Ophelia
         

 
 
 
Ophelia in white dress

Ophelia is the beautiful 16 or 17 year old daughter of Polonius who is the chief advisor and ass kisser to the new King Claudius of Denmark. Ophelia's father Polonius was Subservient to the King but Tyrannical to his own family.
Ophelia had a brother, Laertes and her mother had died (either during childbirth with Ophelia or she drowned her self in order to get away from her Tyrannical husband. Back in the 1600s Woman [ Including Queen Gertrude, Hamlet's mother ] were conditioned to think they were Subordinate to the Man. )

Ophelia picking flowers

Ophelia was deeply in love with Hamlet and Hamlet Loved her (However Hamlet had to conceal his love for her so he would not blow his cover as "Crazy act" until he could kill King Claudius who murdered Hamlet's father to get the Throne.)
Ophelia is extremely loyal to her family and obeyed her father's demand not to see Hamlet. Ophelia (Most woman of that time are followers, easily led by the men they love) was unaware that she had control of her own destiny. Ophelia was confused and bothered by this whole affair but been convinced that "The Man" was Always right. When Hamlet said "To be, or not to be: that is the question: . . ." he was referring to the Death of King Claudius, not his own.

Hamlet

Ophelia is confused by the mixed signals, Hamlet's tell her he loves her but his insane outbursts put her down. An so Ophelia starts to believe her love for Hamlet Caused his madness.
Ophelia is young, innocent, naive and as insecure as Hamlet is indecisive.
When Hamlet said to her. To be, or not to be: that is the question: . . . Ophelia took it to mean that she is better off dead.


Ophelia Drowned

Ophelia thinking that she is better off dead having caused Hamlet's Madness. Ophelia so loved Hamlet that would have given up her life for him, and in fact did. As she went to her death in a watery grave, her virginal white dress Spread on the water as Angel Wings as Ophelia shucked off her mortal coil and passed into Eternity.



My HomePage

Last Modified on: