Preview

Deathly Tranquility In Hamlet

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
900 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Deathly Tranquility In Hamlet
Tabitha Smith
Instructor: Dr. Hochmeister
English- 1302-133
30 September 2015
Homework 6: Essay Option 6
Deathly Tranquility
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross wrote, “Watching a peaceful death of a human being reminds us of a falling star; one of a million lights in a vast sky that flares up for a brief moment only to disappear into the endless night forever.” The paintings of Ophelia from Shakespeare’s Hamlet are a classic representation of the human race’s desire for peace through death. Many versions of Ophelia through the depiction of paint can be viewed online. The Art Renewal Center Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art show great representations. John Everett Millais, Eugene Delacroix, Alexandre Cabanel, John William Waterhouse whose works …show more content…
Shakespeare states it thus through his character Polonius, “Affection, puh, you speak like a green girl / Unsifted in such perilous circumstance”(1.2.101). Her sheltered life filled with grandeur thoughts of love and days spent picking flowers developed within her a frailty that is exposed, not only physically, but mentally through her actions and words in Hamlet, but also through the artwork. Her skin is illustrated as smooth and pure white, indicating the absence of harsh living and a naivety. Ophelia’s face in all the artists renderings, except Ewerbeck’s, is shown as peaceful and wistful but resigned with remorse. Her worry free brow and her alabaster skin shows no blemish from the sun in each of the paintings, while John William Waterhouse’s representation exposes her mind and soul through her eyes as if they are pools of sorrow. All of the artists agree on her status by clothing her in elaborate dresses befitting her. Carlos Ewebeck’s painting stands apart from the others by portraying her with her head turned away and unclothed as if in shame. Her unadorned nakedness shows her virginity, vulnerability and great …show more content…
Delacroix’s La Mort d’Ophelie portrays the most vivid or real scenario of a death in motion but still evokes a heavy sense of peace. The depth of color and hue in each painting parallels the play in its complexity and captures the essence of tragedy through the lens of peacefulness. Death usually swallows sorrow, betrayal and even madness but in both works of art and the play, it unfolds the petals of peace and tranquility. And as Shakespeare said through Hamlet, “The rest is silence”
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Hamlet's Struggle and Disillusionment
    • 1139 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Hamlet's Struggle and Disillusionment

    In the light of your critical study, does this statement resonate with your own interpretation of Hamlet?…

    • 1139 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ophelia Symbolism
    • 52 Words
    • 1 Page

    Ophelia Symbolism

    Directions: Research Sir John Everett Millais’s painting Ophelia. Using this painting as basis, create your own original interpretation of Ophelia’s death. Some elements of your painting may be similar to Millais’s painting, but not identical. Your painting should make use of symbolism and come up with an unconventional take on the scene.…

    • 52 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Summer Reading Assignment: Shelley's Frankenstein
    • 940 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Summer Reading Assignment: Shelley's Frankenstein

    5. Shelley includes Dr. Darwin’s name in the preface because of the creatures extreme adaptations.…

    • 940 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Cask of Amontillado
    • 632 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Cask of Amontillado

    I think that "The Cask Of Amontillado" is believable because it seems like Montresor is fed up with Fortunato. Poe also leads us to believe that Fortunato is foolish enough to follow Montresor into the dark catacombs to get to the amontillado that he is an expert on. The story is a dark tale of a presumably insane man who suffers from, according to him, "the thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could"(75). Montresor has never told us exactly what Fortunato had done to him to make him so frustrated. We can only assume that it had to be many things that added up over a period of time.…

    • 632 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    A Parallel Guidin Ophelia In Shakespeare's Hamlet
    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages

