Ophelia's Suicide Analysis

To Be, Or Not To Be: Ophelia’s Suicide

In Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, Ophelia cause of death is suicide. This statement can be supported by the events that unfold in the final acts of the play. When Gertrude discovers Ophelia dead in the river, the description she gives about her appearance to Laertes and Claudius indirectly hints that Ophelia took her own life. Also in the first scene in Act five, the gravediggers are preparing the burial for Ophelia. They are confused whether or not she should get a Christian burial. According to the church, suicide is a sin and one cannot get a Christian burial if one commits suicide. Also, with the recent events that have happened to Ophelia, she loses it because it is too much stress and sadness. Her father, Polonius, is killed by Hamlet and Hamlet leaves for England shortly after. She loved him and Hamlet just killed her father. She becomes mentally unstable. Ophelia’s cause of death is certainly a suicide.

The description of Ophelia’s appearance provided by Gertrude is a crucial reason why Ophelia’s cause of death is suicide. It seems as if Ophelia is at peace. Gertrude describes Ophelia saying, “There with fantastic garland did she come Of crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples...As one incapable of her own distress, Or like a creature native and indued Unto that

Ophelia is discovered by Gertrude and appears to be at peace. She has flowers her as well. There is no sign of struggle. She wanted to die. Also the gravediggers even were confused as to why Ophelia was getting a Christian burial because the church doesn 't allow a Christian burial if one takes their own life. Furthermore Ophelia is acting crazy toward the end of the play. She is in pain, stressed and in sad due to the events she has endured. Her father is dead and Hamlet is to blame. She just couldn 't take it anymore. Therefore, the only way she could have dies was because of