Ophelia's Death

In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Ophelia is bombarded by pressures from all around her. Because of her role as a female, Ophelia must succumb to the orders given to her by those around her. As a result, Ophelia must take orders and any aftermath that may come from it. As a result, Ophelia is pushed to death by her obedience, abuse from Hamlet, and her spiral into madness. From the beginning of the play, it is clear that Ophelia plays the role of an obedient daughter and sister to her family. Before Laertes leaves, he warns Ophelia, “Fear it Ophelia, fear it my dear sister,/ And keep you in the rear of your affection,/ Out of the shot and danger of desire” (I.iii.33-35). Laertes tells Ophelia both as a warning and as a command to beware of Hamlet. Once Laertes exits, Polonius tells Ophelia that, “From this time/ Be something scanter of your maiden presence” (I.iii.120-121). He tells her this because he is a royal and she is not, so the two could not possibly be together. Polonius tells her this not only as fatherly advice but also as orders to not see Lord Hamlet anymore. He then reiterates this to the king and queen when he says, “And then I prescripts gave her,/ That she should lock herself from his resort,/ Admit no messengers, receive no tokens” (II.ii.140-142). Polonius has stated that he has ordered Ophelia to not see or speak to Hamlet. Ophelia is merely being obedient to her father's wishes, so she has no say as to her relationship with Hamlet. Towards the end of the play, Gertrude states that Ophelia has died, “But long it could not be/ Till that her garments, heavy with drink,/ Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay/ To muddy death” (IV.vii.180-183). It seems that Ophelia did not have a choice when she drowned, for even the water pulled her down to her death. Ophelia's lack of choosing her own destiny played a part in her death. Ophelia is directly affected by the men around her, especially her loved ones, including Hamlet. However, in Act III, Hamlet verbally abuses Ophelia when he tells her to, “Get thee to a nunnery – why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners” (III.i.119-120). He addresses her as a harlot and says that she gives birth to sinners. Ophelia, because of her obedient ways, can not say anything back to Hamlet, so she just takes it. When he revokes his love for her, Ophelia merely says, “I was the more deceived” (III.i.118). Hamlet proceeds to tell Ophelia, “...marry a fool, for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them” (III.i.134-135). He also tells Ophelia to get herself to a nunnery two more times before he exits, brandishing her as an adulteress. After Hamlet leaves, Ophelia is alone and exclaims, “And I of ladies most deject and wretched” (III.i.149). She is in a miserable state, her father has given her orders to not to speak to Hamlet, and he has now rejected her. It is clear to others that Hamlet never truly loved Ophelia when the king states, “Love? His affections do not that way tend” (III.i.156). The abuse is clear and it hurts. Unlike Hamlet, Ophelia does not feign her madness. Her madness stems from the death of her father and the misleading love of Hamlet. She crazily sings of both death and love. She enters singing, “How should I your true love know/ From another one” (IV.v.23-24). She is heartbroken by the fact that Hamlet never truly loved her and sings of true love. She then proceeds to sing of her father who, “...is dead and gone lady,/ He is dead and gone;/ At his head a grass-green turf,/ At his heels a stone” (IV.v.29-32). The image that Ophelia sings of her father in the ground with a tombstone is shocking to many. She continues to sing of young men and betrayed love, “Young men will do't if they come to't –/ By Cock, they are to blame./ Quoth she, 'Before you tumbled me,/ You promised me to wed.'/ He answers –/ So would I ha' done, by yonder sun, and thou hast not come to my bed” (IV.v.60-66). She sings of a promise of marriage and the question of Ophelia's relationship is put into question. After her singing she addresses the royal court and says, “...but I cannot choose but weep to think they would lay him i'th' cold ground” (IV.v.68-69). Ophelia speaks of death before she exits and it is clear that she is grieving her father. The king points out that her insanity may stem from her father's death when he says, “Oh this is the poison of deep grief, it springs/ All from her father's death, [and now behold–]” (IV.v.74-75). When Ophelia returns, she speaks of her father again after giving flowers, “I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died” (IV.v.179-181). Her madness and her miserable state have made Ophelia's mind unclear. Because of Ophelia's obedience, abuse from Hamlet, and her descent to madness, she is ultimately greeted at death's door. What sets Ophelia apart is that it is the actions of those around her that directly affect her state of mind. Eventually, it is these actions that ultimately lead to her watery grave.