. Get the latest information and tips about everything Art with our bi-weekly newsletter. A close-up of Ophelia (1851-1852) by John Everett Millais; John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Would she have been more proactive with trying to fight the current of the stream? who tells claudius and laertes about the circumstances surrounding ophelias death? 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 died about 30 seconds before her father, Daniel, arrived from the Tijuana dam. The dominant colors in Ophelia by John Everett Millais are varieties of greens, however, Millais utilized different yellows, blues, whites, and blacks. 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. 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 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. 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. SO many questions that are generated by your post. However, later, at the burial site, the two grave makers are discussing 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. WebAnalysis. WebGertrude speech makes Ophelias death not only more beautiful and tragic to the characters listening but also, to us the audience. Also, in the description of her death it is obviously displaying Ophelia 's madness. Ophelia's death serves as a poignant reminder of the destructive power of the conflicts and intrigues that drive the actions of the characters in "Hamlet." What Does the Ophelia Painting Symbolize? I really liked the points you made about Ophelia and her madness. 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. There's no evidence in the text to suggest that he did. You are right though, her character exists as a tragic character, unfortunately so because her character is so interesting. Little by little, the revelations come with the aid of his fathers ghost. WebOphelia was caught up in the political and emotional intrigue and died in mysterious circumstances. At Hamlet tries to kill Claudius three times. It was started in 1848 by Millais, William Holman Hunt, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The composition is depicted in a horizontal orientation, and the main protagonist and focal point, Ophelia, is floating in a body of water. Famous Dog Paintings Explore Famous Examples of Dog Artwork, The Ugly Duchess by Quinten Massys An In-Depth Analysis, The Death of Marat by Jacques-Louis David In-Depth Analysis, Literary painting (can also be Landscape or Portrait painting), The value is estimated to be around 30 million. Ophelia died by suicide. In the top left corner, atop one of the thin branches, is a robin. Her death could be either interpreted as an accident or suicide. Also Hamlet's own madness and isolation is a cause in Ophelia's deteriorating mental condition. I also think that before Ophelia died Hamlet had a huge effect on her which might have played a huge role with her death. Latest answer posted December 25, 2020 at 10:45:45 AM. 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. SO many questions that are generated by your post. RALPH: The second image of Ophelia that Gertrude proposes is as if she were "a creature native and endued unto that element" in other words, as if Ophelia were a water nymph, or, as Gertrude said a few lines earlier, a mermaid, who fits in so well with this scene that its as if she belonged there, as if it were her home. 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. How does Ophelia take the news of her fathers death in Hamlet? Because of the strong religious sanction against suicide, Ophelia would not want to risk damnation. Webwhat are the circumstances of ophelia's death?how to make an infinite block in minecraft. Shes being torn between two very influential men in her life. It is likely that Ophelia has fixated upon Hamlets detestable oath breaking so much so that in not requiting her love, Hamlet has broken both her heart and her poor mind. Sam, 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. Required fields are marked *. Shes being torn between two very influential men in her life. Fly high, lovely spirit, Hersl Dana.. Webhow many gigatons of carbon were released in 2019. There are several possible interpretations of the circumstances surrounding Ophelia's death. 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. Check out our page on William Shakespeare's Hamlet here! Jessica Tovey is an Australian actor and writer, who has worked across film, theatre and television for over 15 years. I think that you did a great job analyzing Ophelias character, and I think that it helpful as a reader to see the different aspects of her character development to understand what she is going through. Accessed 4 Mar. But sometimes that just don't matter. Her unexpected death left her loved ones in mourning. She has no way to prevent the death of her father, and no way to reason with the loss of Hamlets affection. 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. Well written! To the left of the composition is a large tree stump of a weeping willow with various branches and stinging nettle growing around it. 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. She is holding several flowers in her right hand (our left) and her left (our right) hand is empty. I wonder if her father didnt die would she have reacted to this accident in the same way? Interestingly, in Shakespeares play, Ophelias death was not depicted, but described by the character Queen Gertrude when she spoke to Laertes, who was Ophelias brother in Act 4, Scene 7. An independent inquiry into the circumstances of Ms Sturgess' death will continue this year. This behavior is consistent with Ophelias having gone to the brook intending to kill herself. WebWhen reporting Ophelias death, Gertrude states that there is a willow grows askant the brook (4.7. Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. What's the meaning of this quote from Hamlet: "We're oft to blame and this is just too much proved that with devotion's visage and pious action we do sugar o'er the Devil himself"? Would she have been more proactive with trying to fight the current of the stream? At least Daniel got to put his daughter down before she resurrected. This will be followed by a formal analysis, first discussing the subject matter in greater detail, and then looking at the artists techniques according to the seven art elements, color, texture, line, shape, form, and space, respectively. The combination of her former lovers cruelty and her fathers death sends Ophelia into a fit of grief. 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. A close-up of Ophelias face in John Everett Millais Ophelia (1851-1852) painting;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. Ophelia hasnt any direct control over the influential characters in her life. I never picked up on those lines of her song in relation to Hamlet breaking his promise of marrying her. 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. She also stated that while Ophelia was drowning, she seemed oblivious to her plight.