Ophelia and Hamlet are an interesting variation on a recurring Shakespeare theme, almost willing to elope like Romeo and Juliet, or Othello and Desdemona, but not willing to disobey Polonius’ parental authority once he expresses disapproval.
In stark contrast with the sins of Claudius, at first the play displays children submitting to authority: Ophelia to Polonius [1]; Hamlet to his mother (no return to Wittenberg [2]) and to the ghost (to obey and avenge [3]); Laertes seeking parental and royal approval before returning to France [4].
Forbidden contact with Hamlet [5], but used as bait for spying [6], Ophelia resembles Viola disguised as Cesario in Twelfth Night, tasked as messenger for Duke Orsino, but in love with the duke.
Blameless, obedient, but scolded, ordered “to a nunnery” [7], she resembles Hero in Much Ado About Nothing, victim of deception and misunderstanding, rejected by her betrothed.
Hamlet made to her “almost all the holy vows of heaven” [8], probably a betrothal, and they may have consummated their betrothal, perhaps assuming Polonius would approve. Ophelia may be pregnant, or not.
The fact that Hamlet backs off when faced with Polonius’ disapproval may show that he is more honorable, or in fear of external authority, than some Shakespeare royalty like Richard III who used manipulation to win compliance of an unwilling bride [9].
Hamlet finds new authority with “The Mousetrap” [10] and scolding of his mother in her closet [11], asserting spiritual authority, and also his accidental killing of Polonius [12], which removes the impediment of Ophelia’s father. In her madness, Ophelia expresses newfound independent authority [13].
Christianity marks its first rite of passage with water in baptism, a symbolic drowning and rebirth, dying to the old so as to rise anew [14], traditionally associated with enslaved Israel freed through parted waters of the Red Sea [15].
The newfound authority of Ophelia and Hamlet is marked for both with water: For Hamlet, a sea voyage [16]; for Ophelia, drowning [17], each enslaved, but each set free.
https://pauladrianfried.blogspot.com/2024/06/part-49-ophelia-hamlet-water-and-rites.html
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NOTES: Unless otherwise notes, all references to Hamlet (and other Shakespeare plays) are to the Folger Shakespeare Library online versions: https://shakespeare.folger.edu/shakespeares-works/hamlet/entire-play/
[1] 1.3.141-145:
POLONIUS I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth
Have you so slander any moment leisure
As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet.
Look to ’t, I charge you. Come your ways.
OPHELIA I shall obey, my lord.
[2] 1.2.116-124:
KING
For your intent
In going back to school in Wittenberg,
It is most retrograde to our desire,
And we beseech you, bend you to remain
Here in the cheer and comfort of our eye,
Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son.
QUEEN
Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet.
I pray thee, stay with us. Go not to Wittenberg.
HAMLET
I shall in all my best obey you, madam.
[3] For Hamlet’s obedience to the ghost, see 1.5.11,29,31,35-37,88,99-119.
[4] 1.2.51-62:
KING What wouldst thou have, Laertes?
LAERTES My dread lord,
Your leave and favor to return to France [...]
My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France
And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon.
KING
Have you your father’s leave? What says Polonius?
POLONIUS
Hath, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave
By laborsome petition, and at last
Upon his will I sealed my hard consent.
[5] 1.3.141-145:
POLONIUS I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth
Have you so slander any moment leisure
As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet.
Look to ’t, I charge you. Come your ways.
OPHELIA I shall obey, my lord.
[6] 2.2.173-178:
POLONIUS
You know sometimes he walks four hours together
Here in the lobby.
QUEEN So he does indeed.
POLONIUS
At such a time I’ll loose my daughter to him.
[To the King.] Be you and I behind an arras then.
Mark the encounter.
[7] 3.1.131; 140; 148-149; 151; 162.
[8] 1.3.122-123:
OPHELIA
And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord,
With almost all the holy vows of heaven.
[9] Richard III, 1.2.
[10] Hamlet, 3.2.
[11] 3.4.
[12] 3.4.28-30.
[13] 4.5.
[14] The ghost says revenge is natural (“if thou hast nature in thee, bear it not” 1.5.88), but significantly, the baptism rites in Shakespeare’s time emphasize death to “Adam” and what sinful “nature” in favor of being made new in Christ, like Christ.
See the rites of baptism in The Book of Common Prayer 1559: The Elizabethan Prayer Book (BCP), John H. Booty, ed., published for the Folger Shakespeare Library by University of Virginia Press, Charlottesville, 1976:
“...grant to these children that thing which by *nature* they cannot have, that they may be baptized with water and the Holy Ghost…” (270);
“...grant that the old Adam in these children may be so buried, that the new man may be raised up in them. [...] Grant that all carnal affections may die in them, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in them.” (274).
“And humbly we beseech thee to grant that he being dead unto sin, and living unto righteousness, and being buried with Christ in his death, may crucify the old man, and utterly abolish the whole body of sin, that as he is made partaker of the death of they son, so he may be partaker of his resurrection” (275).
[15] “Almighty and everlasting God, which of they great mercy didst [...] safely lead the children of Israel thy people through the Red Sea, figuring they holy Baptism, and the baptism of thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ…” (BCP, 270).
[16] 3.1.178-184; 3.3.1-4; 3.4.222; 4.3.48-62; 4.6; 4.7.39-53; 5.1.153-154; 5.2.4-63.
[17] 4.7.188-217.
IMAGES: UPPER LEFT: FRANCES MACDONALD MACNAIR (SCOTTISH 1874-1921),
‘GIRL WITH BLUE BUTTERFLIES' (1898) (sometimes (mis-?) titled "Ophelia")
The Taffner Collection
Signed and dated lower centre right FRANCES E MACDONALD 1898.
Public domain (author's life plus 70 years or fewer) via Lyon & Turnbull auction website
https://www.lyonandturnbull.com/auctions/the-taffner-collection-370/lot/62
Also available via Wikipedia:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Frances_MacDonald_-_Ophelia_1898.jpg
LOWER LEFT: Margaret MacDonald (1864–1933), Ophelia, 1908. Public domain via
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Margaret_MacDonald_-_Ophelia_1908.jpg
RIGHT: FRANCES MACDONALD MACNAIR (SCOTTISH 1874-1921),
“Man Makes The Beads Of Life But Woman Must Thread Them” circa 1912-1915.
Public domain via https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Frances_MacDonald_-_Man_Makes_The_Beads_Of_Life.jpg
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INDEX OF OPHELIA POSTS:
My 2023 series on Ophelia, and earlier Ophelia posts:
https://pauladrianfried.blogspot.com/2023/10/index-of-ophelia-posts-2023-series-and.html
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Disclaimer: If and when I quote or paraphrase bible passages or mention religion in many of my blog posts, I do not intend to promote any religion over another, nor am I attempting to promote religious belief in general; only to explore how the Bible and religion influenced Shakespeare, his plays, and his age.
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Thanks for reading!
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