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Ophelia In Hamlet

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Flowers are nature's beauty that blossom and wither and are swayed by the weather and seasons that control their growth. William Shakespeare’s, Hamlet, focuses one of the effects of life's disappointments, heartbreak, and betrayal which is “madness,” by giving readers insight to Ophelia’s life journey and troubles that led to her death. Ophelia, a young woman in love, but caught between her father and brothers disapproval of her love for Hamlet lived during an era where fixed gender expectations had to be met, so she had a restrained freedom, however; she still had an internal love for Hamlet that was absolute. Once he broke her heart her heart began to wither slowly, then her father died which led to madness, the state of being mentally and …show more content…

Although Ophelia lived during an era where women had a little more freedom, she was still low in status to men and had to submit. John Everett Millais, illustration Ophelia, illustrates Ophelia submerged in water and letting go. Ophelia is floating in a river, floating away from her misery and sadness. She is faintly holding a bouquet of flowers and these flowers represent the love she had for Hamlet, Laertes, and Polonius. The three men who held the most important roles in her life are the same men that never appreciated her and her decisions wholeheartedly. Hamlet betrayed the absolute love they had for each other and it became relative. Polonius opposed the relationship and told her that Hamlet didn't love her, but wanted to use her for his own selflessness as did Laertes. Readers can see in the picture that she is letting go of the agonizing control of men in her life and becoming free. Once Polonius died Ophelia went mad because Hamlet had let their love go and now the male influences in her life were withering away. Ophelia states, “ I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died,” (). Violets symbolize faithfulness and fidelity, so she when she says this to the queen, she is saying that her loyalty was only to her father. Even though her father didn't agree with her, Ophelia still loved her father. She is also telling the king and queen that they betrayed her and her

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