Danielle, Ophelia first issues rosemary, a symbol of remembrance, to her brother. The lines quoted above suggest that Ophelia and Hamlet may have had a sexual relationship, or at least that some form of sexual desire existed between them. My conclusion is that it was an unplanned suicide..lol. By drawing comparisons between what is unfamiliar to something that is familiar to the reader, figurative imagery can change complex ideas into relatable concepts. We offer 10% discount to all our return customers. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service. The priest seems to imply that Ophelia was not a virgin when she died—but was allowed to be buried as one, just as she was allowed to receive funeral rites in spite of the fact that she took her own life. The constant debate over whether Ophelia’s death was a suicide or an accident could be lessened by the idea that Ophelia hung flowers to show she has given up, and knew she was going to die. This would have prevented Ophelia from committing suicide. Danielle, At no point during Hamlet was there a straight up answer that Ophelia committed suicide, but instead it is said that her clothes weighed her down. I think as you mentioned Ophelia did “give herself away” in so many ways. By hiding behind his mask of insanity after accidentally killing Ophelias father, Ophelias lover ultimately loses his true-love: Ophelia. Claudius and Gertrude, recognizing their … The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. At the end of Act 3, Hamlet killed Polonius, in the mistaken belief that he was killing his uncle. Which if clothes equals identity, then Ophelia’s identity is what pulled her to her death, and that … Ophelia wearing heavy clothing and singing could be a sign that Ophelia wanted to end her life and having her clothing, the flowers and her singing being important parts of her death, it could point to Ophelia setting up a “perfect” setting for her to die in, peacefully and on her own. William Shakespeare's Hamlet follows the young prince Hamlet home to Denmark to attend his father's funeral. The tone of Gertrude’s statement (ll. Once you place your order you will receive an email with the password. There are many different causes for her death, an important one being madness. Dramatic irony results because only Hamlet and the readers know the … The fact that she had numerous layers of heavy garments on suggests that maybe it was too heavy and that is why she drowned but her random signing as she’s drowning is definitely a sign that she did not want to help herself and just wanted to drown in peace. So sad. Further investigating the death of Ophelia based on our discussion from class, I was heavily intrigued by the emphasis of the flowers. A love song about St. Valentines Day gives the audience an insight into the romantic rejection she has experienced: Tomorrow is Saint Valentines day, All in the morning become, And I a maid at your window, To be your Valentine. Louis: G. T. Jones and Company. I really enjoyed the points that you brought up. Claudius, alarmed, sent Hamlet off to England, intending to have him assassinated. Copyright © 2021 | Theme: Yoko by ElmastudioHosted by SUNY New Paltz Sites. Shakespeare employs it in his works masterfully. I believe that we can connect clothes to identity in this play too, as Queen Gertrude could tell that it was Ophelia drowning due to the garments that she was wearing. Lastly something that really caught my attention when rereading the lines of Ophelia’s death was a few specific lines, “Her clothes spread wide,/ And mermaid-like a while they bore her up;/which she chanted snatches of old tunes,/ as one incapable of her own distress” (4.7.146-149). (IV, v, ll. In Twelfth Night we focused on the fact that Viola/Cesario could not marry Duke Orsino until she had her womanly clothes, as this was what gave her identity. timely revisions until completely satisfied, Times New Roman font 12 pts, double-spaced. Previous to the mouse-trap scene, Hamlet speaks with Ophelia using an angry tone that frightens the maiden and leads her to believe that her lover is insane. Irony was used as a literary device in Hamlet to combine the two extremes of humor and tragedy. Every flower symbolizes a certain attribute associated with the character and Ophelias judgment of that character. The first part of that that caught my eye was the inclusion of referring to her clothes as spread wide, because that is quite a sexual reference and it was often noted or questioned as to whether the fact Ophelia still had her virginity or not. The Death of Polonius and its Impact on Hamlet's Character From The System of Shakespeare's dramas. I love the points you brought up about the flowers, Ophelia’s clothing, and her possible suicide. In her insanity, that, ironically, possesses an undertone of logic, Ophelia distributes specific flowers to each character. Lastly, the fact that she was incapable of her own distress, leads me to believe that she wasn’t sure of what she was doing, which is contrary to what I originally thought that she knew that she was going to die. Her death could be either interpreted as an accident or suicide. Ophelia suggests that the queen wear [her] rue with a difference (IV, v, ll. Each answer should be anywhere from 1-2 paragraphs long. Laertes understands the meaning behind her donation of rosemary and says, this nothings more than matter, (IV, V, ll. He is the only toxin in her blood, the robber of her virginity. As the thorns of life, the death of her father and the loss of a lover, continue to break Ophelias heart, she sinks into a period of severe depression. A note on Ophelia's characterization: Although Gertrude reports that Ophelia fell in the stream and drowned, there is evidence that her death is a suicide. Ophelia also muses over her fathers improper burial when she utters, larded with sweet flowers which beset to the grave did not go with true-love showers (IV, v, ll. What wilt thou do for her? So, yes Hamlet is upset but it is rather ironic because of how he had used Ophelia to achieve his own ends for revenge. Therefore, after reviewing the scene of Ophelia’s death numerous times, I am officially left confused as to whether or not Ophelia was in fact committing suicide, or her death was a horrible accident. Finally, Ophelia is better understood in the presence of irony. Eventually, Ophelia commits suicide and the gentleness of her character is ultimately revealed through the peacefulness of her decent into the afterlife. 58 - 63) Ophelia admits that Hamlet has taken away her virginity and that he had promised to wed her. Verbal irony is used when Ophelia makes use of the word cock (IV, v, l. 62). NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. In addition, a rose, like love, has thorns that prick and cause pain. Ophelia deserved to have her own identity, but this identity, if clothes in fact mean identity in this play too, is what turned out to be Ophelia’s biggest downfall. In Act 4, following the death of Polonius, his daughter Ophelia goes mad. There are always defects in the model of goodness and Ophelia flaunts these blemishes of humankind. First, her death seems to be passive: rather than straight-up committing suicide, as Gertrude tells us, she accidentally falls in the water and then simply neglects to save herself from sinking. As Ophelia performs her foolish ballads before the crown, all of the spectators, except Laertes, are unable to comprehend the seriousness of her lyrics. Some of her songs seem to be about her father’s death, but others, like this one, concern premarital sex. Ophelias death is situational irony because she drowns draped in flowers, very opposite to her fathers untraditional burial that did not have flowers. Describe Laertes' response to his father's death. Use complete sentences. There are further references to Ophelia’s father, such as “I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died,” show Ophelia’s shattered mental state, as she is constantly fixating on the death of Polonius, so much that everything reminds her of … In Twelfth Night we focused on the fact that Viola/Cesario could not marry Duke Orsino until she had her womanly clothes, as this was what gave her identity. Ophelias character can be developed through the use of the literary devices of figurative imagery, symbolism and irony. Ophelias character can be described as loving, gentle and innocent through the use of flower imagery. switches the order for their death for the paper they carry ordering his PART FOUR: Essay Questions (10 points each) Write clearly and legibly. I agree, it is clear clothes equal identity in this play as we learn that is in fact what ultimately weighs her down in the water. 48 - 55) Ophelia finishes off her ballad Ill make an end ont (IV, v, l. 57) with another ironic ballad: By Gis and By Saint Charity, Alack and fie for shame, Young men will dot if They come tot By cock they are to blame. Hamlet is the name of Ophelias lover and the title of Shakespeare's most renowned play. Ophelias realization that her love for Hamlet is aimless is the thorn that pricks Ophelia. Next, Ophelias character is revealed through the use of symbolism. The Death of Ophelia The character of Ophelia in Hamlet enters the play as a content, though naïve, young woman. The discussion we had in class when we notice she hangs the wildflowers as a monument before her own death does suggest that is was if she almost knew she was going to die or had just “given up” which leads me to believe it was suicide. Importance • The dramatic irony of this scene is very effective because it causes the most tragic scene in the play to occur. 181 - 183) she is referring to her disappointment in Hamlet for killing her father. One thing I know for sure is, after spending the semester heavily analyzing the women Shakespeare brought to us, I am officially out of hope for finding a happy ending, or a strong powerful woman, this semester. Ophelia gives columbine, for unfaithfulness, to the queen, accusing her of incestuous behavior. While the spectators probably understand the meaning of the word cock referring to God, Ophelia wants them to pick-up the hidden message of the sins of men their penises. I loved Ophelia. Danielle, Ophelia gives rue to herself and the queen. 38 - 40). That being said, I do not think Ophelia committed suicide, but I also don’t think she was totally oblivious to what was happening as she floated down the river. doubtful hope. These ballads are ironic because while Hamlet, who is only pretending to be insane, cannot bring himself to confession, Ophelia is able to reveal the truth in her state of insanity. Hamlet loves Ophelia and feigns madness for her sympathy. When Ophelia dies, she is surrounded by crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purple (IV, vii, ll. This literary device functions to uncover the messages hidden behind Ophelias fractured speech and unpredictable actions. Ophelia also gives her brother pansies for thoughts, urging him to reflect on the madness of the recent events in the kingdom. If Ophelia’s intentions were to kill herself, she would likely either poison or stab herself, as they are both quick and easy; drowning is not usually the preferred method of suicide – it is long and painful. How is Hamlet changed and … 38). However, her death - though bandied about as suicide - is ironic because although Hamlet 'feigns' madness while he ponders how to avenge himself on Claudius for murdering his father and whoring his mother, Ophelia is the real thing; she is driven mad by her lover's (Hamlet's) killing of her father, Polonius , (by mistake of course, but typical of Hamlet's failure to act when an ideal opportunity … However, one may also speculate that this metaphor is an emblem of Ophelias abiding love for Hamlet; a rose is often associated with love, passion and beauty, and, therefore, can represent Ophelia and Hamlet's intimate relationship. She reverts to a simple-minded state, entering a world of madness. First, Ophelias character is unearthed by the use of figurative imagery. She is able to judge others because she herself is above judgment in her state of insanity. 7 - 10) In this quotation, Laertes is trying to convince Ophelia that Hamlet is not to be trusted, and that his love for her may be deceitful. 168 - 169). Get an answer for 'In Hamlet, when Ophelia tells his father that Hamlet is mad, how does the dramatic irony affect the plot, mood, theme and character? Danielle, No human can grasp perfection because being sinless is unachievable in nature. I really enjoy your connection of clothing to identity. I think Ophelia’s clothes are very significant as well because we talked a lot about clothing and how it relates to identity. The fact that Ophelia’s clothing is what pulled her down and essentially drowned her into a muddy death is something that I found heavily ironic. Ophelia is driven mad by these event and … A love song about St. Valentines Day gives the audience an insight into the romantic rejection she has experienced: Tomorrow is Saint Valentines day, All in the morning become, And I a maid at your window, To be your Valentine. Laertes is quite upset and wants revenge immediately on his father. The other characters choose to hide their secrets from the world, as guilt and frustration accumulate inside of them. Someone noted that the flowers present within the death of Ophelia were flowers that could be representing fertility, which is ironic in the fact with the death of fertility is also the “death” or end of hope for any chance of Ophelia reproducing, or being fertile. ... To state that Ophelia's death was suicide therefore explaining why she had a non-Christian burial. Quoth she, Before you tumbled me, You promised me to Wed. Gertrude must also ask for forgiveness for her crime of incestuous marriage. 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