The Maidenhood of Ophelia in Hamlet by William Shakespeare

The Maidenhood of Ophelia in Hamlet by William Shakespeare

In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, the character of Ophelia is masqueraded as a demure, innocent, adolescent girl. However, the behavior disguised by this façade is much more interesting than we are led to believe. Throughout Hamlet, Ophelia is the target of numerous sexual innuendoes and later the confessor of her own sexual experience. When these occurrences become apparent, Ophelia no longer holds the virginal qualities we were once led to believe she possessed.

Ophelia is first portrayed as an innocent, or as her father, Polonius, describes, "a green girl" (1.3.101). The concern lies not with Ophelia's behavior, but with Hamlet's lustful desires for her--she is told to see him no more. Polonius then confronts Gertrude and Claudius, Hamlet's mother and uncle/father, with Hamlet's attempts to seduce his daughter. As evidence, he has confiscated a love letter written to Ophelia by Hamlet. Claudius challenges Polonius's accusations by asking, "But how hath she received his love?" (2.2.127-28). This response is the first implication of the possible absence of Ophelia's chastity.

The strongest suggestions toward Ophelia are made by Hamlet, himself. These seem to be the most significant of any, because if anyone were to know of her purity, or lack of, it would most likely be Hamlet. He questions Ophelia's honesty and her fairness. He tells her that "the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd..." (3.1.111-12). A bawd is a reference to a brothel-keeper. Hamlet declares that he loved Ophelia once. He warns her that she should not have believed him, because virtue is not something that can be replaced and they are now tainted. He informs her that he never loved her. Perhaps the harshest line with a reference to Ophelia's state of virginity is when Hamlet announces, "Get thee to a nunnery -- why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?" (3.1.119-20). He clearly states that Ophelia is a sinner and any offspring would be sinners. Hamlet tells her she should "marry a fool" (3.1.134), and that instead of being honest, she pretends her immorality comes from innocence, rather than experience. These declarations promptly dissolve the façade surrounding Ophelia, leaving no questions concerning her maidenhead.

Hamlet continues with the insults, becoming more crude with each. He asks Ophelia if he should lie his head in her lap. When she declines, he remarks, "That's a fair thought to lie between maids' legs" (3.