Gertrude Ophelia's Madness
Ophelia’s madness meant that she was unable to save herself; she was “incapable of her own distress,” and a “poor wretch.” She does not blame Ophelia, but the mania she was afflicted with. It is the fault of the sliver that broke, her garments, the brook into which she fell. However, we only know about this story through Gertrude, and she claims Ophelia “chanted snatches of old lauds” as she drowned. It is highly improbable that the Queen, or anyone, witnessed the drowning. Shakespeare’s inclusion of this detail indicates that Gertrude is misrepresenting the drowning. Gertrude presents the audience with this glorified, peaceful description of death. Ophelia is likened to mermaid with her “clothes spread wide.” She slowly sinks to the bottom
of the muddy brook, unable to move. Since Gertrude almost certainly did not witness the death, she likely created this story because she learned of Ophelia’s death and believed it to be an accident borne of madness; she died because her manic episode impaired her thinking and actions. Laertes and Claudius concord with Gertrude’s explanation of the death since they both viewed Ophelia’s madness as the death of her wits. The three characters who are convinced Ophelia committed suicide believed this because they have not witnessed her in a state of mania. The gravedigger implies this by asking “Is she to be buried in Christian burial,/ when she willfully seeks her own salvation” (5.1.1-2). Individuals who committed suicide were not to be granted “Christian burial” rights because they were believed to be sinners. His use of the word “willfully” is crucial— it indicates that he believed Ophelia purposely committed suicide, and was in complete control over her mind and body. One cannot commit an act “willfully” whilst being impaired. The gravedigger was unaware of Ophelia’s mental state, and thus held her responsible for her actions. The character ‘Other’ also implies suicide as the cause of death. he argues that her supposed suicide is being overlooked because of Ophelia’s societal status— “If this had not been/ a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o’ Christian burial” (5.1.24-26). The doctor has the most condemnatory response to her death. Believing her death to be suicide, during her funeral he admits that he is only burying her on Church grounds because the king requested it (5.1.235). He exclaims that “Shards, flints, and pebbles should be thrown on/ her./ Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants” (5.1.238-9). This illustrates the dichotomy of beliefs— Ophelia is laid to rest among garlands of “crants,” or flowers, because the King and Queen see her as a victim of madness; however, the Doctor wishes instead for “shards, flints and pebbles” to decorate her body because he blames Ophelia for her own death. He views her akin to a murderer, albeit the life she ends is her own. All three characters judge Ophelia as though she is her mental health is in order. Consequently, they believe that she purposefully chose to die, and thus was a sinner. As exemplified in this paper, Shakespeare suggests that witnessed insanity can free an individual from moral agency. In the same way that Ophelia’s death is considered an accident because of her manic episode, Hamlet’s murdering of Polonius was also excused by Laertes on
of the muddy brook, unable to move. Since Gertrude almost certainly did not witness the death, she likely created this story because she learned of Ophelia’s death and believed it to be an accident borne of madness; she died because her manic episode impaired her thinking and actions. Laertes and Claudius concord with Gertrude’s explanation of the death since they both viewed Ophelia’s madness as the death of her wits. The three characters who are convinced Ophelia committed suicide believed this because they have not witnessed her in a state of mania. The gravedigger implies this by asking “Is she to be buried in Christian burial,/ when she willfully seeks her own salvation” (5.1.1-2). Individuals who committed suicide were not to be granted “Christian burial” rights because they were believed to be sinners. His use of the word “willfully” is crucial— it indicates that he believed Ophelia purposely committed suicide, and was in complete control over her mind and body. One cannot commit an act “willfully” whilst being impaired. The gravedigger was unaware of Ophelia’s mental state, and thus held her responsible for her actions. The character ‘Other’ also implies suicide as the cause of death. he argues that her supposed suicide is being overlooked because of Ophelia’s societal status— “If this had not been/ a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o’ Christian burial” (5.1.24-26). The doctor has the most condemnatory response to her death. Believing her death to be suicide, during her funeral he admits that he is only burying her on Church grounds because the king requested it (5.1.235). He exclaims that “Shards, flints, and pebbles should be thrown on/ her./ Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants” (5.1.238-9). This illustrates the dichotomy of beliefs— Ophelia is laid to rest among garlands of “crants,” or flowers, because the King and Queen see her as a victim of madness; however, the Doctor wishes instead for “shards, flints and pebbles” to decorate her body because he blames Ophelia for her own death. He views her akin to a murderer, albeit the life she ends is her own. All three characters judge Ophelia as though she is her mental health is in order. Consequently, they believe that she purposefully chose to die, and thus was a sinner. As exemplified in this paper, Shakespeare suggests that witnessed insanity can free an individual from moral agency. In the same way that Ophelia’s death is considered an accident because of her manic episode, Hamlet’s murdering of Polonius was also excused by Laertes on