    A Parallel Guidin Ophelia In Shakespeare's Hamlet

    These contrasts are Hamlet’s desires, the things that he desperately needs and what keeps him living. Ophelia is the coal to his train (of thought), something which Ophelia does not always feel the same about him. “Hamlet: Lady, shall I lie in your lap? Ophelia: No, my lord. Hamlet: I mean, my head upon your lap? Ophelia: Ay, my lord. Hamlet: Do you think I meant country matters?” (60) As the story progresses Ophelia realizes that the man she loved has gone through a transformation. He is no the longer the same person. In frustration and despair, she effectively puts her foot down, a brake, by what most readers believe to be suicide. As she, the tracks, tear themselves apart, the train that is Hamlets goes careening off down the middle to destruction, a ten pounder flying down the bowling lane determined to knock down all pins: his adversaries and friends. Ophelia was the crucial point that held together all that was Hamlet; with her death, so was sealed the fate of every other…

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ophelia Weakness Reveals Hamlet's Stren
    • 899 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Ophelia Weakness Reveals Hamlet's Stren

    Her weak mindedness and cowardice eventually leads to her suicide; however, the cause of her of emotional weakness is due to forces beyond her control. Ophelia’s subjection to the loss of two loved ones at the same time allocates an overwhelming feeling of devastation that she is incapable of coping with due to her lack of mental strength. Claudius recognizes the intensity and overpowering nature of her suffering as he states that “when sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in batallions,” (IV, iv, 77). Ophelia’s immense losses include the Polonius’ murder, in addition to the Hamlet rejecting her feelings. The death of Polonius not only means the death of her dad additionally the one whom she derives all of her guidance from. The lack of support for Ophelia during this vulnerable period of her life further weakens her emotional stability; furthermore, Hamlet’s unusual conduct leaves Ophelia feeling more isolated and disliked. Hamlet illuminates his unorthodox demeanor to her by denying her mementos and by blatantly denies having ever loved her as states, “I loved you not” (III, i, 118). Denying the remembrances, he alludes to the…

    • 899 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Disease, Decay and Poison in Hamlet
    • 1198 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Disease, Decay and Poison in Hamlet

    Ideas about death and physical decay constantly recur in much of the imagery in Hamlet not only in order to depict the character development and convey Hamlets true emotions to the audience, but also to serve as a metaphorical message on a larger scale. For instance, the imagery of decay is utilized to help comprehend the depression Hamlet feels in his first soliloquy about suicide: O that this too sullied flesh would melt, thaw, and resolve itself into a dew (I.ii 129-130), followed by his comparison of the world to an unweeded garden. This is the first time that Hamlet unleashes his thoughts on the situation and creates a visualization of death. Hamlet thus communicates with the audience putting strong emphasis on his desire not to exist in this world anymore. An image of Hamlets flesh rotting is produced, followed by a picture of a beautiful garden corrupted by disastrous weeds that will destroy the good life. At this moment the audience can grasp Hamlets true emotions as they are able to feel the pain and his yearn for death. Thus, the real imagery about the way Hamlet feels is brought forth. Furthermore, when Laertes comes to the castle to get information on his fathers murder, the hysterical Ophelia pretends to give him different flowers that represent something, but when she comes to the violets, which resembles faithfulness, she says that they have all withered when my father died (IV.v 182). In this quote, the imagery of decay is present because both her…

    • 1198 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Oedipus Rex
    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Oedipus Rex

    In the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (rpt. in James P. Place, Literature: A reader for Freshman Composition II, 1st ed. [Boston: Pearson, 2011] 122-168), the oracles had prophesied that Oedipus would kill his father and beget children by his mother. Oedipus does not want to do the things that Apollo predicted; he is no puppet, but indeed the controller of his own fate. Oedipus was unwilling to have his fate come true; he was frightened that he would kill his adopted parents. He believes they were his real parents, therefore he left to Thebes. The decision he made was based on the stories he heard. This led to Oedipus’s own downfall.…

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    The Sanity of Hamlet
    • 1831 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The Sanity of Hamlet

    Method in the Madness: Hamlet's Sanity Supported Through His Relation to Ophelia and Edgar's Relation to Lear…

    • 1831 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet's Insanity
    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Hamlet's Insanity

