Millais' 'Ophelia' From A Modern Perspective

 by Iona Perkins

“To be, or not to be: that is the question” is arguably one of Shakespeare’s most renowned and memorable quotes. Its origin lies in ‘Hamlet’s’ soliloquy in Act 3 from the eponymous character remarking in his sorrow as (spoiler) he discovers his father has been murdered by his uncle; considering if his anguished life is worth enduring or if death is the easier alternative. 

Whilst Hamlet's fame is ubiquitous, fewer are familiar with the sorrowful story of his lover Ophelia - a woman oppressed to disregard her own will and obey that of the men in her life. The topic of her death was a favourite amongst artists painting during the Victorian era and combined with their passion for ‘flower language’, I think made some very impactful pieces.  

One of the most famous examples is Sir John Everett Millais’ 1852 depiction of her drowning. Ophelia is portrayed spending her last few moments on Earth gazing rather vacantly into the sky mere seconds before her sodden attire drags her under. The very specific use of poppies around her are used to represent eternal sleep, as if Millais thinks she will find peace in her rest. However, I would argue that looking at it from a modern perspective as an educated woman, by succumbing to the pull of the water, Ophelia is giving in. Today we are all encouraged to always keep persevering, keep going, keep fighting. By embracing the darkness, Ophelia changes the course of the play, ultimately ending in Hamlet’s insanity. This is why I think her death perhaps should perhaps be less romanticised and more depicted as her fighting against her inevitable fate as a helpless cursed girl. (One could counter argue that she struggles to survive without male guidance, however being set in the 14th or 15th century, the expectations of women would have been inescapable and she often does attempt to do the right thing.)

Flowers are unifying throughout the painting to fabricate her story; the roses next to her right ear and around her dress, whilst also on the bank, signify her romantic relationship with Hamlet and how her love arguably dies with her. The crimson colour often associated with fertility and passion were what history thought to be ‘female traits’, especially in the Victorian Era again crafting this very feminine and delicate persona. The weeping willow is associated with death and her grief, but is also most likely where she fell into the water suggesting she was ultimately doomed from the outset. Millais added the figure after he had painted the background suggesting that despite being the central image, the more prominent message is her story. Ophelia’s freedom is restricted by the men she is forcefully surrounded by and in turn her innocence stolen. The painting reflects an underlying with a tone of calculated misogyny that as an unmarried woman she cannot do what is best for herself.  

The chauvinism is perpetuated as whilst Millais painted, his model Elizabeth Siddel was made to pose in a bath for often hours on end, but so concentrated on his work, Millais forgot about her and she was often left shivering during the depths of winter! Overall, I think Ophelia was wrongly portrayed as feeble and helpless where alternatively she was perhaps as defiant as she dared.