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Symbols In Ophelia's Suicide

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Symbols In Ophelia's Suicide
Unlike the former subordinancy demonstrated by the female sex, Ophelia’s insanity and untimely death in the final acts of the play may reveal something far more methodical. Upon Ophelia’s entrance in Act 4, she sings nonsense songs that are rarely interpreted as anything other than her madness. However, the young woman begins to hand out flowers to those around her. Fitting to the Elizabethan setting of the play, each flower represents something different, something important. Fennel is flattery and deceit, relating to Claudius and Polonius’ use of her; pansies are for thoughts, possibly due to Ophelia’s former lack of independent thought; columbines for the foolishness of the rulers of Denmark; daisies for her innocence. Rosemary may represent …show more content…
Violets symbolize modesty and chastity; the death of the violets is the death of her purity. Repentance before death is imperative to the characters of Hamlet. If they do not successfully do so, they may be subject to a life in Purgatory or Hell. Ophelia’s song may have been a discreet admission of her sins and repentance in preparation of her impending death. As she is falling in the brook, she holds crow flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples. Crow flowers, or buttercups, stand for ingratitude; ingratitude of herself for her own life, or ingratitude of others for not appreciating the people and objects they have in their lives. Nettles and daisies pair together to symbolize the sharp opinions associated with female virginity and the painfulness of fake innocence, and the orchids, called “long purples” in Hamlet, represent Ophelia’s sexuality that she wants to literally take to the grave with her. Her careful approach to death shows her as a hidden feminist. She finally takes control of her own life and proves to everyone that she would rather die than stay subject to those who prevent her from thinking for herself. Ophelia ended her life with a final defiance to those who controlled her life and took away her
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