    In Shakespeare's "Hamlet", Hamlet, the main character, displays a very indecisive and uncertain demeanor throughout Hamlet. This recurrent behavior is displayed when: Hamlet first encounters the Ghost of his father, to learn that Hamlet's Uncle, the King, killed Hamlet's Father, also in Shakespeare's most prolific monologue of Hamlet and lastly when Hamlet stabs one of the King's confidants, Polonius. Hamlet's wavering decision making as well as his uncertainty in everything leads to Hamlet's apparent insanity; although he is not completely insane, just to a certain degree that allows him to be somewhat sane.…

    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Effects Of Grief In Hamlet
    • 2862 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Effects Of Grief In Hamlet

    Grief is a universal emotion felt by everyone at some point or another during the course of their lives. Its effects can be very diverse and adverse, causing different people to act in very different ways. It is very unpredictable because it is unique for each person, thus it is difficult to ease or even ascertain. It is accompanied by many other painful and confusing emotions and if not dealt with properly, it may prove to be cataclysmic. The theme of grief is quite prevalent throughout William Shakespeare 's "Hamlet", as virtually every character in the play experiences it. In fact, all of the main characters experience this emotion before the play is through. Grief has many causes and as a result, many outcomes, but the one thing that remains…

    • 2862 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Sanity of Hamlet
    • 1066 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Sanity of Hamlet

    Hamlet’s mind at first glance is not all it appears to be. One would believe Hamlet to be completely insane with everything that had transpired against him. The loss of his father and his mother’s hasty marriage should have driven his mind to utter desolation and insanity, but on the contrary these events only enhanced the fortitude of his mind and intellect. Hamlet’s ability to form coherent thoughts and his clear use of diction express his sanity; the weight of avenging his father’s death and woes over his mother’s betrayal have affected his emotions, but have not corrupted his mind.…

    • 1066 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Hamlet's Insanity
    • 1046 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Hamlet's Insanity

    Hamlet is a legendary character, with many aspects to his personality. The biggest and most important one being his insanity. There were moments in his life that made him this way.. They were crucial to the increase of his hysteria, and therefore his identity.…

    • 1046 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet's Insanity
    • 1293 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Hamlet's Insanity

    The play entitled The Tragedy of Hamlet by William Shakespeare is all about the life of Prince Hamlet, beginning with his father’s unexpected death and ending with his very own catastrophic death. One of the main themes of the play is Hamlet’s sanity. There is controversy about whether Hamlet eventually becomes insane towards the end of the play or he is simply pretending to be insane the entire time. Prince Hamlet is not crazy; however, the difficulties he is faced with cause him to appear crazy.…

    • 1293 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    What Makes A Noble Death In Hamlet
    • 1662 Words
    • 7 Pages

    What Makes A Noble Death In Hamlet

    This thesis will constitute what makes a noble death and what makes an ignoble death. In order to do so, it is necessary to compare and contrast the characters of Ahab from Moby Dick and Hamlet from Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. Specifically the actions and decisions leading up to their deaths. In Moby Dick we see Ahab make impious and haughty decisions that lead to his death, as well as a lack of reverence towards others around him. In Hamlet, a man struggles with his own thoughts becoming mad and losing his willingness to live. Similarly, Hamlet’s lack of reverence and piety leads him to develop arrogance that incites his own destruction, turning everyone against him. Comparing these two works is necessary in answering the question, in that the two works provide characters who struggle with the idea of revenge and reverence as well as die trying to vindicate the wrong done them. It is also crucial to examine what a noble death is from each text. A noble death Moby Dick, seen in the character Queequeg. Queequeg’s traits of piety, reverence, and loyalty become what Melville believes a noble death to be entails. With Shakespeare, there is no one character with a “good” death, instead there are scenes that show how a noble death could be achieved. In these scenes it is easy to see that with full repentance, piety, and reverence, a noble death can be achieved. By considering Shakespeare's Hamlet and other characters, as well as Melville's characters of Ahab and Queequeg, it will become clear that an ignoble death is one of impiety, condemnation and arrogance that makes it impossible to repent.…

    • 1662 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More

Related Topics